The battle over protesting during the Republican National Convention continues.
Monday night, a federal judge ruled against protesters marching through security zones.
The Coalition to March on the RNC was hoping to be within sight and hearing of Fiserv Forum. Fiserv Forum can be seen from Haymarket Square, one of the designated speaking platform locations, but there is no line of sight from the other demonstration zone at Zeidler Union Square, where the parade route is designated. The two locations are about a 17 minute walk from each other.
The Coalition has argued that the restricted access was a violation of the group's First Amendment rights. They appealed to a federal judge last week to grant them a preliminary injunction to allow them to march their own route near Fiserv Forum. This new ruling means protesters must remain in the zone designated by the city and Secret Service.
Watch: Federal judge rules against RNC protesters.
All parties involved in the lawsuit, including the United States Secret Service, have 48 hours to respond with how they'd like to move forward with litigation.
US District Judge Brett Ludwig says Coalition members have the right to march in protest of the RNC, but the First Amendment doesn't allow them to protest or parade in any way they choose.
Secret Service officials say the protest areas were put in place for the safety of those attending the convention. The Journal Sentinel reports that Judge Ludwig found the security plans responsible and a valid restriction of free speech.
City representatives echoed that sentiment, saying their goal is to maintain safety during the event.
The Coalition to March on the RNC hosted a press conference Tuesday afternoon to condemn the ruling. Organizers in the coalition told media they would march within sight and hearing of Fiserv in a route of their own making.
"We are going to march on the streets that we have a right to march on the same way we always have in Milwaukee," said Coalition co-chair, Omar Flores.
The federal fight locally is just one of many in the Midwest that has risen in response to this summer's political conventions.
Several Chicago demonstration groups are currently in court with their city over the right to march on the Democratic National Convention in August.
"I don't think it is unreasonable to say 40,000 or even 50,000 people will be outside of the DNC," said Liz Rathburn, a member of Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Illinois Chicago (SDSUIC)
SDSUIC is part of a coalition suing Chicago for denying permits to march on the DNC.
The city is now working with some of these groups to come up with routes they both can agree on.
That differs than in Milwaukee where the city did not respond to the Coalition's permit request and instead created its own demonstration and parade zone.
TMJ4's Mariam Mackar asked The Coalition to March on the RNC if they believe Milwaukee should have done similar negotiations with them.
"Honestly, I don't think we would have been able to come to an agreement with the city," replied Flores. "We tried through mediation and we weren't able to come to an agreement."
Chicago has yet to release their security perimeter for the DNC which is taking place mid-August.
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