Security perimeter finalized as RNC draws nearer

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- As the RNC is an event of national security, there will be a lot of protections in place to ensure the convention happens safely, with minimal impact on the residents of Milwaukee. 

"We know that security for an event of this size will have an impact," United States Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said. "Together, this team has been preparing for the convention for over a year. They have been thoughtful about community impact, traffic concerns, businesses, and most importantly, ensuring a safe and secure convention for attendees and the City of Milwaukee."

Friday, the map showing the security perimeter for the RNC was released. 

It shows the larger soft perimeter, shaded yellow, that is open to pedestrians without any screening, but where cars must be screened before entering.

"We recommend using the vehicle checkpoint closet to your destination," U.S. Secret Service RNC Coordinator Audrey Gibson-Cicchino said.

Pedestrians cannot enter the hard perimeter, shaded red, without an RNC ticket or credential. 

Temporary road closures will begin July 11 with official road closures running from July 14-19. 

There will also be restrictions on maritime use, there will be no recreational or business use of the Milwaukee River or waterways during the convention.

Trash collection and mail delivery will continue, but will happen overnight and during the early morning hours. MCTS will operate normally, but some routes will be impacted. Residents are told to expect delays and budget extra time into their commute.

According to Mayor Cavalier Johnson's Chief of Staff Nick DeSiato, there have been over 100 sign-ups to use the official speaker platforms or to march in the daily protest parades during the RNC. Neither site will be at Pere Marquette Park as originally suggested because that area is now inside the hard perimeter.  Instead, Zeidler Union Square and Haymarket Plaza will be equipped with sound systems for demonstrations. The official parade route will also start and end at Zeidler Union Square.

"We believe we've provided premier access on both the South and the North side," DeSiato said. "Again, I challenge anyone to find a place closer to there with sightlines directly looking at Fiserv Forum."

While the city is happy with the protest sites, the Coalition to March on the RNC claims they are being kept away.

"We're looking to within sight and sound of the front doors of the Fiserv Forum," Coalition to March on the RNC Co-Chair Omar Flores said. "Even with the speakers that we have, there is no way that they will be able to hear us within sight and sound."

Flores said the group has invited others from out of state to join them in their effort, as they plan to march in the soft zone starting at Red Arrow Park on the first day of the RNC, with or without a permit.

"We're expecting around 2 and half thousand, to around 5,000 people to be showing here for our protest," he said.

The U.S. Secret Service is in charge of the hard zone, while local law enforcement will patrol the soft zone, where Wisconsin statute allows for the presence of firearms.

"Understand that there is going to be that level of surveillance and monitoring. If that's the particular right that you'd to express, just don't do anything that can be considered a threat, or a harm to the public," Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said. "Let me be clear, we will not tolerate any acts of violence, any destruction of property in our city. When I say we, the residents of Milwaukee, the individuals who call this home."

Milwaukee Emergency Management said they have created an alert system similar to Amber Alerts for the geographical footprint of the RNC security perimeters to alert people in the area of any emergencies during the convention.

All of the information about road closures, signing up for speaking slots, and more is available to the public at city.Milwaukee.gov/RNC.