RNC demonstration area registration portal to go live on City of Milwaukee website Thursday

The online portal to sign up for a time slot to demonstrate at city-designated sites within the "security footprint" of the Republican National Convention is expected to go live noon Thursday, according to Mayor Cavalier Johnson's office.

Information will be available at that time at the city website Milwaukee.gov/RNC, where the city is posting information about the July 15-18 event that is expected to bring tens of thousands of people to Milwaukee.

Johnson is scheduled to sign the legislation Wednesday creating a permit process for speaking and marching during the convention, according to spokesman Jeff Fleming.

The legislation was approved by the Common Council Tuesday with two objections after gaining the backing of a council committee in a special meeting Monday.

The lengthy "extraordinary event ordinance" creates a process for using the official speaker's platform and parade route that will be available for speaking and marching within the "security footprint."

The preliminary security footprint extends from Cherry Street to the north to West Clybourn Street on the south and from North Water Street on the east to North 9th Street on the west — nearly identical to the security zone that had been expected for the 2020 Democratic National Convention that became largely virtual.

City officials have not yet said where the official speaker's platform and parade route will be located.

For the DNC, Pere Marquette Park in downtown was the designated protest area. City officials have not confirmed whether this will be the case for the RNC.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee RNC demonstration area registration available Thursday