Federal judge will now decide RNC protest security zone

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Coalition to March on the RNC is taking the City of Milwaukee to court. Oral arguments were heard in federal court Wednesday morning, July 3, and now a judge will decide the case.

The Coalition to March on the RNC is planning a large protest the first day of the Republican National Convention. The group is suing the city for violating its First Amendment rights. Organizers argue the city is stonewalling them on protest permits, security zones and limiting the places where they're allowed to rally and march during RNC, which begins July 15.

"We are confident in our stated case, that the city is infringing on out first amendment rights by delaying our ability to receive a permit to march within sight and sound of the RNC," said Omar Flores, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is representing the coalition and argued on their behalf in court.

The coalition is fighting to hold their demonstration closer to Fiserv Forum. The city has determined two areas for demonstrations during the RNC. One on the north side near Fiserv Sorum at Haymarket Square and the other near the Baird Center at Zeidler Union Square on the south side. "The two routes being proposed by the city are unacceptable for a multitude of reasons, while the Haymarket square location may be within sight of the Fiserv forum, it's not within sound or sight of the front doors of Fiserv forum which has been our ask from the beginning," said Flores.

The city defended the current security zone in place in court. Now, Judge Brett Ludwig will decide the case. "We feel confident that the order that he's going to issue will be one that allows the coalition to march...but the judge wants to issue a ruling that will stand the test of time," said Timothy Muth, attorney with the ACLU.

In court, Muth argued the importance of protest location. "If we think about protest marches, where those marches take place makes a difference. It's not just having a march somewhere in Milwaukee...it's having a march where that big banner currently on Fiserv Forum is seen in the background," said Muth.

Flores says regardless of the judge's decision, they plan to march on Monday, July 15th at noon. "We know that we're going to be marching the route that we put forth no matter what. We are going to be marching that route whether we get a permit or not and this really just decides how the city is going to respond," he said.

Attorneys say they expect the judge to have a final decision by early next week at the latest.