The leaders of the RNC have requested that protests be held further away from the venue due to safety concerns. However, a coalition of protest groups has sued the City of Milwaukee, claiming that their rights to free speech and assembly are being infringed upon by a special event ordinance that restricts their ability to protest near the Republican National Convention (RNC) venue. The ACLU filed the complaint on behalf of the Coalition to March on the RNC, alleging that the ordinance creates a security zone that limits their ability to communicate their message to convention attendees. The groups argue that the ordinance violates their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The lawsuit also claims that Milwaukee officials have not designated parade routes or responded to permit applications from the protest coalition. Despite this, Milwaukee officials have stated that they will accommodate peaceful demonstrations in other areas of the city. The RNC counsel has also requested that protesters be kept farther back from the convention venue for safety reasons. The Secret Service has yet to finalize security plans for the convention, where significant protests are expected. The protest coalition has filed multiple permit applications for a parade route near the convention venue but has been met with delays and restrictions imposed by the special event ordinance. The groups argue that the ordinance is too vague and allows for excessive restrictions that limit their ability to be heard and seen by RNC attendees, in violation of their constitutional rights.
Constitutional Rights Upheld in Lawsuit Against City
“The Coalition brings this suit to vindicate its rights to engage in First Amendment expression activity in the traditional public forum of the streets in a manner where it can be seen and heard by attendees of the Convention,” their complaint reads.
The coalition is seeking a court declaration that Milwaukee unlawfully denied their parade permit application and is requesting that the ordinance be deemed unconstitutional.
In addition, the protesters are asking the court to compel the city to issue a parade permit in a location that allows them to be visible and audible to RNC attendees.
Similar concerns and legal challenges have been raised by protesters in relation to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago held in August.
