A city park designated for protesters at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee was almost empty on the second day of the event, July 16.
Police officers on bicycles and event staff in orange shirts were present at Zeidler Union Square, but no speakers had shown up by early afternoon.
The park is less than a mile from where the convention is being held and one of two set aside for protesters by the city.
The quiet scene came a day after the March on the RNC coalition of protesters marched through downtown streets advocating for reproductive rights, solidarity with Palestinians, and immigrant rights.
The stage set up by the city of Milwaukee for protesters near the Republican National Convention also had no audience beyond a few journalists and staff organizing the event.
It was the closest approved location for speakers near the Fiserv Forum. But on July 16 there were only two speakers, including an 82-year-old Trump supporter who had been sitting outside the convention for three days.
Robert Kunest, wearing a blue baseball cap that said “Israel,” said he had been interviewed by more than 100 journalists during the convention. He walked around the convention pushing a cart that contained a well-worn chair patched together with tape, and signs that included ones reading, “America Advances with Trump & Vance.”
The Florida man spoke for about 20 minutes into a microphone about Trump, the war in Gaza, and the economy.
“Where is everybody?” he said.
Ahead of the convention, more than 100 people signed up to speak on the stage. But city officials say the no-show rate has been more than 80%. On the opening day of July 15, there were only a handful of speakers.
City leaders suggested that speakers may have opted to join the larger demonstration on July 15 that started at Red Arrow Park.
One day after its march in downtown Milwaukee, the coalition of protest groups said its activity in the city was “coming to a close.”
In a statement on July 16, the Coalition to March on the RNC said it had no further plans to organize demonstrations around the Republican National Convention.
“Our endorsing organizations will continue their work to stand with Palestine, defend and expand immigrants’ rights, defend women’s, LGBTQ, and reproductive rights, and demand peace, justice, and equity for all,” the coalition said.
The coalition said that in the coming weeks, many of its group members would be looking ahead to demonstrating in August outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
