The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next month will have strict security measures in place, as announced by the US Secret Service on Friday. A perimeter has been established to prevent protesters from gathering at Pere Marquette Park, which is near the venue.
The park is now within the “hard” security perimeter, allowing only credentialed attendees and volunteers inside and prohibiting weapons, according to Audrey Gibson-Cicchino, US Secret Service RNC coordinator.
The security plans also include designated areas for protest speeches on both sides of the hard perimeter, as outlined by Nick DeSiato, chief of staff at the Milwaukee mayor’s office.
This announcement follows a dispute between the GOP and the Secret Service over security measures for the convention, scheduled for July 15 to 18. The Republican party had raised concerns about safety risks, prompting a request for increased distance between protesters and the event.
The Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle addressed recent controversial comments by Trump ally Steve Bannon, stating that such remarks are being considered but have not yet impacted security plans for the convention. Despite the tensions, preparations for the event are proceeding as scheduled.
CNN’s Alayna Treene and Shania Shelton contributed to this report.
