Gov. Tony Evers Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Republican National Convention in Milwaukee

In preparation for the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Governor Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency. This proactive measure, taken ahead of the mid-July convention scheduled from July 15 to July 18 at the Fiserv Forum, aims to ensure the safety and security of attendees and the general public. The declaration enables the mobilization of additional law enforcement resources, including the Wisconsin National Guard, and activates the Emergency Management Assistance Compact for law enforcement personnel, granting them temporary arrest capabilities from July 13 to July 19.
The decision follows the Department of Homeland Security’s designation of the convention as a National Special Security Event, necessitating enhanced security measures due to the anticipated high turnout of participants and dignitaries. The state of emergency declaration is part of a series of logistical arrangements for managing significant crowd-attracting events and mandates state agencies to provide assistance while ensuring that the rights of protesters and the press remain unimpeded.
This is not an unprecedented action for political conventions, as similar states of emergency have been declared in the past, including at the RNCs held in Cleveland in 2016 and Tampa in 2012. These measures align with common practices to uphold public safety during events of considerable significance, reflecting a comprehensive approach to security that involves multiple law enforcement agencies working in coordination to protect everyone involved.