The tragedy and disappointment of the RNC in Milwaukee
A reflection from Angela Lang.
The Recombobulation Area is a thirteen-time Milwaukee Press Club award-winning weekly opinion column and online publication founded by longtime Milwaukee journalist Dan Shafer. Learn more about it here.
This is an opinion column written by Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC). Lang is a regular contributor to The Recombobulation Area, is the winner of an award from the Milwaukee Press Club for her work at the publication.
The long-anticipated Republican National Convention has finally come and gone. Hosting the RNC has been a years long discussion and some folks were opposed to it from Day One. I myself wrote my first op-ed about it in May of 2022. The first line was: “Having the RNC in Milwaukee is a disaster waiting to happen.” More than two years later, I stand by that, given how the convention played out.
Concerns were largely over increased police presence, about how this impacts local residents, and about welcoming a party that embraces rhetoric that can lead to the radicalization in far-right hate groups.
It’s no secret that we are living in a tense, and sometimes frightening, time.
Organizers and activists of color feel like we have a target on our backs every time we speak out. The fear so many of us felt by hosting the RNC was layered on top of accepting the fact that our first elected Black mayor is rolling out the red carpet to people who hate people who like him and me. It hurts to know that our first Black mayor had played such a pivotal role in hosting the RNC.
Leading up to the convention, the city felt tense. Organizers with the Coalition to March on the RNC faced challenges with permits and march routes. Businesses and restaurants were trying to figure out inventory and staffing when it was becoming clear restaurants were not getting the extra reservations and revenue they were promised. From Lyft drivers to bartenders, all were expressing concerns about the convention ahead. Drivers who were sure to make good money that week left town and said the headache and “dealing with it” just wasn’t worth it. Offices downtown let their staff work from home and avoid the area all together. Restaurant regulars left town.
But the huge point of tension in the days leading up to the convention was the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump. It felt like we all were collectively holding our breath wondering what would come next. I wondered how Trump’s supporters would react, and if that reaction would turn to retaliation, or if far-right groups would show up. It was another element looming over the RNC that no one ever could have anticipated.
When the security perimeter for the convention was announced, folks in Milwaukee started to plan accordingly. One aspect of this that people may not have considered is that previously incarcerated people who may be on supervision as a condition of their probation cannot have police contact. What happens if you aren’t lucky enough to work from home, or get out of town and have to navigate the security perimeter and additional security checks? Locals were planning their lives around how to navigate this event.
As the city prepared for the convention, roads started to be closed and unhoused people were told to move out of the perimeter and area — something that is common with any large convention. It was reported that police were providing resources, but ultimately there weren't enough beds. Folks were going to fall through the cracks in order to present the city in a “positive light.”
Naturally, there was a lot of anticipation of seeing Trump just days after the assassination attempt and build-up leading to his nomination acceptance speech. Would a near-death experience soften the former president? Would he tone down his rhetoric and signal to his base to stand down, versus “stand by”? Many of us were holding our breath and bracing ourselves for what could possibly be next.
As the convention began, people mentioned to me how much of a pain it was to maneuver downtown. Barricades and signs were blowing around during a rainy night and drivers said it was unsafe and hard to navigate. The Journal Sentinel reported local frustrations with the disruptions caused by the RNC. The night before the convention a car slammed into a concrete barricade outside of the security perimeter. Anxiety ran high.
As many of us waited for our city to go back to normal, we were rocked with news we were afraid was a possibility. An unhoused man named Samuel Sharpe Jr. was killed by police officers from Columbus, Ohio, in town for the RNC. It happened roughly a mile outside of the security perimeter.
Make no mistake, Sharpe Jr.’s tragic death could have been avoided if we had not hosted the RNC. Milwaukee lost a community member that day. His life mattered. It’s frustrating to hear the mayor seemingly take the side of the out-of-state officer more than the community member in his city.
Due to the nature of how many law enforcement agencies were involved in the convention, security threats, and the amount of resources put into hosting the RNC, this shooting needs more than a local police department investigation. This needs a Department of Justice investigation.
Why were out-of-state officers in a residential neighborhood outside of the security perimeter? The next-day solution was to have Milwaukee Police officers accompany out-of-state bicycle units. If the planning was as thorough as we were told, this solution should have been in the policy in the first place.
