Violent professional convention protesters must be prosecuted

Tens of thousands of conservatives are in Wisconsin this week for the Republican National Convention, where they will nominate Donald Trump as the party's nominee for president of the United States.

As with previous conventions, there will be protesters, many of whom will come to exercise their First Amendment rights. Mixed in with the crowd will be anarchists and professional agitators who will disguise themselves as protesters, but their goal is to inflict chaos and destruction.

As district attorney of Fond du Lac County, I believe that those who try to turn these peaceful protests into riots must be charged and held accountable for their actions. This will protect residents and businesses in the area, as well as the First Amendment rights of those taking part in the Republican convention.

In 2008, when the Twin Cities held the GOP convention, an anarchist protest group was charged with plotting to kidnap delegates to the Republican National Committee and assault police officers with the goal of bringing chaos and destruction to the area.

In 2012, according to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, anarchists were trying to disrupt the RNC’s convention in Tampa, Florida, and the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2016, when the RNC went to Cleveland, Republicans faced a similar security threat. These previous conventions show a pattern of security concerns from those who want to inflict harm and chaos.

We know these professional protesters and agitators are coming again. A federal judge ruled that protesters are not allowed to march through security zones in Milwaukee during the Republican convention. This was the correct decision because the First Amendment doesn’t give anyone the right to enter a security zone, where a peaceful protest can quickly turn into a riot.

I believe those who come to the great state of Wisconsin with the intent to turn peaceful protests into violent affairs must be held accountable, which starts with prosecutors who will enforce our laws.

• Eric Toney is district attorney of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, and served on the executive board of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association.