Even after an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at a rally on Saturday, protesters are determined to carry on with their planned demonstrations during the Republican National Convention (RNC) this week.
The Coalition to March on the RNC, a group comprising various activist organizations, intends to protest the conference happening from July 15 to 18 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The coalition’s goal is to oppose the “racist and reactionary agenda of the Republican Party” and advocate for the rights of women, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, and show support for Gaza.
“The shooting incident won’t deter us, and we will proceed with our march as scheduled,” stated Omar Flores, a spokesperson for the coalition, during a press conference on Sunday.
The group emphasizes that their march is inclusive and suitable for families, anticipating a turnout of 5,000 to 10,000 attendees, as reported by the Associated Press.
Despite ongoing negotiations with city officials over the march route, the coalition announced on Saturday that they had reached an agreement.
Various smaller groups, such as the economic justice organization Poor People’s Army, have also planned their own demonstrations.
The Secret Service confirmed that security arrangements, made over the past year, will remain unchanged following the recent incident, according to the AP.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson expressed the city’s commitment to public safety and collaboration with authorities in light of the situation.
Trump, who encountered the gunfire incident in Pennsylvania, arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday. He is slated to be officially named the Republican presidential candidate at the RNC and reveal his running mate, with a speech scheduled for Monday.
Trump mentioned to the Washington Examiner that his speech plans have been altered in light of the attack, indicating it will be notably different from what was previously planned.
“The speech I had ready for Thursday would have been remarkable. Considering the recent events, this speech will take a different direction,” he shared.