Milwaukee Braces for the RNC: A First Amendment Showdown?

The beer capital of the US is gearing up for a different kind of brew-ha-ha in . Milwaukee is no stranger to big events, but the Republican National Convention is a whole different ball game. With the promise of tight security measures, including what some are calling a ” fortress-like” perimeter, the city is bracing itself for a potential clash between, well, pretty much everyone.

The ACLU, never one to shy away from a good First Amendment scrap, has already filed suit against the city. Their beef? That the planned security measures are so over-the-top that they’ll squash free speech rights like a bug. It’s shaping up to be a classic showdown: the right to assemble vs. the need for security, with the press caught smack-dab in the middle.

“Expect the Unexpected”: A Veteran Journalist Weighs In

So, what’s the vibe like on the ground? To get a feel for the potential fireworks, we sat down with Scott Memmel, a seasoned journalist who’s covered more protests and political conventions than he cares to remember. Think of him as the Indiana Jones of journalism, but with fewer whips and more press passes.

Kate Archer Kent (KAK): Scott, thanks for taking the time. Let’s cut to the chase: what’s your gut feeling about how the press and the police are gonna get along at the RNC?

Scott Memmel (SM): Kate, predicting how these things will go is like trying to predict the weather in, well, Milwaukee! It could be sunny with a chance of chaos. Look, both sides have a job to do. Journalists are there to report, police to keep things from going sideways. Ideally, it’s a beautiful, symbiotic relationship.

KAK: Symbiotic? You’re being awfully optimistic for a guy who’s seen it all.

SM: (Laughs) Okay, maybe “symbiotic” is pushing it. The reality is, there’s always tension. But let’s be real, sometimes that tension is what makes for a good story, am I right?

When Covering the Story Becomes the Story

KAK: Speaking of good stories, let’s talk about the elephant, or maybe the donkey, in the room: the arrest of all those journalists during the George Floyd protests. Over a hundred, right? What the heck happened there?

SM: Yeah, it was wild, and frankly, pretty darn scary. You had this perfect storm of factors. First, you had protests that were, at times, incredibly chaotic. I’m not making excuses, but it’s hard to tell who’s who when tear gas is flying and things are literally on fire.

KAK: So, you’re saying it was an honest mistake? Come on, Scott, these were journalists with cameras, clearly identified!

SM: Hold your horses, Kate. I’m not letting anyone off the hook. There were definitely cases where police completely overstepped, where they targeted journalists on purpose. And that’s completely unacceptable. But there were also instances where, sadly, some journalists blurred the lines themselves.

Bridging the Divide: Can We Talk?

KAK: Okay, I see your point. It’s messy, no doubt. But how do we fix this? Can we even fix this? Because if journalists are getting arrested for just doing their jobs, then we’ve got a real problem.

SM: We absolutely have a problem, Kate, but I’m a “glass half-full” kind of guy. I think better training on both sides is key. Police need to understand that a free press isn’t the enemy, it’s essential to a functioning democracy. And journalists need to remember that objectivity and safety are not mutually exclusive.

KAK: So, more workshops, seminars, that kind of thing? I’ve gotta be honest, those things can feel like a colossal waste of time. Like trying to teach a cat to fetch.

SM: (Chuckles) Point taken. But I’m talking about real, hands-on training. Simulations, role-playing, you name it. Put journalists in the middle of a mock riot, let them see how quickly things can escalate. And for the police, give them scenarios where they have to deal with a pushy reporter while trying to do their job. Make it real, make it stressful, and maybe, just maybe, some learning will actually happen.

The PIO Puzzle: Friend or Foe?

KAK: You know, it’s funny you mention role-playing. It seems like nowadays, we’re dealing more and more with police public information officers, PIOs. Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or just another layer of bureaucracy we have to navigate?

SM: Ah, the PIO conundrum. It’s a double-edged sword, that’s for sure. On the one hand, a good PIO can be a godsend. They can help facilitate access, get you the information you need quickly. But on the other hand…

KAK: On the other hand, they can be masters of spin, right? Controlling the message, keeping the press at arm’s length.

SM: Exactly. And that’s the danger. When PIOs start acting more like gatekeepers than facilitators, it erodes trust and makes it harder for journalists to do their jobs effectively. We need to be able to talk to the people on the ground, the officers who are actually out there in the thick of it. That’s how you get the real story, not the sanitized version.

Milwaukee on the Brink: A First Amendment Tightrope Walk?

KAK: So, as we head into the RNC, what’s your biggest hope, and your biggest fear, Scott?

SM: My hope is that everyone remembers that we’re all on the same side here. We may have different roles to play, but we all have a stake in a free and open society. My fear? That things will spiral out of control, that someone, whether it’s a protester, a police officer, or even a journalist, will cross a line and things will turn ugly. The RNC is a powder keg, Kate. Let’s hope we can all keep our cool and get through it without any explosions.

KAK: Scott Memmel, always a voice of reason, even in the eye of the storm. Thanks for your time and your insights. This is Kate Archer Kent, signing off from Milwaukee, where the beer is cold, the cheese curds are plentiful, and the First Amendment is about to get a real workout. Stay tuned.