MILWAUKEE, Wis (Civic Media) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the City of Milwaukee, arguing that ordinances governing parade and protest activity during the upcoming Republican National Convention unlawfully limit the locations where demonstrators can exercise their First Amendment rights.
The lawsuit is brought on behalf of the Coalition to March on the RNC and claims the city’s ordinance restricts protesters to marching on an undisclosed parade route within a 90-square-block area around Fiserv Forum, the convention’s venue. Although the city claimed the route would be within “sight and sound” of RNC venues, it has failed to identify any specific route to date.
“Milwaukee has been rolling out the red carpet for the Republican National Convention and all its attendees, spending millions on their security,” said Tim Muth, a staff attorney with the ACLU of Wisconsin. “But sadly, the city does not appear to demonstrate that same commitment to protecting the First Amendment rights of people who want to express opposing views on the streets of Milwaukee during the RNC.”
The Coalition to March on the RNC proposed a parade route to the city more than a year ago and will ask the court to order the city to allow that route for its planned parade on July 15, the first day of the convention.
The Republican National Convention runs July 15th through the 18th.
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