RNC Milwaukee 2024; Secret Service restrictions for convention
MILWAUKEE - The Republican National Convention (RNC) will bring the world to Milwaukee this coming July. Now, the U.S. Secret Service reveals the rough security footprint, showing in what areas you might find restrictions.
The rough RNC security footprint extends from 9th Street on the west, Cherry Street on the north, Water Street on the east and Clybourn Street on the south.
The map is tentative and does not include where roads will be closed. It does not include "no parking" zones. It does not include where security checkpoints will be, but it is early notice to get ready. It's raising questions for people living inside the footprint.
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"Going to the grocery store, whether it be a pharmacy or something, how do we get back and forth? If they’re going to restrict us, which is understandable, but at the same time, just as long as we get a solution to it," said Thomas Matthews, who lives in the security footprint. "Will we be given a certain screening process as we come and go? We know that parking is going to be a big thing down here."
"The word ‘security’ always makes me feel good," added Matthews.
"My concern is that we have a lot of people in this building that get medication delivered every day. That would be my biggest concern," said Darry Tucker, who also lives in the footprint.
It is expected there will be layers of increasing security, as you get closer to the main events – at Fiserv Forum, as well as Panther Arena and the Baird Center. There will be a hard perimeter with massive fencing closer to those facilities.
Milwaukee had that fencing here in 2020 for the mostly virtual Democratic National Convention. You needed a credential from the Secret Service to get inside.
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"There's lots of preparation that's underway to make sure that everything runs smoothly throughout the convention," said Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. "And I'm pleased about how all this is coming together."
But, as far as where the hard security perimeter will be, or what restrictions you'll find in the just-released rough security footprint, the Secret Service will reveal those at a later time.
"I don't want to get ahead of the Secret Service," said Johnson.
The RNC is taking place July 15-18.
"I want there to be a safe convention this summer in Milwaukee. At the same time, downtown Milwaukee will be open for business, and it'll be open for entertainment as well," said the mayor.
Three blocks away, Matthews and Tucker will be watching the world descend on their neighborhood.
"That’s going to be amazing," said Matthews. "It’ll be very fun, it’ll be exciting and it’ll be a lot of national attention for the state of Wisconsin"
If you have questions about how the RNC might impact you, there is a new "frequently asked questions" web page available, which the city just launched.