Capitol Police Chief Targets Protest Leaders

The State Capitol Police Chief says recent citations of protesters have targeted what he calls “the leaders” of a group who have kept a regular presence at the capitol the past year-and-a-half.

Over the past couple of weeks, Capitol Police have issued several citations to protesters, most for “unlawful display of signs” in the capitol rotunda. Many were issued to people participating in the daily gathering of The Solidarity Sing Along protest group.

Police have not taken a zero tolerance approach. On days when dozens have shown up without a permit, carrying protest signs, only a handful got tickets. Erwin says those individuals are part of a core group of people who received warnings before. “These are the leaders of the group. I mean the bottom line is that they’re the leaders. So the organizers, the people that hand out the songbooks, the people that are directing it, the people that are holding the big banners that they put labor of hours into, these are the leaders.”

Citations like these previously went to the Dane County District Attorney, where most were not prosecuted. They are now being referred to the State Department of Justice. Each ticket costs $200.

Erwin says the citations can be avoided if the Solidarity Singers apply for a permit. “Just get a permit. It’s free. I don’t understand how people would make the choice of getting a citation for $200 versus getting a free permit and still doing the same activity. To me, I’ll take the free permit every day.”

Participants in the Solidarity Sing Along say their right to gather daily in the capitol is expressly protected by the state constitution. Song leader Brandon Barwick, who was recently ticketed, said in a Facebook post that requiring a permit to peaceably petition the government is abridging that constitutional right.