Trace Adkins to headline RNC welcome party same day as 'bail fund' benefit concert for protestors

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – As a group protesting the Republican National Convention (RNC) holds a concert to help in their efforts to denounce the event, another party will be welcoming conventiongoers to Milwaukee.

"We expect several thousands [of people]," Alan Chavoya said. "We're getting people from all around the nation that are going to mobilize their organizations to come here."

Chavoya, one of the leaders of the Coalition to March on the RNC, tells CBS 58 that as the group's lawsuit against the City of Milwaukee over protest permits continues, they are planning to march on Monday, July 15, the first day of the convention, with, or without a permit.

Last week, the U.S. Secret Service revealed the official security perimeters and demonstration locations for the four-day event. The official areas where people can express their First Amendment rights are Zeidler Union Square and Haymarket Plaza. There is also a parade route that will begin and end at Zeidler Union Square Park.

For the coalition, the locations are not close enough to the Fiserv Forum, where a lot of the convention activity will be taking place. Because of this, they are planning to use their march their own route.

"We want to be heard inside the Fiserv Forum," Chavoya said. "We don't want to be heard by the hotels people are attending, or we don't want to be several blocks away. We want to be as close as possible while respecting the hard zones established by the Secret Service."

While maintaining their efforts to host a family-friendly march, Chavoya said the group is aware of possible interactions with police, and that because of this, there will be a benefit concert to raise money for bail funds for marchers the Sunday before at the Cooperage on 822 S Water St.

"We don't anticipate issues, but you always have to be prepared," he said.

On the same night, just a little over a mile away from the coalition's concert, thousands of delegates will be celebrating the start of the convention with a party at the Summerfest grounds: "Red, White and Brew."

"Every convention, every four years, the host committee has that responsibility," Chief Operating Officer for the RNC Host Committee Alison Prange said. "We'll showcase things from superclubs to cheese curds to old fashions and everything in between."

The party will not be open to the public, as only credentialed people will be allowed to enter. Prange said it will be right to remember, with thousands of delegates expected to attend the event headlined by a country music star.

"Trace Adkins is going to be joining us at that welcome party. So, we look to him lighting up the stage that night," Prange said.

The July 14 event is a collaboration between the RNC Host Committee, the non-partisan group coordinating the convention, and 414 Council, which is made up of local business owners.

"I think it's really important to set that tone that no matter party it is, whether it's the DNC, which I was involved with, or the RNC, that you're welcome to come into our city, and we're going to show how great this city is," 414 Council Co-Chair Omar Shaikh said.