Solidarity Wisconsin Video

Nicely produced part of Wisconsin history...we're continuing to write...

Cap Times: The solidarity singers who gather daily at the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison have a pair of surprise guest musicians joining their chorus — Pussy Riot.

Two members of the notorious Russian female rock group known for their outspoken protests, Nadya Tolokonikova and Masha Alyokhina, make a surprise appearance in a new video extolling Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to drop the state’s prosecution against the singing protesters.

 

Capitol Quiet since Walker Halted Arrests.

No Capitol protesters arrested again, and it's been about a month since the last clash.

It's hard for them to make the case their law has any validity if they can turn it on and off anytime they want. But that's what's happening.

Here's WKOW's Tony Galli with a detailed report:

After weeks of arrests of protesters at the state capitol over failures to obtain authorizing permits, more than forty people participated Monday in a Solidarity sing-a-long, with Capitol police officers merely standing by. Emergency rules on the requirement for a permit to occupy portions of the state capitol for larger gatherings expired Sept.12. In adopting emergency rules in April, department of administration officials said  the permit process helped minimize disruption to work in the Capitol, and interference with visitors, including school groups. Officials also said permit enforcement was needed "...in order to protect the public safety and welfare."

Spokespersons for the governor, and the department of administration have yet to respond to requests for comment from 27 News on future plans for managing the presence of Capitol protesters.

Capitol Protester Damon Terrell not charged.

WKOW's Tony Galli reports:

Dane County's district attorney tells 27 News he rejected proposed criminal charges against a state capitol protester, who scuffled with police officers during his arrest last month. Videotapes taken by fellow protesters show 22-year old Damon Terrell going to the ground and being pinned by state capitol officers.

District Attorney Ismael Ozanne tells 27 News officers had probable cause to arrest Terrell, but says his review of videotapes and other evidence show no intentional actions by Terrell to hurt the officer.

Ozanne also rejected proposed misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct against Terrell.

Ozanne also says it's unclear whether Terrell was participating in a capitol demonstration at the time of his arrest, or whether he was simply an observer. State justice department attorneys are prosecuting a citation against Terrell for unlawful assembly.  

Bucky is Unintimidated by sold out knockoffs.

A side story of a protesting “Bucky” Badger didn't catch my interest until this supposed fake Bucky responded. Here’s Buckingham Badger, with his humorous response from the Cap Times:

“Bucky read your article: Capitol Bucky says that he is the real spirit of Wisconsin. The real Bucky stands with Fighting Bob LaFollette. All the other Buckys are imposters. As you note in your article, Bucky started protesting at the Capitol in 2011, holding signs like "Bucky Supports the TAA and all Wisconsin Unions". Now Bucky sings at the Sing Along! And Bucky is unintimidated.

UW administrators tried to enslave Bucky to make money! Tried to exploit poor Bucky. But Badgers are fierce and yearn to breath free. Bucky said "Before I'd be a slave I'd be buried in my grave". Now Bucky is unchained! No-one can control him!

Bucky noticed an article about him in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, quoting a UW official: "As far as costumes go, they're not available to the public for sale," said Cindy Van Matre, UW-Madison trademark licensing director. "The only actual costumes are the ones the official mascot wears."

Bucky laughs and laughs, since the University of Wisconsin Book Store has itself been selling fake Bucky costumes to the public.

The Journal Sentinel article says that that according to Cindy Van Matre: The bona fide Bucky is not political. Here are pictures of Buckys appearing with Republican politicians. Why is Van Matre telling lies about Buckys?

But again, Bucky has to comment - those Buckys cavorting with GOP politicans were imposter Buckys. The real Bucky is the People's Bucky. The real Bucky stands with ordinary Wisconsin working folks, not with weasel politicans.

The Journal Sentinel article also included : "This is sadder than an unsanctioned Santa. This will not stand," Perry said. When Bucky read that, Bucky had to make sure the whole article wasn't satire.

McKenna brings in the Singing Capitol Clowns!!!

