Walker's New Capitol Police Chief Cracks Down on the First Amendment, well... for two days.

[Ellipsis]

Last edited Sat Sep 8, 2012, 04:04 PM - Edit history (2)

Walker's New Capitol Police Chief Cracks Down on the First Amendment
by Harriet Rowan — September 7, 2012 - 7:49am


On September 5, 2012, eight people were arrested, handcuffed, and ultimately given citations for simply holding signs in the Wisconsin State Capitol. This may come as a surprise to the hundreds of thousands of people who marched through the Capitol in February and March of 2011 proudly holding home-made signs that denounced Governor Scott Walker’s attack on collective bargaining rights, but there’s a new sheriff in town -- a new Capitol Police chief to be exact.

Capitol Police Chief David M. ErwinIn July of 2012, David M. Erwin was named as the new Chief of the Wisconsin Capitol Police Department, succeeding Chief Charles Tubbs who was widely applauded for maintaining public safety while allowing protesters to exercise their First Amendment rights in the Capitol during Wisconsin's historic labor uprising. Chief Erwin previously served as the captain in charge of Governor Walker’s security with the Wisconsin State Patrol.

Chief Erwin made it clear from the beginning that under his watch, the Department of Administration’s controversial access policy for the Capitol would be followed more strictly. The group of citizens who participate in the daily sing-along, and those who visit the Capitol to hold signs and socialize have been expecting a crackdown, and it has arrived.

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Taylor says she told Erwin and Coomer that this was "unacceptable" and that they needed to give people notice as to what behavior is prohibited. "Otherwise you get into subjective enforcement and potentially interfering with people's freedom of speech and political expression," she says.

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=37727

Taylor says it was at this point that Erwin and Coomer walked out of her office without answering her questions.

#!





Wisconsin Capitol Police chief walks out on Rep. Chris Taylor during meeting on arrests


Taylor: 'If they can't take a legislator asking them pointed questions, they are in the wrong business.'




Wisconsin Capitol Police chief walks out on Rep. Chris Taylor during meeting on arrests

Wisconsin state Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison) blasted Capitol Police Chief David Erwin Friday afternoon for refusing to answer "basic questions" about the recent arrests at the state Capitol and for abruptly ending a meeting on the topic.

"I was very shocked and disappointed today when you and Department of Administrative Assistant Gwendolyn Coomer walked out of a meeting scheduled in my office," she wrote in a sharply worded letter (PDF) that was hand-delivered to Erwin's office in the state Capitol. Taylor also took the police chief to task for being unable to identify the "specific conduct you believe to be unlawful."

Erwin began enforcing permitting rules for the Capitol this week, resulting in the arrests of some 12 protesters for holding signs.

In an interview, Taylor said she had previously emailed Coomer for clarification on the policy and pressed Coomer and Erwin in their meeting to identify the unlawful conduct that people would be arrested for.

Taylor says that Erwin and Coomer told her that they would decide this on a "case-to-case basis" and that if people had a question about what was unlawful conduct, they should contact the Capitol police.

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=37727



This is not the Wisconsin I know.

[blm]

1. How many state seats are up in November?

.

[Ellipsis]

2. 16 seats

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Wisconsin_State_Senate_elections,_2012

[blm]

3. Thank you.

.

[Ellipsis]

4. hhahahah ... This is the Wisconsin I know.

There’s more good news tucked in a recent court judgement, but it’s not expected to tie the hands of Walker’s admnistration for long.

Judge Remington made it clear on Wednesday that the act of holding a sign is not a “display” in the Capitol building as defined by WI Chapter 2 administrative code 2.0(7). ** What this does is blow a hole in the logic that the Dept. of Administration has used to arrest sign-holders.

According to attorneys I spoke with, the rest of what is tucked into Remington’s summary judgement is not so good for free speech advocates since it contains no order to halt arrests in the Capitol over speech and it doesn’t demand compensation to citizens for time and money they lost while fighting their tickets.


http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=23419

[smirkymonkey]

8. Thank you.

Nice visua.K&R

[Laochtine]

15. Awesome

You guys still give me hope, Thanks

[standingtall]

5. The people of Wisconsin

Should of recalled that fascist when they had the chance. Now look what their stuck with.

[Ellipsis]

6. Well Duh!

Yes, it our fault. --- and we birthed the Koch brothers, ALEC and Americans for Prosperity in an Axlotl Tanks in David Lynch's backyard.

