The poignant theme, which was already chosen ahead of time, also hit especially close to home after former President Donald Trump — now the GOP presidential nominee — miraculously survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
The second day of the Republican National Convention (RNC) kicked off Tuesday with a focus on crime and security for its “Make America Safe Again” theme – hours after a knife-wielding homeless man was shot dead by cops just blocks from the conservative conference.
The poignant theme, which was chosen ahead of time, hit especially close to home after former President Donald Trump – now the GOP presidential nominee – miraculously survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Republicans have accused President Biden and the Democratic Party of turning “once iconic American cities” into “hollowed out, dystopian nightmares” rife with crime and decay.
The packed Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee heard from GOP leaders – including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and one-time presidential hopeful Nikki Haley – but the most moving speeches came from everyday Americans affected by the scourge of violent crime.
The family of Rachel Morin, the 37-year-old mother of five who was ruthlessly raped and murdered by an illegal Salvadoran migrant, bravely addressed the crowd.
“This was described as one of the most brutal and violent offenses that has ever occurred in Harford County, Maryland,” said Michael Morin, Rachel’s brother. “There is nothing compassionate about allowing violent criminals into our country and robbing children of their mother.”
“To this day, we have not heard from Joe Biden or Kamala Harris,” he added, drawing boos. “They never apologized. But when Rachel was killed, President Trump called my family to offer his condolences.”
“As brutal as the murder of my sister was, I pray that her killer will find Jesus Christ,” he added.
Morin’s mom, Patty Morin, previously revealed that former President Trump called her following the arrest of the 23-year-old suspect, Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, last month. Martinez-Hernandez is also believed to be a gang member.
The grieving mom said she was “deeply touched” by the ex-commander-on-chief’s “kindness and concern.”
Martinez-Hernandez illegally crossed into the US in February 2023.
Another speaker included Madeline Brame, a New York mom who lost her then-35-year-old son Hason Correa to a beating and stabbing attack outside a Harlem apartment building in 2018. Correa was a father of three who served in Afghanistan.
“He received enemy fire from the Taliban only to be murdered with a knife on the streets of New York City,” she said, explaining that the four suspects were initially facing justice.
