The 'protester zone' near the RNC convention in Milwaukee will be moved away from the event

The designated “protester zone” near the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee will be expanded during the July event.

The expansion came after months of pressure from Republican Party officials, according to the Washington Post. The perimeter was allowed to be expanded after party officials said they were using another facility near Pere Marquette Park, a site where thousands of protesters could gather, for some convention events. People familiar with the matter said the change would be announced in the coming days.

“We commend Secret Service leaders for including Pere Marquette Park in the security perimeter and implore local officials to expedite the permit application for this park and choose a different location for the First Amendment zone.” , Trump senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.

Secret Service spokeswoman Alexi Worley said the security plan was still being developed.

“At this time, the security plan for the 2024 Republican National Convention, which includes the security perimeter, is still being developed,” Worley said. “The U.S. Secret Service does not determine event areas for special national security events – those decisions are made by the host city. The U.S. Secret Service continues to work closely with our public safety partners, the City of Milwaukee and the Republican National Committee to ensure the highest level of safety and security during the 2024 Republican National Convention.”

Protest zones, or free speech zones, are designated areas set aside for protesters, allowing demonstrations without widespread disruption. They first appeared on college campuses to allow students to protest without interfering with school functions.

The RNC will hold its presidential nominating convention at Fiserv Forum. The Democratic Party had originally planned for the building to host its 2020 convention, but changed its plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the biggest protests are expected at the August Democratic convention in Chicago, the wrangling over the security perimeter shows Republicans are also worried.

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During a meeting with Republicans on Thursday, Trump reportedly expressed a negative impression of Milwaukee.

“Milwaukee, where we have our convention, is a horrible city,” he said.