Heightened safety concerns due to potential protests against RNC and nominee Donald Trump
Organizers of protests denounced Trump and his party's positions threatening women's rights, LGBTQ community rights, and immigrants' rights
Quiet protests compared to 2016 Republican Convention in Cleveland with large crowds of protesters expressing opposition to Trump's nomination
Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Significant security presence on Milwaukee River with around-the-clock patrol boats and armed officers
MILWAUKEE - The Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has seen a significant security presence on the Milwaukee River due to heightened safety concerns. Around-the-clock patrol boats with armed officers have been patrolling the river since the convention began. Half a dozen police departments, state and federal agencies have joined forces for this mission to ensure public safety (AP).
However, protests against the RNC and its nominee Donald Trump have been relatively quiet in comparison to past conventions. In 2016, during the Republican Convention in Cleveland, large crowds of protesters gathered for days, expressing their opposition to Trump's nomination (NYT).
This year, protests have been sparse and lacked the energy seen at previous conventions. Some protesters expressed frustration with Democrats for not being more active in opposing the Republican Party's agenda (The Atlantic).
Despite the low turnout, organizers of protests such as the Coalition to March on the RNC denounced Trump and his party's positions, which they believe threaten women's rights, LGBTQ community rights, and immigrants' rights (WP).
Meanwhile, subscription offers from local news outlets like The Journal Sentinel provide unlimited access to their digital content for various durations (JS).
Hundreds of thousands of women marched in opposition to Trump’s presidency in Washington and cities around the country the day after his inauguration in 2017.
Accuracy
The largest protest during Milwaukee’s Republican National Convention drew about 800 people, far short of the 5,000 that protest leaders had hoped for.
One major demonstration occurred on Monday afternoon, with an estimated 3,000 people attending.
Two protesters stood near a Secret Service checkpoint expressing frustration with Democrats.
Democrats have been lying low after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania that resulted in one death.
Accuracy
]The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee saw very low protest turnout compared to previous years.[
Protests in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention were smaller and less energetic than at past conventions.
About 3,000 people filled a park near the arena as part of a long-planned protest against the GOP.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the lack of protests at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee and uses quotes from protesters to create a sense of confusion and hopelessness among Democrats. However, she fails to mention that there have been other forms of protest, such as a march on Monday afternoon that attracted 3,000 people. The author also quotes Nadine Seiler making baseless accusations against Republicans without providing any evidence or context. This creates an emotional response in readers and manipulates them into feeling a sense of despair and defeatism towards the Democratic Party.
Instead, the square, an official protest zone located a few blocks from the Republican National Convention, was like a scene from some postapocalyptic tale. This afternoon’s designated protest zone was a wide, mostly empty expanse of lush grass. In the middle stood a charming gazebo equipped with a microphone and sound system. But nobody appeared to be speaking.
You can usually expect plenty of picketing at party conventions—even though the protesters are banished, in this post-9/11 world, far beyond the Secret Service’s safety perimeter. Protesters swarmed the streets at the 2016 RNC in Cleveland; thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched on the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Yet after the march, and all that negotiating, the activity died down.
Seiler wore hot-pink lipstick and a T-shirt that read July 13 was a false flag. She told me that she didn’t actually believe that Republicans had staged the Trump assassination attempt.
The sense of defeatism is strong.
But Democrats are gutless and spineless.
Fallacies
(80%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting and referencing multiple sources, including Democratic staffers, operatives, and members of Congress. However, there are also instances of inflammatory rhetoric used by the protester Nadine Seiler. She uses derogatory language towards Democrats and makes a false claim about the January 6th Capitol riots being a 'false flag'. This lowers the score to 80.
Democratic staffers, operatives, and members of Congress keep telling reporters–albeit anonymously–that they are going to lose.
But Republicans had blamed January 6 on the FBI, so two could play that game.
A Democratic source told Semafor that Trump ‘was already on track to win and the fact that he is now a victim of political violence rather than the perpetrator undermines Biden’s core appeal.'
