'I want to feel that I did something.' Demonstrators speak out on abortion, immigration, other issues

MILWAUKEE — On the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, an organized protest said it was calling it quits for the rest of the week. But a few individuals kept up the fight, protesting just beyond the convention’s security perimeter.

On Monday, the first day of the RNC, the Coalition to March on the RNC protested at Red Arrow Park just outside the security perimeter. In a release Tuesday, the coalition said it would not continue to protest around the convention site.

“We have no further plans to organize actions around the RNC. We are also not aware of other actions happening in Milwaukee this week,” the release said.

The group said more than 120 organizations were represented at its family-friendly march Monday that took place within sight and sound of the Fiserv Forum. It said about 3,000 people attended with the aim of fighting “the racist and reactionary Republican agenda.”

Coalition members said they will continue their work to stand with Palestine, defend and expand immigrants’ rights, defend women’s, LGBTQ, and reproductive rights, and demand peace, justice, and equity for all.

In the coming weeks, they will be shifting their focus to Chicago, site of the Democratic National Convention in August.

The coalition’s release said it looks forward “to joining our Chicago siblings in the streets on Aug. 19, with the Coalition to March on the DNC.”

“We know that the Democrats are working just as hard as the Republicans to promote racist and reactionary policies, especially when it comes to sending money and weapons to Israel. Our endorsers look forward to more organizing in August and beyond,” the release said.

Lone protestor

On Tuesday morning, Milwaukee native Collin O’Toole said he wasn’t able to get to the Monday event but came out a day later to promote his views.

He said a variety of people came out to talk with him, some willing to have a conversation and some who had “an agenda.”

“I’m feeling kind of lonely and outnumbered here at the moment,” he admitted, as one of the only people protesting on Tuesday.

He said some evangelical protesters had yelled at him.

“They were yelling about stuff — they got really annoyed when the rock band came up, because the rock band’s amps were more powerful than the [loudspeaker] they were using.”

He said for people who live in Milwaukee, navigating the security surrounding the convention has been challenging.

He said someday he will tell his infant niece “where I was when the fascists came to town, I don’t like the fact that these people are here,” he said. “The city government just invited them here for the money. They’re all stoked with all the attention Milwaukee’s getting, but there are people who had their bus routes they need to get to and from work to their home messed up. Anyone who lives or works within the security clearance… can’t get their car in and out of there a lot of times. I want to feel that I did something.”