King Park and the King Center on Vliet Street in Milwaukee are spaces to be together, play basketball, and be in community with fellow neighbors. Milwaukee generally doesn’t have a lot of tent encampments and the ones there are, people know about them. Local police likely knew of the encampment, and Samuel Sharpe Jr., well before this incident.
It’s also important to note that the incident happened very quickly. There was no room for de-escalation, something that loved ones said would not have happened if the Milwaukee Police Department were there instead. Some folks, including the mayor, have been suggesting the shooting was justified, instead of addressing the failures of law enforcement in this incident. De-escalation exists for a reason. Not once was a taser used, officers went immediately for fatal bullets. It has also been reported that Sharpe Jr., who was holding two knives, was the one defending himself in the confrontation. It’s also been reported that Sharpe Jr. was known for sharing his faith with others who were unhoused as a way to provide hope for folks. No questions were asked, no attempt to de-escalate, no taser being used, no calls for backup to Milwaukee Police Department. Many things could have been handled differently and could have made the difference between life and death. Our city leaders failed to keep us safe that week. Their negligence cannot go unchecked.
The second biggest takeaway from the RNC was the realization that indeed, business was not coming. A peak July summer week in Milwaukee can generate a lot of revenue. We love our happy hours and our patios. A bad week in peak summer time can really hurt local businesses. Last week, a friend of mine who works at a hotel downtown mentioned racist comments she heard while working. After leaving to help a guest, convention participants said she “speaks English well for an illegal.” It is worth noting this woman is Indigenous. Other workers around the city also mentioned that convention attendees didn’t tip well or support Black-owned businesses just up the street in the Bronzeville neighborhood. All of these things were not only predicted, but said loudly for leadership to hear. These criticisms that ended up coming true, but were ignored.
While we may be glad that our city is getting back to normal, the disappointment remains. We were told that we shouldn’t be concerned about safety because they had been working so hard on the planning. They told us it would be worth it because it would generate $200 million in economic impact. I will be very eager to read the economic impact reports that will trickle in. Many of us did not have confidence that we would hit that number. And there is no number worth what our city endured that week and the loss of one of our own.
During Trump’s speech, he said, “I hope you will remember this in November. I am trying to buy your vote and I promise we will make Wisconsin great again.”
On Wednesday of this week, speaking at a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, the former president doubled down on that line. “Wisconsin’s promised they’re all gonna vote for me now ‘cause we put $250 million into their economy. We’re gonna win Wisconsin.”
As offensive as this is, this on brand for the Republican Party — extracting, taking, silencing, and leaving nothing in return. The $250 million number likely won’t be reached, and if it is, that is not an indicator of votes.
Donald Trump and the Republican Party think we are in a transactional relationship and we have no remembrance or analysis of the dangerous policies and platform he is running on. Our city leaders may have sold out our city for a quick few dollars, but the people of Milwaukee will never betray our city.
We will show up in November and make sure we send a clear message that Milwaukee isn’t for sale, and we will continue to fight for our most basic rights and freedoms.
Angela Lang was born and raised in the heart of Milwaukee. She has an extensive background in community organizing. In the past, Angela served as both an organizer and State Council Director for the Service Employees International Union, working on such campaigns as the Fight for 15. Before founding BLOC, Angela was the Political Director with For Our Future Wisconsin. She is a graduate of Emerge Wisconsin. She currently is the Vice President of the ACLU of Wisconsin Board and sits on the board for Diverse and Resilient, a non profit organization that supports the LGBTQ community in Wisconsin, as well as on the board for the Milwaukee Parks Foundation.
Angela is motivated by making substantial and transformative change in her community while developing young, local leaders of color. Her journey in organizing hasn't always been easy, but through it all she has remained a fierce advocate for securing more seats at the table for those who represent the New American Majority.
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Thank you Ms. Lang and BLOC for everything you do for our entire state. You teach so much and remind us what is important. Thank you! Because of this piece, I’m upgrading my subscription to paid today.
I read a hopeful post about the reputed behavior of bible-belt gopers promising a windfall for local sex workers. I haven't heard anything since, good or bad. I hope some were able to clean up and clean out some bible-thumper wallets.