The Republican Nation Convention in Milwaukee: tight security for attendees, but guns okay in outer perimeter

The Republican National Convention kicked off Monday morning in Milwaukee amid tight security following an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally days earlier.

A large area of downtown Milwaukee around Fiserv Forum, chosen for the convention for being in the swing state of Wisconsin, had on Sunday already been almost completely fenced off, with different branches of law enforcement are out in full force, as attendees were gathering and checking in for a convention expected to host tens of thousands.

Despite the recent shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania, guns are being allowed near the Republican convention within the outer perimeter (though not the inner perimeter) of the week-long event. This includes areas where demonstrators have been authorised to gather and march. 

Some who have come to demonstrate at the convention have complained that the routes are too far from the event for their voices to be heard. Many have also raised concerns that guns will be allowed anywhere near the convention, including where people will be voicing their political differences.

One of the first planned demonstrations Monday morning will be held by a group led by Palestinian activists from the area (Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison) at Red Arrow Park near the convention, starting with a press conference, a rally and then a march. They are expected to focus on Gaza and US foreign policy.

Though police will be present at the planned demonstrations, concerns remain over the security of attendees given the recent incident in Pennsylvania and the current tense political divisions.

"We have taken security of our community into consideration, to make sure people can exercise their right to free speech and bring attention to Palestine to the RNC," Nick Sous, a member of the US Palestinian Community Network, told The New Arab.

"We're going to be having thousands of people coming to this rally. The March on the RNC Coalition has been negotiating with the city of Milwaukee to make sure we have a space where we'll be heard, and we feel comfortable with the space and march route that we've negotiated," he said.