MADISON, Wis. — A federal judge ruled Monday that protesters are not allowed to march through a security zone. Republican National Conventionshake hands defeat against liberals who pushed for better accessibility to the site where delegates will meet next week in Milwaukee.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee last month, claiming the city’s plans for protesters violate their right to free speech. They asked the judge to order the city to design a protest parade route that is within sight and sound of the Fiserv Forum, where thousands of Republicans are expected to gather starting Monday to Donald Trump as president.
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig said in his order that protesters have a right to protest the RNC, “but the First Amendment does not permit them to protest or parade in any manner they choose.”
Ludwig said Milwaukee city officials and the U.S. Secret Service have been working to balance the protesters’ right to express themselves with “legitimate security and other governmental interests.”
“The vast majority of the resulting security plan is a reasonable and valid regulation of the time, place and manner of speech,” the judge said in denying the protesters’ request for closer access to the convention site.
The judge ruled in favor of the ACLU on one issue, ruling that the city and Public Works Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke could not approve applications for speakers and demonstrations based on an applicant’s criminal history.
Ludwig said the city “exceeded its authority by reserving the right to deny permits for protests based on” a prior criminal conviction.
Both sides have until Wednesday to consider other legal options.
Omar Flores, chairman of the March on the RNC Coalition, declined to comment on the ruling before the group held a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
Protesters have complained that the city is keeping them too far away from the convention site, which is within a security perimeter that requires identification to enter. Protesters wanted to march within that security zone. However, the security plan establishes a parade route about five blocks from the arena, with a stage for speakers within the route.