Milwaukee hosted the Republican National Convention this week, with protesters gathering to voice their concerns about various issues. While the expected numbers did not materialize, the protesters were determined to advocate for their causes throughout the event.

On the first day of the convention, over 120 different groups, primarily representing progressive and liberal causes, joined forces for a planned march around a section of the convention's security perimeter. Despite organizers anticipating over 5,000 attendees, the actual turnout was only about half that number. This lower attendance was possibly due to safety concerns following the recent attempted assassination of former President Trump.

Nadine Seiler, who flew in from Waldorf, Md., was disappointed with the smaller crowd. Nevertheless, she remained determined to protest against the former president throughout the entire four-day convention, sporting an anti-Trump T-shirt and a banner with bright-blue eyelashes.

Another protest organizer, Joe Engel, traveled all the way from Nevada with the mission to raise awareness about opioid addiction treatment. However, despite booking 20 minutes on the official protest stage, he and his group, the Trail of Truth organization, ended up speaking to an audience of themselves. The two parks designated for protesters throughout the week remained unusually quiet and deserted.

Political science lecturer Michael Heaney, who has been researching political conventions for two decades, noted that this year's RNC had a different atmosphere compared to previous conventions. Heaney emphasized the lack of celebratory fervor and pointed out that about a third of the demonstrators came to advocate for specific causes rather than solely criticizing Republican politicians.

During the last day of the convention, a few hundred activists gathered in the same park where the protest began but with a shift in energy. They expressed anger and sadness while protesting the recent killings of two Black men in Milwaukee. According to Heaney, these tragedies served as a reminder of the connection between national politics and their impact on local communities.

One determined protester, Nadine Seiler, remained until the end, highlighting her commitment to the cause. As the sole remaining protester at the end of the event, she acknowledged the worthiness of her efforts and mentioned her plans to continue protesting at the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.

While the anticipated size of the protests did not materialize, the week-long demonstrations symbolized the resilience of the activists pushing for their causes. The RNC in Milwaukee witnessed a shift in focus from sheer opposition to discussing critical issues affecting the local community.