MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� Activists who outside the are trumpeting their efforts, despite crowd estimates falling short. Milwaukee police are praising their cooperation with other agencies in convention security, even as Ohio officers face scrutiny for a man while in the city.
Some activists and attendees say there was more caution after the apparent on former President Donald Trump, while others say the setting was the right place to amplify their message and set the stage for future conventions.
Milwaukee has wrapped up its week in the national spotlight with lessons for Chicago, which hosts the Democratic National Convention next month.
Muted protests?
Packed crowds of activists marched through downtown Milwaukee on the convention's first day, chanting for causes including solidarity with Palestinians and reproductive rights. Police on the scene and observers estimated roughly 1,000 people participated, while organizers say it was closer to 3,000.
Either way, the numbers fell short of the 5,000 to 10,000 the Coalition to March on the RNC had predicted in the lead up to the convention. Some think the shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania may have scared some people away.
鈥淚t probably had an impact on the perceived risk,鈥� said Omar Flores, a coalition organizer. 鈥淚t might have had a chilling effect.鈥�
Still, activists believe their protest was a success because they peacefully marched the instead of one the city outlined and they brought attention to their progressive agenda.
Aside from the first day demonstrations, there was little other protest activity.
The city had set aside two parks with stages around the convention site for First Amendment activity. Ahead of the convention more than 100 people and groups from all over the political spectrum signed up to speak. But the no-show rate was more than 80%, according to the city. One park had just three speakers one day. City officials said they believe many of those supporting progressive causes opted for the coalition鈥檚 protest.
But some had other reasons.
Orlando Owens, who is a leader of Milwaukee County Republicans, had planned to speak in support of Trump at a city stage. But he said he didn鈥檛 because he got too busy with the convention and didn鈥檛 want to create more divisions in the wake of the attempted assassination.
鈥淚t definitely had everybody on pause a little bit,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t did heighten your caution a little more.鈥�
Tight security
Milwaukee police and the U.S. Secret Service said security planning has been in the works for more than a year, including heavy police presence on the city's streets and . Authorities said they did not make any changes to the security plan following the Trump rally shooting, but .
鈥淭here are going to be challenges but we do have the resources and also the cooperation with refreshing partners to be able to pivot when those challenges come up,鈥� said Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
The convention was not without security incidents, including the arrest of a 21-year-old man accused of carrying a concealed firearm near the convention. Police from Columbus, Ohio, in Milwaukee as part of the event security effort on Tuesday fatally shot Samuel Sharpe, who authorities said was armed with knives not far from the convention site.
The shooting ignited anger among residents who said police from outside Milwaukee should not have been stationed in the neighborhood. Activists concerned about police officers' use of force said there was too much police presence overall in Milwaukee. On Thursday night, family members and supporters of Sharpe and in Milwaukee held a rally near the convention to call attention to the deaths.
Norman defended the use of outside agencies, saying the officers took it upon themselves to intervene in an 鈥渁ctive imminent threat situation.鈥�
鈥淚f anything, it restores the faith in our guardians and our community no matter where they come from, they have our community鈥檚 back,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey could have simply said, 鈥楬ey, we鈥檙e from out of state. Not my problem.鈥� But did they?鈥�
All eyes on Chicago
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said the convention put the city on the map and it鈥檚 ready for more.
鈥淭he RNC is not the end, it鈥檚 the beginning,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the beginning of other large-scale events coming to Milwaukee.鈥�
Johnson, a Democrat, said he鈥檚 readying to go to Chicago next month.
Like Milwaukee, Chicago has also been preparing for months, including a controversial move to
The crowds are predicted to be much bigger with roughly 50,000 expected visitors, and activists are anticipating tens of thousands of people at demonstrations planned throughout the week.
The Coalition to March on the DNC, which has sued the city over restrictions outlining where they can demonstrate, is in talks for a location near the United Center convention site.
鈥淲e all have known that the RNC was not going to be the main event of the season, we all knew it was going to be the DNC,鈥� said Hatem Abudayyeh, one of the lead organizers. 鈥淥ur folks in Chicago are hoping it鈥檚 going to be a lead to our action.鈥�
Chicago police have also been preparing with .
Milwaukee Police Chief Norman had some advice for law enforcement gearing up for the DNC.
鈥淕et lots of sleep, drink lots of water,鈥� Norman said. 鈥淢ake sure you understand your roles.鈥�
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Associated Press Writer Jake Offenhartz contributed to this report.
Sophia Tareen, The Associated Press
