Union Presence Grows At Sing Alongs As Arrests Continue

Union members and Marty Beil, the longtime head of the State Employees Union, have been in the Capitol lately as the arrests of protesters continue.

Attendance fluctuates at the daily sing along where the arrests happen, but the crowd was definitely larger on Monday with a couple hundred people between the ground floor and first floor of the rotunda.

Madison firefighter Ted Higgins was there and said he was joined by 12 to 15 of his colleagues. “Me and a couple other firefighters just had said after last Thursday enough is enough, and now is the time to go down and put the ball in their court and see what they’re going to do.”

Higgins was wearing his firefighter’s helmet when he was arrested for unlawful assembly. He said it was his first time in handcuffs.

Beil has been at the sing along off and on, and in a Facebook message last week implored friends to join the daily singers. Beil says these protests will never get as big as the ones in 2011, but he says they’re important. “The fact is if there’s one or 100, there’s somebody speaking out against Scott Walker.”

The state Department of Administration (DOA) says there were 21 citations issued today for participating in an unpermitted event – an amount that has been standard lately, regardless of crowd size.

The DOA says protesters could avoid arrest if they apply for permits. Protesters say their right to demonstrate is protected by the state and federal Constitution.

Correction: The web version of this article originally said Marty Beil was a former union leader. Beil is the present leader of the State Employees Union.