
(NewsReady.com) – The Democratic and Republican parties are holding their conventions in the coming weeks and there are concerns about threats of violence disrupting the events. The head of the Secret Service has now responded to those concerns.
On July 7, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle appeared on ABC’s “This Week,” to speak to George Stephanopoulos. She said her agency is coordinating with the Chicago and Milwaukee police departments, as well as federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to make sure the conventions are safe. They are focusing on both foreign and domestic terrorism. So far, the situation is “evolving,” but there’s “nothing credible” when it comes to direct threats.
The director explained that the political environment this year is “certainly different than it was four years ago.” She said that she is sure law enforcement would see “an evolution in the next four years” too.
Cheatle said the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies would respect the right of people to protest the events. The Republican National Convention begins on Monday, July 15, and runs through Thursday, July 18, in Milwaukee. A little over a month later, Democrats will meet in Chicago from August 19 through August 22 for the Democratic National Convention.
Officials for the RNC convention agreed to block off a park near the event as off limits to protestors. There are also pro-Palestine protests scheduled for the DNC but it’s not clear if Chicago officials granted permits to the demonstrators. Tarek Khalil, with American Muslims for Palestine, said the organization would “protest without a permit” because the Constitution protects that right and they “have every right to do so.”
Cheatle said that she’s worried about protests turning violent but said that if they do, “appropriate action would be taken.” The director made it clear that she is “absolutely confident” that the conventions will be safe.
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