Day Two RNC: Police deescalate Milwaukee protesters; spotlight on immigration and security

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Warning: Video above contains explicit language.

Out-of-state police played the role of peacemakers throughout the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday.

Indiana State Police who were patrolling the Milwaukee streets outside of the RNC outer perimeter security checkpoint Tuesday exercised restraint and quickly deescalated tension among protesters and counter protesters.

A man was seated peacefully wearing a “Never again” T-shirt displaying the Israeli flag, holding a sign “America advances with Trump/Vance.”

“Never again,” referring to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel that resulted in the murder, rape and kidnapping of civilian women and children in the worst attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

A hostile protester approached the man shouting, “This is a free country, sir. Protest is protected by the First Amendment,” shortly before accusing the pro-Israel man of sodomy and screaming expletives.

Tempered strength

Next the protester started shouting at police, “Do you believe in law and order or do you not?” the protester shouted before yelling, “Do you serve the badge, or did you make an honor to the Constitution?” the protester said, before yelling more expletives saying to the police, “You’re full of s*it,” and demanding to speak to their “superior officer.”

Israel remained a key topic throughout Tuesday’s convention as Nikki Haley took the stage in the evening and was critical of President Joe Biden.

“Even now, while Hamas is still holding Americans hostage, Biden is pressuring Israel instead of the terrorists. Between Israel and Hamas, Donald Trump is clear who is our friend and who is our enemy,” Haley said noting anti-Semitism is rising at alarming levels.

A Pro-Hamas protesters attacked a member of Congress on Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden said he was assaulted by a protester on Tuesday.

“While standing in line to enter an event at the RNC today, I was assaulted by what appeared to be a member of the pro-Hamas group CODEPINK. A nearby police officer witnessed this assault and I understand they have been arrested. This appears to be an incident of political violence and I will never tolerate this. Regardless of the severity of the violence, political violence is political violence. Republicans have been intimidated and targeted for years including the attempted assassination of President Trump and we will no longer standby and allow lawlessness. There is no place for political violence in this country and I have repeatedly called for people who choose this path to be prosecuted to the greatest extent of the law. Nothing will change until these people are held accountable,” Van Orden wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Protests earlier in the day broke out in song on Water Street signing “We don’t trust Democrats. We don’t trust Republicans. F*ck Biden. F*ck Trump.”

Other Water Street protests had signs saying, “Abortion is murder,” and “Obey Jesus or Hell.”

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, on the first day of the RNC, pro-Hamas and pro-choice abortion protesters gathered Monday just outside of the Fiserv Forum’s security perimeter.

Border security

Other key issues Tuesday looked at immigration and border security.

Tuesday’s speakers included families who have been victim to violent crime.

The family of Rachel Morin, a Maryland woman who was raped and then killed by an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, spoke Tuesday evening, advocating for increased border security.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) claimed, “Biden and Harris want illegals to vote now that they’ve opened up the border.”

Kari Lake also blamed Biden and Democrats for the crisis at U.S.-Mexico border.

Haley also was critical of Biden’s border policy during Tuesday evening’s remarks.

“Under Joe Biden migrants are coming into our country by the thousands by the day, and we have no idea who they are,” Haley said.

Presidential security

Former New York Mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said he thinks the Secret Service does not have enough funding or resources to safely protect Americans. The comment was made in light of Saturday’s assassination attempt on former-President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania.

“I do know (the Secret Service) has asked for more resources and not gotten them,” Giuliani said, noting that originally Secret Service protection was denied for Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

“Are you going to tell me that in this country there aren’t a fair number of people who want to kill the last Kennedy?” Giuliani asked.

Day Two RNC Milwaukee 2024 Photo Gallery