(RepublicanNews.org) – A Wisconsin judge dismissed a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) regarding a planned protest against the Republican National Committee (RNC) Coalition in Milwaukee, ruling that the U.S. Secret Service and the city have the right to establish a “hard security perimeter” for the political convention for the safety of all attendees.
On Tuesday, July 9th, Judge Brett Ludwig shot down a case by the ACLU on behalf of a protest organization planning a protest of the RNC convention against the city’s plan of action to handle the event.
The ACLU of Wisconsin filed the lawsuit against the City of Milwaukee on behalf of the “Coalition to March on the RNC 2024.” The lawsuit claims that Milwaukee’s ordinances limiting the parade route of the planned march to a 90-square-block area away from the convention violated their free speech rights. The group initially applied for a permit over a year prior, but their planned route was never approved.
The ACLU put a statement out after filing the suit, stating that it is a constitutional right for protesters to “demonstrate within ‘sight and sound’” of the event they are demonstrating against and that the ordinances from the city violate that right by rendering them “unseen and unheard.”
The ruling threw out their challenge, maintaining the ordinance that the group cannot cross into certain areas designated as security areas by the city during the upcoming convention, which begins on Monday, July 15th, and concludes on Thursday, July 18th. While Ludwig affirmed the constitutional right to protest, he said the First Amendment did not give the right to express oneself “at all places and times” of one’s choosing. The group will have two days to file an appeal.
ACLU Wisconsin attorney Tim Muth said although he was “disappointed” by the judge’s decision, he hopes the city will make sure the demonstrators can still “freely, thoroughly, and safely” protest free of “unnecessary interference” from police.
The RNC Convention is expected to see a huge turn-out as former President Donald Trump will be officially designated as the Republican presidential nominee.
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