Several residents told AFP Sunday that they or their neighbors were nervous and on heightened alert, and were calling for an easing of the political pressure cooker. He was referring to some of the ugly comparisons and nicknames that have been thrown around to describe Trump and Biden -- at times by the candidates themselves. Lynn Quirk, who owns multiple college housing units in town, stood somberly watching the proceedings at a security checkpoint outside the convention arena. "Obviously, we're going to be more vigilant -- not that we weren't going to be vigilant before. But for some, like convention volunteer and self-described "huge Republican" Becky Hawkins, who grew up in Milwaukee, the crisis of the past 24 hours has bolstered their resolve.