Thanks for the kick.

[standingtall]

9. Your here

So I doubt you are responsible for that tyrant surviving the recall, but the fools who voted for him, or were to lazy to vote. Is who I put the blame on.

[Ellipsis]

11. ..."you're here" "too".

There's plenty of blame to go around... like "Citizens United" for one.

[charmay]

7. We tried.

Too much Koch $ and oblivious voters.

[standingtall]

10. I know you tried

And I thank for your efforts.

[stlsaxman]

13. "The people of Wisconsin... should HAVE recalled..."

tsk-tsk-tsk.

[Ellipsis]

12. cognidissidence article

Carry Your Signs High!

On Wednesday, newly appointed Commandant David Erwin had his Capitol Police arrest eight people who had the audacity to exercise their First Amendment Right of Free Speech inside the Capital.

Keep in mind that they weren't disrupting anything, causing a disturbance or behaving out of line in any way, shape or form. They were just holding signs.

On Thursday, the stormtroopers infringed on the constitutional rights of three more people.

But they stopped suddenly and arrested no more.

Why is that? Well, because word came down that what they were arresting people for is perfectly legal, even under the Republicans' draconian rules.


http://cognidissidence.blogspot.com/2012/09/carry-your-signs-high.html

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14. Advocating violence... Chief David Erwin, advised legislative staffers to punch protesters

Last edited Sat Sep 8, 2012, 05:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Madison capitol police chief David Erwin, who had advised legislative staffers that if one of the protesters was bothering them, they should punch the protesters in the nose.




Nor, before yesterday, had Jeri Troia, 57. She had made a couple of 4x6 index cards. One said: “Violence Is the Last Refuge of the Incompetent,” a quote from Isaac Asimov. And the other said: “Chief Erwin Thinks It’s the Fist Amendment.” She was referring to Madison capitol police chief David Erwin, who had advised legislative staffers that if one of the protesters was bothering them, they should punch the protesters in the nose.

“The police arrested me for holding a T-shirt that said ‘Muslims for Life,’ which I got from a group that was giving blood at the Red Cross booth,” says Troia, a substitute teacher. “I just kind of laughed. I’d promised my husband I wouldn’t get arrested.”

Wisconsin Democratic Representative Chris Taylor calls these arrests “absolutely crazy.” She adds: “It’s really too bad that the new chief is proceeding this way.”


http://www.progressive.org/free-speech-advocates-defiant-in-madison-wisconsin


The new chief also recently met with legislative aides in the building to recommend ways to protect themselves and legislators from potentially violent protesters. Erwin is also having panic buttons installed in some offices.

Rep. Brett Hulsey (D-Madison) told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he thought the buttons were a good idea, especially after he had someone wielding a box cutter enter his office in the spring of 2011. However, Hulsey noted, several Democratic aides left the meeting early after Erwin suggested they film protesters and, if threatened, use their free hand to punch the person.

Hulsey called the suggestion “bizarre.”

At least partially in reaction to Erwin’s new policies Tuesday’s daily meeting of the Solidarity Sing-along in the Capitol rotunda was somewhat larger and rowdier than normal. Rumors were flying that the new chief would use the opportunity to start enforcing new building rules adopted in December that require permits for visual displays and gatherings larger than four people, among other things.

http://www.dane101.com/current/2012/08/28/new_police_chief_plans_crack_down_on_protesters_at_capitol

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16. Erwin, will be banning beards and goatees and wanting to get new uniforms.... with hats.

Enter Erwin.

Walker's administration hired the retired Marine and Wisconsin State Patrol veteran in July to replace outgoing Chief Charles Tubbs. Erwin already has plans to reform the department, banning beards and goatees and ordering new uniforms with traditional police dress hats.


Wisconsin Capitol's new police chief plans to crack down on unruly protesters

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Capitol's new police chief said Monday he plans to crack down on protesters who don't follow the building's rules because he wants to restore a sense of normalcy and safety to the statehouse.

Chief David Erwin told the Associated Press he has struck a deal with the state Justice Department to prosecute civil citations against protesters and plans to enforce dormant rules that require organized groups to obtain permits. The moves come after Dane County's Democratic district attorney dismissed scores of tickets over the last year and a half.

http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_21410329/wisconsin-capitol-protest-crackdown-planned