WI Capitol Police Abridging Citizens Rights to Free Speech, 8 Arrested for Holding Signs

On September 5, 2012 the Wisconsin Capitol Police arrest 8 people and charge them with "Unlawful display of sign"

http://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/...

UPDATE: JUDGE RULES PERMIT NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD SIGNS IN ROTUNDA
http://wcmcoop.com/2012/09/07/court-o...

In a judgement issued yesterday(9-5-12) unrelated to this weeks arrests in the Capitol a Dane county judge included:

"Here, the Plaintiffs were issued citations for holding a sign on the first floor of the
rotunda. As such, their signs were not "erected, attached, [or] mounted," which therefore means that their actions could only fall within the text of § Adm. 2.07(2) if their signs were "displayed." However, the word "displayed" implies something more than an individual holding a handmade sign over their head. Instead, as is generally known, the Capitol rotunda is frequently a place where freestanding artwork and such things are showcased, especially around the holiday season.

The term "displayed" implies something like a freestanding exhibit showcased in the Capitol, not an individual holding a handmade sign over their head comparing the governor to a character in a comic book. Thus, the terms of § Adm. 2.07(2) does not prohibit the Plaintiffs' conduct."

Photos and additional footage courtesy of Leslie Amsterdam

• Category

  News & Politics

[Jay Nasty]

You protestors at the Capital were so brave. Thank you so much for proving that the Wisconsin Unions were full of shit and only had their self preservation in their interest.

[arthurkr222]

Please explain how this has anything to do with unions?

[RocketeerAndRoll]

Who was the woman who was the elected official at 2:50 trying to get info from the police? I would like to thank her!

[arthurkr222]

Rep Chris Taylor Madison Eastside

[arthurkr222]

There is NO LAW. These are rules that were set by a political appointee.

The police are in no way part of the executive branch.

You are wrong, now leave.

[AisuSeijin]

I wish our country would GROW THE FUCK UP and stop wasting money and police manpower on stopping people from holding signs, which they are legally able to do.

10 police offers there to enforce people and old ladies holding up T-Shirts because they like the redcross? Please...

There were probably a couple bank robberies and people being attacked and murdered on the streets nearby, and these cops are worried about people holding up signs cause they want to be dicks.

[soulierpaul]

Liberals have more respect for the law than conservatives. They understand that freedom of speech is the most important right in the constitution.

[Harry Palmer]

Seems that Wisconsin became Communist. They used to arrest people with signs in the old Soviet union.

[3DManful]

That is not free country.

Where is the freedom they talking about?

[Logic9420]

Is there anyone left that actually believes that this is a "free" country??? Is there anyone that delusional???

[MsKymmi]

Since when can corporate maritime law be used to change common law ?

[MsKymmi]

I was talking about the "thumbs down" count for each comment. I only see thumbs up's and I don't see any thumbs down. Hard to believe there's no thumbs downs . I hit the thumbs down on a comment and came back later to see if it shows and it doesn't. I noticed there's no thumbs down count for comments on other video's too, only shows thumbs up's. I think the thumbs down button for comments is disabled