A Republican senator from Wisconsin is calling on Milwaukee’s mayor to move protest zones ahead of next month’s Republican National Convention.
Sen. Ron Johnson appeared on Milwaukee TV’s Upfront over the weekend and said Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Governor Tony Evers need to get involved and lobby the U.S. Secret Service to move the planned protest area for the Republican National Convention.
“I want Mayor Johnson to take responsibility and demand change. Again, this is in the best interest of all of us. Governor Evers should also demand change. You know, Republicans are clearly demanding that this concern be addressed,” Mayor Johnson said.
He called the establishment of a protest zone in Pere Marquette Park, about a quarter mile from the convention site at Fiserv Forum, “absurd.”
“I am concerned that right now the United States Secret Service is stubbornly resistant,” Johnson said. “This has to be addressed. This has to change.”
Johnson and Republican National Convention planners have argued for months that the protest area is too close to the Republican National Convention site.
They fear that leaving the protest zone in place will cause unnecessary trouble.
Johnson said it’s in Milwaukee’s best interest to avoid any trouble next month.
Milwaukee will host the Republican National Convention on July 15th.
