2 People Arrested During, After RNC Protest in Downtown Milwaukee Monday: Police

Matt Masterson | July 16, 2024, 8:04 am

Police officers stand watch during a protest march through Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. (Michael Izquierdo / WTTW News)

Two people were arrested during or shortly after the first large-scale protest of the Republican National Convention on Monday afternoon.

The Milwaukee Police Department confirmed one person was arrested at the downtown protest and one more person was arrested after the march concluded.

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According to police, MPD officers arrested a 36-year-old man for disorderly conduct at around 3:20 p.m. Monday in the 900 block of North Water Street — the location of Red Arrow Park, where protesters held a rally and began their march.

Police said the man intentionally disrupted protesters, took signs from protesters and attempted to knock over a booth which they said caused a disturbance. He was subsequently arrested, cited and released.

Hours later at around 6 p.m., Milwaukee police arrested a 61-year-old woman who was allegedly blocking traffic in the 900 block of West Winnebago Street, which is a short distance from the RNC convention hall at the Fiserv Forum.

The woman, who police described as a protester, allegedly intentionally blocked a vehicle checkpoint and refused to move after she was given several orders. She was arrested and cited before being released.

The protest march itself, which shut down several main streets in downtown Milwaukee during the middle of the afternoon, remained peaceful.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the protests Monday “proceeded without any major problems” and “went off very peacefully.”

“Most importantly no one was hurt and there was no significant property damage,” he said at a press conference Tuesday morning. “Overall it was a calm day, it was a peaceful day.”

Johnson said one person was also arrested Monday afternoon while they attempted to climb into a restricted area near the convention hall, but that did not appear related to the protests.

The Secret Service, which is handling security around the RNC, said it had “reviewed and strengthened” their safety plans following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at an event in Pennsylvania over the weekend.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling — who sent officers to assist with the RNC — said Monday he has spoken with MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman and believes that department is handling RNC security the “right way.”