Lawmaker lands on Capitol Police protester watch list (WIS)

[Ellipsis]

Source: Capital Times

State Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, has been placed on a list maintained by Capitol Police officers to keep tabs on people participating in the Solidarity Sing Along.

Protesters at the Capitol have said for weeks that police were keeping a list, and the Wisconsin Citizens Media Cooperative earlier posted a partial list, captured with a telephoto lens as an officer took attendance at a sing-along, a lunchtime Capitol event that has taken place every weekday for nearly two years. The singers gather to protest policies by Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his allies in the Legislature.

Capitol Police Chief David Erwin launched a crackdown in September in an attempt to get the singers to obtain a permit for the daily gatherings in the rotunda, but they have staunchly refused, saying they don't want to get permission from the government in order to protest the government.

"The Capitol Police have a list in the event it is needed for evidence in prosecuting citations," says Stepanie Marquis, Department of Administration spokeswoman, in an email. "If a person claims that they were not really participating in the event (but merely observing it for the day or observing it by accident), then the police will have some evidence to show otherwise."



Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/writers/steven_elbow/lawmaker-lands-on-capitol-police-protester-watch-list/article_4d020ec6-5e62-11e2-8068-0019bb2963f4.html

[Kip Humphrey]

1. Gathering evidence in advance of any crime... isn't that illegal?

[Scuba]

2. "saying they don't want to get permission from the government in order to protest the government. "

It's not a matter of "don't want" it's a matter of "don't have to" because they already have a right to protest guaranteed in both the US and Wisconsin Constitutions.

As I understand it, all those ticketed are demanding jury trials. Solidarity.

Note that there are DU members among the regular Solidarity Singers.

[pennylane100]

3. Congratulation to all those involved

It is great to know that the citizens of Wisconsin are still standing up for their rights under the constitution. Thank you all DU members involved.

[Ellipsis]

4. Scott Walker Uses Capitol Police to Go After First Amendment Rights

http://www.politicususa.com/governor-walker-capitol-police-amendment-rights.html

It’s Sunday morning and your doorbell rings. You’re a 69-year-old retired female at home alone with your dog. You answer the door. Who do you find there?

If you live in Wisconsin, you find three armed Capitol Police coming to your home in order to issue you a citation for singing in the Capitol, designating you the “leader” because you called out the name of the next song. You are being served a citation – not by mail, but by three police officers – for singing. This happened, and it’s not an anomaly. The only difference is that this wily 69-year-old had the sense to tape it.

[DavidWD72]

5. Hot diggity...

It seems Gov. Walker is not a fan of music, free speech, protests or the Constitution of the United States. Wish I still lived there. A road trip to Madison was always a good time.

[Downwinder]

6. If I lived closer, I would come as a tourist attraction.

[Downwinder]

7. If people have to have a permit to meet in the Capitol,

do lobbyists have to have a permit to meet legislators?