Friend –

On Wednesday night, we sued the City of Milwaukee for establishing unconstitutional protest rules that violate the First Amendment rights of people planning to protest during the Republican National Convention next month.

The Coalition to March on the RNC – made up of more than 40 groups planning to protest during the convention – applied for a parade permit more than a year ago. With less than six weeks left before the RNC, city leaders have been unwilling or unable to say whether it accepts the route proposed by the coalition and have failed to identify any permissible parade route whatsoever, contrary to claims they made previously.

Instead, they passed an ordinance that limits demonstrators to an undisclosed parade route somewhere in a 90-square block area around Fiserv Forum. Protesters have a constitutional right to demonstrate within "sight and sound" of an event they're protesting, and these additional rules will render them unseen and unheard.

A major political convention draws tens of thousands of people and brings national and global attention to pressing issues that Americans feel strongly about. We have a right – no matter our views – to lawfully assemble and make our voices heard.

Milwaukee politicians have been rolling out the red carpet for the RNC and its attendees and spending millions on security. They must take equal care to safeguard the rights of people protesting outside the convention.

Keep up with the case and the rest of our litigation work on our legal page. And watch an ACLU lawyer break down the case on our TikTok explainer.

Thank you for your continued support,

ACLU of Wisconsin