RNC asks Secret Service to keep protesters farther from convention location

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

Published 2:59 PM EDT, Sat April 27, 2024


CNN — The Republican National Committee is asking the Secret Service to keep protesters farther back from the July convention in Milwaukee than is currently planned.

RNC counsel Todd Steggerda wrote in a letter dated Friday that the city of Milwaukee’s current proposal “creates an elevated and untenable safety risk to the attending public” and places demonstrators in a one-block park that “will force thousands of peaceful attendees and demonstrators … to be in extremely close, consistent and unavoidable proximity.”

Steggerda’s letter also requests a meeting between Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and RNC leadership to discuss the “urgent safety issue.” The letter comes amid heightened awareness around political protests as pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally at major universities across the US. Some campuses have called police to remove demonstrators, resulting in detainments and arrests.

“As recent college and university campus clashes make plain, forced proximity heightens tensions among peaceful attendees and demonstrators of differing ideologies and increases the risk of escalation to verbal, or even physical, clashes and corresponding law enforcement intervention,” the letter states. Alexi Worley, spokesperson for the Secret Service, said in a statement that the agency is “not formally in receipt of the letter” and will “respond through appropriate channels” if it receives one.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/27/politics/rnc-secret-service-republicans-convention-milwaukee/index.html

[bluestarone]

1. Do they move back when they protest?

HELL NO! They think they are special.

[former9thward]

8. The DNC has asked the same thing of the Secret Service in Chicago.

[FBaggins]

10. We even had the city council pass new laws

https://abc7chicago.com/amp/dnc-2024-chicago-city-council-approves-ordinance-for-security-zones-around-united-center-concerns-about-protesters-high-after-ohare-arrests/14684106/

[SunSeeker]

12. The DNC did not ask the city to pass any new laws.

And that article indicates the ordinances were sought by the city to help it more easily keep people from engaging in activities like blocking traffic or engaging in violence, which for the most part are us already illegal.

[FBaggins]

18. Don't be silly... of course it did

There are no Republican aldermen on the city council (47D/3I). There has been a constant dialog between the candidates/city/party to coordinate the best possible story being told at the convention. Part of getting to host the convention in the first place was a commitment to accommodate the security needs

which for the most part are us already illegal.

Walking dogs and carrying laptop cases or large purses is already illegal in Chicago?

Who knew?

[SunSeeker]

22. You're the one being silly. The city counsel and the DNC are not one and the same.

And what part of "most" did you not understand? The point is to prevent violence; violence is already illegal. But folks coming in with dogs in a crush of people could likely result in someone being bit. And large bags are routinely banned from major events, since they can carry weapons like ARs that can mow down large amounts of people in minutes.

[SunSeeker]

13. The DNC did not ask for the same thing.

Unlike the RNC request for a buffer zone free of protesters, the DNC is seeking a buffer zone free of guns, fireworks, bikes, scooters, tents, balloons and dogs--but not free of protesters.
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-dnc-security-plan/

[former9thward]

15. Chicago is refusing permits for protesters.

[FBaggins]

20. Well... not so much "refusing"

As pushing them much further back than the OP scenario is discussing.

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/chicago/news/democratic-national-convention-protesters-permits-union-park-grant-park/

Four miles???

[SunSeeker]

24. And as your article notes, some of these groups were previously violent.

In 2012, some of the same activist groups were part of the protests at the NATO Summit in Chicago. While some of those protests turned violent, ...

Individuals can still go into the buffer zone around the convention center.

And again, this is the city's actions, not the DNC.

[former9thward]

26. "Some of those groups were previously violent"

So someone in some group 12 years ago was "violent". Whatever that means. I am sure a judge will think that is a good argument by the city...

[SunSeeker]

29. Yes, it's up to the CITY to defend the denials. This was not the action of the DNC. nt

[SunSeeker]

23. The city is not the DNC. You can't "both sides" this.

And the city refusing to grant permits for big events next to the convention is not the same as denying protesters entry into the buffer zone.

