Protesters march against GOP agenda on first day of RNC in Milwaukee

Protesters took to the streets in Milwaukee on Monday to speak out against the Republican Party platform and agenda on the first day of the Republican National Convention. 

Organizers with the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 say the rally included more than 100 progressive groups from across the nation. Omar Flores, co-chair of the coalition, said speakers who gathered at the march “represent a broad movement against the entire Republican platform.” 

“The most visible figurehead of the Republican Party right now is Donald Trump, and we want to be clear — we are marching on the Republican’s entire agenda,” Flores said. 

For around two hours, more than 1,000 people chanted and marched through downtown Milwaukee. That’s a smaller turnout than Flores’ prediction of 2,500 to 5,000.

Kim Russell with Women’s March traveled to Milwaukee from Brooklyn, New York. 

“I just feel like everyone needs to know about Trump’s monstrous policies and his platform,” Russell said. 

The protest comes two days after former President Donald Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. While speaking before the march, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of the immigrant rights group Voces De La Frontera, said she condemns political violence.

“We grieve for the families of those who died and were injured on Saturday,” Neumann-Ortiz said. “At the same time, it’s undeniable that Trump’s rhetoric, policies and actions have contributed to a climate of increased violence and legitimized hate crimes by white nationalists.”

Russell said the shooting was on her mind Monday, but she said she didn’t feel unsafe at the Milwaukee rally. 

“I feel safe, which is good,” Russell said.

Before the event, organizers said they believed the march would be “family friendly.” Protesters were met by a few counter protesters at Red Arrow Park and near Fiserv Forum, but there were no violent clashes.

Several police officers could be seen along the route. Protest groups also had parade marshals and medics on site handing out water in the humid temperatures.  

Nolan Jackett, vice president of the Hartford Union High School board of education, was at Red Arrow Park watching protesters. He is volunteering with the RNC this week. 

“I am absolutely shocked that this many people don’t have something better to do on a Monday morning,” Jackett said. “This is a lot of radicals down here.”

The convention began as the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll found President Joe Biden was narrowly leading Trump among registered voters. 

Nico Hernandez, who traveled to Milwaukee from Iowa for the rally, said although he came to protest Trump, he’s also not the biggest fan of Biden’s policies. 

“Obviously I cannot stand Trump and his agenda, but Biden is not a friend to working people,” said Hernandez, who is a member of his local International Brotherhood of Teamsters union.

Editor’s note: Robert D’Andrea contributed to this report.