Anti-Trump and Pro-Trump demonstrators hit the streets outside RNC in Milwaukee
In this on-the-ground report, we speak with devout Trump supporters and anti-Trump protestors in downtown Milwaukee, WI, on day one of the Republican National Convention.
Dozens of members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization join a protest march in downtown Milwaukee, WI, on Monday, July 15, as the 2024 Republican National Convention begins. Protestors hold signs with slogans such as "Stop Trump and the racist Republican agenda." Photo by Stephen Janis.
On day one of the Republican National Convention, with tensions running extremely high following Saturday’s failed assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump, a coalition of progressive organizations moved forward with their plans to stage a protest march outside the RNC. In this on-the-ground report, Taya Graham and Stephen Janis take you to the heart of the action, speaking with protestors participating in the demonstration as well as devout Trump supporters in downtown Milwaukee, WI.
Production: Stephen Janis, Taya Graham Post-Production: Stephen Janis
Transcript
Kobi Guillory: So we have these people in power. The only options that we have are people who represent a system that exploits and oppresses us. Everybody say, “That ain’t right.”
Crowd: That ain’t right!
Speaker 3: Welcome back Kobi Guillory with Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
Kobi Guillory: The reason both parties are inflicting violence every day on millions of Black and Brown people, throwing them in prison for crimes they did not commit.
Speaker 4: July 15, where will we be?
Crowd: [Inaudible].
Speaker 5: Palestinian is not the problem. Trump is not the problem. Biden is not the problem. Yes, you have a problem with God.
Crowd: Whose city?
Our city.
Whose city?
Our city.
[Inaudible].
Taya Graham: Hello. This is Taya Graham for The Real News Network, here in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and right behind me is a coalition to march on the RNC.
They are marching for a variety of causes. It’s an umbrella group for progressive causes including protection of LGBTQ rights, protection of reproductive health rights, as well as to end the war on Gaza. So please stay tuned for more real-time updates.
Crowd: [Inaudible].
Brother Jim: Black Lives Matter, they are paid to travel the country and cause riots. Now, they haven’t caused too many riots in the last year or so. They’ve calmed down. But they burnt cities like Oregon and Minneapolis and other places around the country.
Taya Graham: So why do you think they’re being paid to take such action?
Brother Jim: Well, because they’re useful idiot stooges, like all communists want to use, and they find derelicts and a lot of homosexuals and sodomites and lesbians, and they pay them money to travel around and cause trouble.
Duane Schwingel: I’m here to support President Trump. Oh, yeah, and a lot of them I’ve seen in different rallies. We hug and I say, I’m anti-fascist too. Really? Yes, of course. I’m Uncle Sam. I know history.
Maximillian Alvarez: Thank you so much for watching The Real News Network, where we lift up the voices, stories and struggles that you care about most, and we need your help to keep doing this work. So please tap your screen now, subscribe and donate to the Real News Network. Solidarity forever.
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Anti-Trump and Pro-Trump demonstrators hit the streets outside RNC in Milwaukee
by Taya Graham and Stephen Janis, The Real News Network July 16, 2024
Senior Investigative Reporter & Capitol Hill Correspondent
Taya Graham is an award-winning investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and Capitol Hill Correspondent whose work bridges rigorous reporting with deep community impact. As the host of The Police Accountability Report at The Real News Network, she has become a trusted voice for transparency in policing and governance, using a mix of field reporting, data analysis, and citizen storytelling to expose systemic injustices. The show has garnered more than 50 million views across platforms, drawing a national audience to issues of accountability and reform.
Her work spans platforms and audiences, from producing Truth and Reconciliation, the acclaimed WYPR podcast exploring race and justice, to co-directing the award-winning documentaries The Friendliest Town and Tax Broke. Her five-year investigation into Baltimore’s tax incentive system (TIFs and PILOTs) revealed how corporate subsidies perpetuate inequality, sparking legislative action and community advocacy.
In addition to her reporting, Taya played a key role in shaping The Real News Network’s internal policies and labor framework, including helping draft the language around the organization’s AI policy in its collective bargaining agreement. Her work ensured that innovation and worker protections coexist, setting a model for how newsrooms can adopt technology responsibly.
Taya’s career began at The Afro-American Newspaper and Historic Black University Morgan State Radio, where she honed her craft in public service storytelling. She continues to lead with the belief that journalism should not only inform but empower—meeting new audiences where they are and inspiring them to engage in the democratic process.
Senior Investigative Reporter & Capitol Hill Correspondent
Stephen Janis is an award-winning investigative journalist, author, and documentary filmmaker whose work has shaped accountability journalism in Baltimore and beyond. As a Capitol Hill Correspondent and senior reporter at The Real News Network, he continues to uncover the systems behind inequality, corruption, and power while turning complex investigations into stories that inspire reform and public engagement.
His first feature documentary, The Friendliest Town, was distributed by Gravitas Ventures and received an Award of Distinction from The Impact Doc Film Festival and a Humanitarian Award from The Indie Film Fest. He co-created and co-hosts The Police Accountability Report, which has reached more than fifty million viewers on YouTube and helped spark national conversations on policing and transparency. His work has also appeared on Unsolved Mysteries (Netflix), Dead of Night (Investigation Discovery), Relentless (NBC), and Sins of the City (TV One).
Stephen has co-authored several books on policing, corruption, and the roots of violence, including Why Do We Kill: The Pathology of Murder in Baltimore and You Can’t Stop Murder: Truths About Policing in Baltimore and Beyond. He also co-hosts the true crime podcast Land of the Unsolved, which investigates cold cases through a lens of justice and accountability.
Before joining The Real News Network, Stephen worked as an investigative producer for WBFF Fox 45, where his reporting earned three Capital Emmys. Known for embracing technology as a tool for social awareness, he uses data analysis, digital production, and emerging storytelling platforms to connect investigative journalism with younger audiences while maintaining its integrity and depth.
Stephen’s work is grounded in clarity, empathy, and a belief that journalism should not only expose the truth but empower people to act on it.
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