[former9thward]

25. The city works hand in glove with the DNC on convention matters.

Anyone in Chicago would find your post very humorous.

[SunSeeker]

30. Your belief in a Democratic conspiracy is duly noted!

[forgotmylogin]

31. The protesters on Jan 6th protested right the heck into Nancy Pelosi's office.

What, is the RNC now afraid of tourists just passing by?

[RainCaster]

2. The GOP is afraid of non-gerimandered voters

Not sure I spelled that right, but you get the idea.

[hadEnuf]

3. They mean move protesters back like Trump did at the Capitol Building on 1/6/21? Oh, wait a minute

could they be worried about some tourists that might show up?

How about a big FUCK NO to the RNC?

[erronis]

4. Seems like the (R)epuglicon "Brooks Brothers" protesters at the Florida 2000 ballot counting

did not stand back at all. They (the obviously white RW boys) were pounding on the doors.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Brothers_riot

The Brooks Brothers riot was a demonstration led by Republican staffers at a meeting of election canvassers in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on November 22, 2000, during a recount of votes made during the 2000 United States presidential election, with the goal of shutting down the recount. After demonstrations and acts of violence, local officials shut down the recount early.

The name referenced the protesters' corporate attire; described by Paul Gigot in an editorial for The Wall Street Journal as "50-year-old white lawyers with cell phones and Hermès ties", differentiating them from local citizens concerned about vote counting.[1] Many of the demonstrators were Republican staffers.[2] Both Roger Stone and Brad Blakeman take credit for managing the riot from a command post, although their accounts contradict each other.[2] Republican New York Representative John E. Sweeney gave the signal that started the riot,[3] telling an aide to "shut it down".[4][5]

[slightlv]

5. I think they're afraid we've learned from their past,

and may seek to implement the same type of action. They always think the worst case scenario, because that's what THEY would do, given the chance!

[FBaggins]

6. I would caution against making too much hay of this one

Right now it looks like we will have far more trouble with protesters at our convention.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

7. So, let me get this straight. Liberal demonstrators are going to be confined to a one block park.

And how do you keep them in those confines? Fences maybe? So that they can be surrounded by (oh, I’m sure) “unarmed” Maggots and such with bear spray and seething with white-hot hatred for those within the fencing? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

[DENVERPOPS]

9. THAT

is exactly what Cheney/Rummie did during the W Bush occupation of the White House.

Any demonstrators at any Republican event were "corralled" and taken to a fenced in, police guarded park several blocks from the event.

[ZZenith]

27. "Free Speech Zones"

As Orwellian a phrase as there ever was.

[SunSeeker]

11. I haven't seen any of the pro-palestinian protestors protesting Republicans.

I don't know why the GOP is so worried.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. Would the media even show that?

Especially since they are in the GOP's pockets? The GOP makes sure to keep protestors far away.

[Biglinda 52]

16. I don't want my taxes....

.....paying to keep them safe. Let them pay. I thought the SS was just for the President and family. They already have SS coverage. Calling out the national guard costs money. Let them pay if they want it. Home many times did TFG not pay security bills for his rallies. Ask for money up front.

[FBaggins]

17. You're out of luck

They aren’t doing the RNC a favor/courtesy

Legally - the SS protects major party candidates as well. And, of course, former presidents retain SS protection.

[sindri]

19. Biden should respond

with working with schools and youth-focused media to provide comprehensive breakdown and context of Hamas, RW Israeli government - (and how they both treat their populations as acceptable sacrifices for political gain.) A lesson to them that a democracy only works if enough good people are willing to serve and enough people elect them to balance out those acting in bad faith and for personal gain only. Protesting is only one part - in addition, all of us need to put effort into being informed, involved and willing to work together in good faith.

[Martin68]

21. MAGAts just don't see the irony of asking for protection when they are the ones threatening violence.

[Raven123]

28. They should have the same circumference the J6 "patriots " had