Scott Walker's Palace Guard - the new Wisconsin Secret Service?? - part 4

On February 29th, March 1st, 2nd and 3rd, in violation of the State Constitution and a court order, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin prevented members of the public from entering the State Capitol. The Wisconsin Constitution states that the Capitol building is to be open to the public whenever the legislature is conducting business. Never before in Wisconsin's history has access to the Capitol building been restricted.

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) stated that the King Street entrance to the Capitol would be the only entrance - so many people waited outside for hours hoping to be allowed in to what we fondly call "the people's house". A rumor spread in the crowd that some people were being allowed into the Capitol through the underground tunnels that supply most of downtown Madison with heating and cooling. This was in violation of DOA's assertion that ONLY the King St. entrance was to be used.

So I and a few others went down to the 3rd underground level of a public parking garage (in Wisconsin it's called a parking "ramp"), to find the tunnel entrance and see whether the rumor was true.

What we observed was that members of various police forces, including St. Croix County Sheriff, Special agents from the Milwaukee County Department of Justice, and un-uniformed men who MAY have been members of the Wisconsin State Patrol (they wouldn't identify themselves or show any badge), tried to get us to leave so that they could usher VIP's into the tunnel in privacy.

Their preferred tactic was to warn us of 'what might happen' to us if we didn't leave, without stating any justification why we must go, and without identifying themselves. In this video, one man - who said he was a cop, but wouldn't show any identification - threatens me with Obstruction of Justice charges if I don't prove that I parked in the garage. Then he gets on the phone and forgets to pursue this bogus charge. In fact, the garage, though privately owned, is a public Right of Way - meaning, there could be no justification for demanding that a group of peaceful protesters leave.

The reality was, the WI Department of Administration simply doesn't want the public to know what they do.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Wisconsin protest
• Capitol

[cmrsvids]

"I'm not here to cause trouble" ... oh, please. These men treated her with complete tolerance and respect and acted professionally. If it's the "people's house", then use the front door.

[Graddyooate]

@cmrsvids ...and no. I was not there to cause trouble. I was there to get information.

[TheTotalreason]

They should all be charged with impersonating a officer on duty. They clearly are acting as private security. Walker thinks he runs the world. And with his friends, he probably has the power to keep on doing this and other horrible things. What does Obama have to say about this? " Elections have consequences.." what a two faced asshole. He pre election said " if anybody tries to eliminate workers rights to collective bargaining , I'll put on boots and carry a sign in protest with them". Or s

[crazyC989]

or they closed it off for their own safety from radicals that were giving the death threats and vandalizing some of their homes and property

[Kbourbonais48]

Stupid Hippies! !

[jjamesp33]

Im all for protesting... but do it in an honorable fashion and dont cause "trouble"

[jjamesp33]

You should have been tazed... following orders whether or not they are "police officers" would be in the best intrest of you and of those officers who are simply protecting their "boss" and doing their jobs. If you call drawing a bunch of police and other law enforcment out side just to deal with you no trouble, you may want to reconsider everything you do

[stillbreathing37]

I'm all for her doing what she is,I slept in the Capitol building and protested for 5 months there, but I can't say enough how well our police force handles things.They should make us proud.Not be chastised for doing their job.Both sides deserve a metal.

[MrBluster09]

Sweet pea, if you had been videotaping outside Barack Obama's secured entrance your video would not have lasted 30 seconds.

[CARVERitUP]

What is your problem?

[simplycincere]

Rebel...love it...but you know folks are not acceptable to disorder...go through the front door?? Not...right

[maraginda]

This is a Republican Country would look like! WoW Talking about communism, they are hyprocrites.

[icefishdaily]

Same players, now in September. Isn't that Walker's car?