Protesters interrupt First Lady several times during remarks at Milwaukee stop

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- First Lady Dr. Jill Biden was in Milwaukee Friday evening, May 31, to deliver remarks at the opening ceremonies of this year's Festa Italiana.

But the First Lady was interrupted several times by protesters upset with President Biden's Middle East policy.

The visit started well, with what seemed like a friendly crowd. The First Lady even pulled an audible on her Secret Service detail, going for a brief, unscheduled walk through the festival grounds to take photos with people.

But after she took the stage to speak about her Italian heritage -and the President's track record- the First Lady was interrupted four times by protesters denouncing the war in Gaza.

One protester shouted at her, "Your husband just sent $60M to kill Palestinians!"

It was the first of several.

The First Lady was trying to thread the needle by talking politics at a typically non-political event.

She connected with the crowd, including Kathy Ceel of New Berlin. Kathy met the First Lady, then told us, "We had no idea she was going to come to the wine bar! I shouted out 'She's here!' And then she turned and waved. Then I got a picture with her."

Then, Dr. Biden took the stage talk up her Italian heritage, saying, "Buonasera! I am so proud to be Italian American!"

She shared memories of her childhood, telling the crowd, "I was charmed by the musical way grandma cursed at my grandpop in Italian: 'Tommy, Tommy, who you think's gonna clean these fish?'"

But then she transitioned to stumping for the President in a critical swing state.

In prepared remarks, she said, "My husband, President Biden, is working to build on what this community has accomplished."

She added, "That’s why he’s growing our economy from the middle out and the bottom up—so families can carve out a good life."

But repeatedly, the protesters disrupted the messaging.

Supporters tried to drown them out, shouting, "Four more years! Four more years!"

Each time, Dr. Biden tried to get the address back on track, once saying of the protesters, "Even though it's a little disturbing, thank God we live in a democracy."

Dr. Biden never mentioned former President Trump in her remarks. And she did not directly engage with the protesters when she was interrupted.

She left Milwaukee shortly after her remarks for another scheduled stop Friday night in Pennsylvania.