A Wisconsin delegate has spoken out after claiming he was denied entry to Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign rally in Milwaukee County last week.
Roman Fritz, a 19-year-old Democratic Party of Wisconsin delegate, said he was astonished to be turned away from Harris’ first presidential campaign rally in West Allis since President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race.
WisDems invited Fritz, who also leads the Young Delegates Coalition, a group of delegates under 35 committed to amplifying younger perspectives, and received an RSVP for Tuesday’s gathering.
However, Fritz claimed that a Secret Service official informed him that they had seen posts on his Instagram supporting Palestine, as well as a pro-Palestine rally near the event.
“They said, Hey, we looked at your Instagram and it says you support Palestine and the protest outside,” Fritz told me. “They said we wouldn’t be able to let you in because you might interrupt. And I replied, “I have no intention of interrupting.”
Ben Wikler, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, was unaware of the matter until CBS 58 questioned him about it Monday morning.
“I’m not sure what happened last week, but I know there is a lot of excitement across the state,” Wikler said during a press conference in Madison.
Several hours later, during our discussion, Fritz received a phone call from Wikler, who apologized for the incident at the campaign rally.
“He apologized and said he’s really sorry that it happened,” Fritz told me.
The Harris team refuses to comment on what transpired or who decided to reject Fritz.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student said he holds no grudges, but he is concerned about seeing similar challenges when Chicago hosts the Democratic National Convention next month.
The Harris team expressed confidence in a statement that they would not turn him away at the DNC.
“We have been in touch with the State Party, which has assured this individual will be seated as a delegate at the convention,” stated the campaign’s spokesperson.
Fritz further believed that the DNC’s plans to conduct a virtual roll call for delegates to choose a presidential nominee before traveling to Chicago prevented him from attending the Harris event.
The convention committee intends to meet before August 7, twelve days before the party’s convention begins.
Fritz informed me that many delegates perceive this process as hurried. “I sense a slight silencing of my voice.”
Regardless of what transpired, Fritz said he’ll still vote for Harris in November, but he’s hesitant to promise his support for the vice president before the convention.