Radio’s spreading statewide cancer stick Vicki McKenna thought she was being clever commandeering the Capitol on Labor Day, but really, she only ended up reaffirming her troll brigade’s utter hatred for working Americans everywhere. These are sniveling children in utter awe of their father figure Scott Walker. Father says get permission, they say yes. These are the same rugged individuals who don’t need government…except when they do. They can't get enough of those Walker Authority statewide law decrees usurping local control. They need leaders. Heil! WKOW:



All McKenna and her AFP purchased teabillies can do at this point is mock democracy:

WKOW: A group in support of Governor Walker used a permit to sing patriotic songs in the state capitol rotunda on Labor Day, as a regular group of anti-Walker protesters with organized labor ties found themselves outside the building. Liberty Singers organizer Brent Renteria of the Town of Middleton says obtaining the rally permit for Labor Day was motivated primarily by the holiday from work for those participating.

Regular protester Kristen Forde says she suspects the permit was obtained to displace the union-sympathizing protest on Labor Day.

As phony as the following Vicki McKenna reason is, there is some paranoia in play, rooted in the fear that grips every low information conservative. Oh, and pettiness is a big motivator too:

Conservative radio talk show Vicki McKenna of WIBA participated in the Liberty Singers event, and tells 27 News obtaining a permit is about security, not the political content of the activity. "We just want folks to understand, the permit is easy to get, it's a way to protect all of us and our ability to come here to our beautiful capitol and express ourselves," McKenna says.

And don’t leave out McKenna’s lack of respect for the state constitutions unabridged guarantee to protest the government. Yet she's a big believer in unabridged gun rights. Another cafeteria constitutionalist. Her playful jabs at middle class working families plays well with her dimwitted listeners, who she leads by the nose demanding they hijack the Capitol.

They won’t be happy until they've literally marked every inch of territory like a pack of rabid dogs:

McKenna says other Walker supporters have obtained permits for events in the capitol rotunda for upcoming dates in September … McKenna has encouraged people to apply for permits to stymie the Solidarity Sing-a-long.

They just love a jobless, no new business agenda that needs more time, more borrowing, more votes against their own best interests, no safety nets and lower pay. Smart.

NOTE: The state constitution is clear about the right to protest. The last time I looked, bus tours and weddings don't rise to what we would call peaceful assemblies to "consult for the common good, and to petition the government, or any department thereof" unabridged. Social events need permits, not the those protesting their government policies. And I didn't see a crowd size listed either..what's that arbitrary number thing all about anyway?

Capitol Arrests Update...

Happen to have a few videos of news coverage here, WISC and WKOW, on the Capitol protests, so for those not from the area, here they are. First police officers joined in the Solidarity Singing:



Here's a look at the arrest of Marty Beil, executive director of Wisconsin AFSCME Local-24:

What next, a Capitol Ban on Roving School Kids? Sly points out Blaska hypocrisy.

With all the attention centered on the arrests at the Capitol, you’d think they would try to be as factual as possible. No such chance with the administration. They do realize making obvious lies will exposed almost immediately:

WKOW: A Dane County official disputes a state official Stephanie Marquis’ claim a scheduled state capitol wedding ceremony took place in the rain, as dozens of protesters inside the capitol occupied the building's rotunda.

County court commissioner Daniel Floeter tells 27 News he officiated the wedding ceremony, and said it was held outside the building by design, with no precipitation. "We did not do the ceremony in the rain," Floeter says.

If anything, Capitol Police might have to crack down on the problem of large groups of school kids getting in the way:

Floeter says the only delay in the ceremony just before noon resulted from the brief presence of about fifty school children.

Here's more from WKOW's Greg Neumann with the Blaska "permitted" sing-in with comments from 93.7's Sly:

Citations for Solidarity Singers not Popular even in Waukesha County.

In conservative Brookfield, I thought this online poll was a very encouraging sign:

Solidarity Singers joined by nearly 80 supporters. Walker backs off any arrests.

16 Republican lawmakers asked the Capitol police to make arrests after the Solidarity Singers defied the "new rules" for protesting.  The increased size of the singing group forced the DOA to back down, and proved Walker knows he has constitutional problems with his First Amendment limitations. WKOW 27: