Who are the RNC demonstrators? What to know about this year's RNC speakers
It wouldn't be unreasonable to expect Republican National Convention demonstrators to be driven by politics.
But for one speaker the message will be personal, not political.
Alexis Pleus of New York plans to speak about addiction and her son, whom she lost to a heroin overdose a decade ago.
"I want to talk about the fact that overdose and substance abuse affects people of all walks of life and political leanings. We all have to walk together to solve the problem," Pleus said. "It's pretty outrageous we're 13 years into the opioid epidemic and there still is not immediate access to treatment."
Joining her will be about a dozen others from Truth Pharm, the organization she started after her son's death.
Pleus is one of about 140 individuals, groups and organizations granted permits by the City of Milwaukee to demonstrate at designated areas outside the credentials-only space where the RNC will be held downtown from Monday through Thursday.
Those permitted to speak include groups known to Milwaukeeans, while others from across the nation include groups that campaign against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights and a religious organization that supports guns.
Some groups that requested a permit ended up dropping out before the start of the convention, according to the city.
A separate group known as the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 will hold its march Monday outside the city-designated area, while other demonstrators who neither registered with the city nor are part of the coalition are also expected to congregate around the event.
Here's what to know about the people, groups and organizations expected to demonstrate during the RNC:
City of Milwaukee-permitted RNC demonstrators number about 140
The final list of city-permitted demonstrators — individuals, groups and organizations alike — numbers about 140.
Speakers are locals as well as visitors from Las Vegas, New York, Miami and many cities in between.
There were 87 applications for individuals, 30 applications for organizations and 22 for groups not affiliated with an organization.
While most seemed to be legitimate speakers, others claimed to be the Chinese Communist Party or used the permitting process to express anger at President Joe Biden.
Seventeen applicants signed up for only the march route, 33 only to speak and 89 for both.
Orlando Owens, chairman of the Republican Party of Milwaukee North Branch, said he would be there as a counter-protester to celebrate the presumptive Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump.
He said his decision to speak will depend on whether the crowd appears open to hearing his perspective. If he does speak, he said, he would like to welcome Republican Party members to Wisconsin but also speak to those of differing backgrounds.
“This is America, and everyone has a right to their opinions,” Owens said. "There may be some common ground, so let's seek common ground."
When asked what he hopes to accomplish with his speech, Owens said “that there be something we can build on for further future conversations.”
Some groups planning to demonstrate during RNC include anti-LGBTQ, pro-gun religious organizations
Groups signed up to speak at the RNC include:
Operation Save America, an evangelical ministry that campaigns against abortion and the LGBTQ+ community.
Rod of Iron Ministries, a religious organization that supports guns and engages in conspiracy theories. It drew attention after a related group held a religious ceremony that included blessing AR-15 semiautomatic rifles, The Tennessean reported.
Wisconsin Convention of States, an organization that describes itself as being "founded for the purpose of stopping the runaway power of the federal government."
Where are the City of Milwaukee's speakers' podiums outside the Republican National Convention 'hard' security zone?
Two designated speakers' podiums will be placed outside the credentials-only "hard" security zone.
The northern podium will be located at Haymarket Square near Fiserv Forum, the primary RNC venue.
The southern podium will be located at Zeidler Union Square Park near the Baird Center. This is also the start and end point for the city-designated march route.
Both demonstration areas are in the security footprint, where members of the public are able to enter.
The "hard zone," or the area that is controlled by the Secret Service with credentials required to enter, will encompass Fiserv Forum, the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena and the Baird Center, the main spaces where the convention will take place. The area also encompasses Pere Marquette Park, which had been a point of contention when the city anticipated locating a demonstration area there.
Where is the City of Milwaukee-designated march route?
A city-designated demonstration march route will be on the south side of the hard zone, beginning and ending at Zeidler Union Square Park.
What is the difference between the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 and the city-permitted demonstrators?
The city has issued about 140 permits to demonstrate at the city-specified locations during the RNC.
In contrast, the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 plans to hold its own march on Monday on a route different from the one the city has offered on the south side of the credentialed area.
Who is part of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024?
Coalition organizers expect a turnout of about 5,000 people for a Monday march.
One key organizer in the coalition is Omar Flores, who said his passion to join the coalition comes from outrage at police brutality. He advocates for policies that he hopes would allow more transparency and accountability for law enforcement.
Many of the coalition members have shared goals: defending immigrants, abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, and supporting Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war.
But the coalition isn't just made up of individuals, there are also separate groups that joined to march on the RNC.
Catie Petralia, a representative for Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee, is part of the Coalition to March on the RNC.
Her organization formed in 2022 in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and the right to abortion. Since then, her organization has been working to improve abortion access in Milwaukee.
The group's work includes sharing reproductive resources to help people get diapers, period products, contraception, birth control and abortion.
Petralia will join over a dozen organizations that are part of the Coalition to protest the Republican National Convention because, she said, “they are the main party that is really attacking abortion access all over the country.”
Petralia said, having the RNC in Milwaukee “feels like a slap in the face.” She feels that the city gets treated badly by Republicans in the state and by inviting them here, “it just feels like the city cares more about money and profit over its people,” she said.
The back and forth between the coalition and the City of Milwaukee
There has been a monthslong debate over the city's plans for demonstrations during the convention. The lengthy disagreement over the location of areas where the coalition wants to protest the RNC was taken to court in a federal lawsuit.
On Monday, the judge denied the coalition's request to allow a march route that crossed through the hard security zone. The group on Tuesday announced a new route and said it did not plan to pursue further legal action on the issue.
What is and is not allowed in the area around the Republican National Convention?
All weapons are banned in the hard zone that will encompass the main RNC event venues downtown.
A city ordinance bans objects like drones and tennis balls in the larger security footprint, but because of state law most guns cannot be banned in that area.
For a full list of ordinance bans, more information can be found here.
Jolan Kruse can be reached at [email protected]. Siddhant Pusdekar can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about about the speakers and marchers at the RNC