Bias
(75%)
The author, Elaine Godfrey, demonstrates ideological bias by portraying the Democrats as defeated and lacking energy in their protests during the Republican National Convention. The author highlights the lack of protest activity and quotes sources who express defeatist sentiments about the Democratic party. This creates a narrative that paints Democrats in a negative light, suggesting they are not fighting for their beliefs as aggressively as Republicans.
A Democratic source told Semafor that Trump “was already on track to win and the fact that he is now a victim of political violence rather than the perpetrator undermines Biden’s core appeal.
If fascism is imminent, then where was everybody?
News of straggler events came to me via whispers: Somewhere outside of the venue, one colleague had seen an esoteric performance-art demonstration about the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 involving sand. I was sad to have missed it.
That's what Nadine Seiler was wondering... She told me that she didn’t actually believe that Republicans had staged the Trump assassination attempt. But Republicans had blamed January 6 on the FBI, so two could play that game. Democrats are “gutless and spineless,” she told me. “I am done being polite, and I am done being sane.”
The sense of defeatism is strong.
This week in Milwaukee, only one major demonstration has occurred: a modest-sized march on Monday afternoon... Many demonstrators were not registered Democrats. Some were socialists; others were pro-Palestinian activists angry with Biden.
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Heavily armed security boats patrol Milwaukee River during GOP convention
Around-the-clock patrol boats with armed officers on the Milwaukee River until convention ends
Half a dozen police departments, state and federal agencies involved in river patrols
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Joe Neff: Officers committed to long shifts for public safety
Large section of Milwaukee River shut down to commercial and recreational traffic with few exceptions
Accuracy
No major incidents reported on the water during the convention according to Coast Guard
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric, but no formal or dichotomous fallacies are present. The author provides credible sources for the information presented in the article, including quotes from U.S. Coast Guard officials and Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.
]They've been all on board for making sure public safety is priority.[/
Thousands of protesters gathered in Milwaukee to denounce the Republican Party and its presidential nominee Donald Trump
About 3,000 people filled a park near the arena as part of a long-planned protest against the GOP’s positions
The Coalition to March on the RNC opposed Republicans’ ‘racist and reactionary agenda’, which they said threatens the rights of women, LGBTQ community and immigrants
Accuracy
The largest protest during Milwaukee’s Republican National Convention drew about 3,000 people
Some among the crowd were searching for harmony and unity as tensions remained high
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of the protest against the Republican National Convention. The author quotes protesters denouncing the Republican Party and its agenda without providing any counter-perspective from Trump supporters or Republicans. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through phrases like 'defiant energy', 'delicate task', and 'matter of life and death'.
Thousands of protesters descended on this Midwestern city on Monday, denouncing the Republican Party and its presidential nominee Donald Trump, who had survived an assassination attempt less than 48 hours earlier.
Few speakers mentioned Saturday’s shooting, and demonstration coordinators said it did not impact their plans. It remains more important than ever to oppose the GOP agenda as loudly as possible, they said.
The coalition said in its platform that it opposed Republicans’ ‘racist and reactionary agenda’, which organizers said threatens the rights of women, the LGBTQ community and immigrants.
Fallacies
(85%)
The authors use inflammatory rhetoric by stating that 'there were few signs that either side of the partisan divide would lower the rhetorical temperature' and 'little seems to have changed' after the shooting incident. They also make a dichotomous depiction by describing Trump supporters as having an 'increased resolve' and opponents as condemning Trump while at the same time decrying political violence. Lastly, there is an appeal to authority when the Coalition to March on the RNC states that 'Republicans are experts on political violence'.
little seems to have changed
Republicans are experts on political violence.
Bias
(75%)
The authors use language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by stating 'Thousands of protesters descended on this Midwestern city on Monday, denouncing the Republican Party and its presidential nominee Donald Trump' and 'For Trump supporters, the shooting only increased their resolve'. They also quote a protester saying 'Defeating the Republican agenda is a matter of life and death for working and oppressed people', which could be seen as depicting one side as an existential threat.
For Trump supporters, the shooting only increased their resolve
Thousands of protesters descended on this Midwestern city on Monday, denouncing the Republican Party and its presidential nominee Donald Trump
