RNC delegates, Milwaukee residents react to Trump assassination attempt
Damaris Perez and Melanie Collette were eating at Carson’s Prime Steaks and Famous Barbecue in downtown Milwaukee when they heard there'd been a shooting at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania and told the staff to turn on the TV.
The FBI is calling the shooting an assassination attempt. Secret Service Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the suspected shooter, whom officials confirmed is dead, fired multiple shots toward the stage at approximately 6:15 p.m. ET.
Trump was rushed off the stage with his cheek and ear streaked with blood.
“I’m so upset right now,” said Collette, a Cape May County Commissioner in New Jersey and delegate at the convention.
Perez said she was shocked this kind of incident would happen in America.
“We should have different opinions, different political affiliations but it should never resort to violence,” said Perez, a resident of Franksville in Racine County.
Perez and Collette said the rhetoric associated with this election has gotten dangerous.
“If you continue to say that Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy, somebody might want to put him out,” Perez said. “If you keep saying this guy is a threat to our very way of life, maybe someone want to put him out because of that, and this goes to all news media.”
Perez said she would feel the same way if it was Biden.
“I don’t want my adversaries dead or shot at,” Perez said. “I just want a fair place where we can debate ideas. We don’t want people killed. This is America.”
Whether there will be any changes to schedules or security for the RNC, which officially begins Monday in downtown Milwaukee, was not clear Saturday evening. The Trump campaign released a statement late Saturday saying: "President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention to nominate him to serve as the 47th President of the United States.
Milwaukee city and police officials did not immediately respond or did not have information early Saturday evening about how the assassination attempt would impact RNC security.
Collette said security at the convention might be increased.
"If there is a way to make this (area) more secure, they’re going to," Collette said. "I can’t imagine what more they can do, to be honest... security is extremely tight. It’s run by the Secret Service."
What we know: About Trump rally shooting and 2024 RNC in Milwaukee
Katie Larson, manager of Carson’s, said she is “horrified that someone would try to do something so publicly.”
“Especially since it happened to a former president,” Larson said. “It makes me nervous. Definitely. It’s scary that someone would do that.”
Carson’s is right on the edge of the credentials-only hard security zone, and although Larson doesn’t know how Saturday's incident would impact security at the convention, she is expecting some changes.
“The hard security zone might extend a bit which makes us unhappy, we don’t want that. We want our guests to come in,” Lason said.
What Wisconsin law says: Will guns be allowed at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee or in the security zone?
Residents shocked, concerned by news
Milwaukee resident Benjamin Kressig was in an Uber heading to Bastile Days when the driver told him what happened to Trump.
“It’s not good for the country,” Kressig said. “Whether you’re on the right or left it’s not good.”
Cindy Jones-Nosacek and her husband, Deacon Gary Nosacek, were at a service at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist when they heard about the shooting.
“It’s horrible,” Johns-Nosacek said. “No matter if you’re for the guy or against the guy, no one deserves to be shot.”
Nosacek, who works at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Parish, said he’s watched its sister parish in Uganda go through violent elections in their country and said this is “something you would see in a third-world country.”
Nosacek pointed to the language both candidates use as a contributor to this incident.
“They don’t run on the issues, they just attack each other’s character,” Nosacek said.
Germantown residents Jayme and Michele Bogner were in church when Jayme Bogner heard his phone buzz with a message from his daughter informing them of shooting. He called the incident devastating.
“It shows how unsafe it is in our world right now and for something like that so stupid to happen in a democratic society that we have people shooting. It is just scary,” Bogner said.
Bogner said he’s glad the shooting did not happen in Milwaukee.
“It would have put a real bad taste on Milwaukee," he said. "I glad it didn’t happen here and tarnish our beautiful city.”
Michele Bogner called it heartbreaking. “I can’t believe someone can get to that level and go and do something like that,” she said. “Thanks God he is okay.”
“Whatever side of the aisle that you are on violence is never good,” said Saleem Al-Amin of Franklin. “It is just another American tragedy.”
Al-Amin said he is concerned about what security precautions the city is taking after the shooting.
“It does raise a level of consciousness. You have to read the signs. But it does suggest our level of security should be heightened,” Al-Amin said.
RNC protest group emphasizes its 'family friendly' approach
For months the Coalition to March on the 2024 RNC has been planning peaceful protests in opposition to the RNC — plans that remain unchanged Saturday.
“The Coalition to March on the RNC reaffirms our commitment to a family-friendly march along the route we have agreed on with the city,” the coalition said in a statement. “From the very beginning of our coalition, we have been clear about two things: we stand in opposition to the racist and reactionary Republican agenda, and we are a broad coalition that is planning a family-friendly march. Our points of unity are in opposition to the entire Republican agenda, not solely one candidate or politician.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC delegates, Milwaukee react to Trump assassination attempt
