Call to Citizen Media! Michael Moore Calls Out the Mobs In Wisconsin, Bring Your Cameras to Capture Any Thuggery

[james&olya 1,121]

Protests more aggressive than usual; police barriers broken down

Ralliers pour into Capitol building en masse after hearing of Senate’s vote

After learning the state Senate passed the collective bargaining portion of the budget repair bill without the 14 missing Democrats, the Capitol erupted Wednesday evening as protesters flooded the closed building against a court order.

The hearings where the Senate passed the bill lasted less than a half hour, prompting the building to officially close around 6:30 p.m. Protesters outside chanted in frustration, “Let us in.”

After about an hour and a half, protesters stormed the building’s entrances, forcing themselves past police blockades.

Protesters who remained in the building past the hearing’s conclusion ran the risk of being arrested for disorderly conduct because of a March 3 court order that declared people could not occupy the Capitol after hours.

Capitol police said they were in “crisis mode” Wednesday evening because the building had been “taken over” by protesters. About 1,000 people were inside the building and 6,000 joined them after rushing previously locked doors, according to a statement from the Department of Administration.

Police were concerned about protesters’ physical safety with overcrowding, especially on the Capitol’s second floor bridges, the statement said.

DOA spokesperson Tim Donovan said law enforcement officers attempted to prevent forced entry from happening but were unable to because of the large volume of people.

“We’re disappointed that people who have been very cooperative over the past three weeks were not cooperative tonight and entered the building against the court order,” Donovan said.

Madison resident John Severa held a State Street entrance door open for an hour and said people inside the building rushed to the entrance to push the doors open for protesters outside.

Police responded shortly after to try to barricade the door, but their attempts were unsuccessful. After several minutes, police retreated while protesters cheered.

“I know police don’t want to be violent,” Madison resident Josh Olson said. “But tonight [the police were violent], and it was upsetting and disturbing.”

Olson said the decision to open the doors had very little coordination. He also claimed he was punched in the shoulder by an officer aggressively trying to stop the rush of people.

“Once people started coming in there was nothing police could do,” Olson said. “This is our house.”

Donovan said protesters also entered the building by jumping through windows. He said he was unsure if windows were broken because of conflicting information from several credible sources.

Police decided against forcibly removing protesters and kept the building open past hours Wednesday night to focus all of their efforts on keeping everyone safe, Donovan said.

Madison Police Department Sergeant Dave McClurg, who was protesting while off duty, said he was concerned with the dangers of security procedures during the Senate’s hearing. State law requires the Capitol to remain open after its designated hours during any public meetings.

Protesters began arriving en masse outside the building’s only open entrance near King Street about a half hour before the 6 p.m. Senate hearing. The hearing was only publicly announced at 4:09 p.m.

Because police began airport-like security procedures outfitted with a standing metal detector, the crowd grew as protesters were forced to enter the building one-by-one. McClurg said he was concerned with the dangers to everyone involved because the building’s only entrance at the time was severely overcrowded.

“If someone gets hurt tonight because of the security set up, I would testify for them,” McClurg said.

He said at some point police could have removed the metal detector and asked to wand a few people independently for any weapons. He added officers should have asked their supervisors to alter the security measure out of safety concerns.

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said the mayoral debate was canceled Wednesday night in light of the rally. He said he attended the rally because he wanted to make sure people remained peaceful.

“They’re angry and they should be, but let’s show our anger in a tasteful way,” Cieslewicz said.

http://badgerherald.com/news/2011/03/09/protests_more_aggres.php

Did you watch the video? It was made by one of the "peaceful" folks.

I don't suppose you remember the Bush v Gore debacle in Florida that ultimately involved the SCOTUS awarding Dubya the presidency. If you recall, there was a 'protest' by 'citizens' (turned out to be GOP staffers from DC for the most part) doing exactly the same sort of thing, forcing their way into buildings and places where the recount was in progress and physically forcing/intimidating the workers into stopping the recount! Why does't faux news play this video as well!

[james&olya 1,121]

I love the way a story about Moore and WI turns into a Fox bashing thread. The fear of Fox is palpable from the left.

You are pretty dense if you cannot tell the difference between fear and disgust!!

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I don't suppose you remember the Bush v Gore debacle in Florida that ultimately involved the SCOTUS awarding Dubya the presidency. If you recall, there was a 'protest' by 'citizens' (turned out to be GOP staffers from DC for the most part) doing exactly the same sort of thing, forcing their way into buildings and places where the recount was in progress and physically forcing/intimidating the workers into stopping the recount! Why does't faux news play this video as well!

They did actually. They also covered the lefts protests after the decision. Short memory? Or do you want them to play that video now? If so, what relevance would that have?

You are pretty dense if you cannot tell the difference between fear and disgust!!

Disgust causes people to ignore. Fear causes people to run around like the world is coming to an end like the left is doing now. Kinda dense on your part I would say.

[james&olya 1,121]

They did actually. They also covered the lefts protests after the decision. Short memory? Or do you want them to play that video now? If so, what relevance would that have?

Disgust causes people to ignore. Fear causes people to run around like the world is coming to an end like the left is doing now. Kinda dense on your part I would say.

I guess I missed the part where fox referred to these GOP operatives as thugs and gangsters.

And responsible people speak out when they see disgusting things in public life. You wouldn't know about that I guess.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I guess I missed the part where fox referred to these GOP operatives as thugs and gangsters.

And responsible people speak out when they see disgusting things in public life. You wouldn't know about that I guess.

So why aren't you speaking out about the thuggery of the unions? I guess you are not responsible.

[james&olya 1,121]

So why aren't you speaking out about the thuggery of the unions? I guess you are not responsible.

I support the unions and their defense of the middle class in America. I think these teachers and their supporters have behaved well considering the circumstances. I only wish my situation allowed me the time to join them in solidarity against this union-busting attempt by the GOP.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

I support the unions and their defense of the middle class in America. I think these teachers and their supporters have behaved well considering the circumstances. I only wish my situation allowed me the time to join them in solidarity against this union-busting attempt by the GOP.

So you are ignoring the criminal thuggary of unions and rail against Fox? Quite responsible of you. I wouldn't expect less of you, good job.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

We haven't see one posted example of "criminal thuggery" in Wisconsin, just some fairly low-level pushing

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So why aren't you speaking out about the thuggery of the unions?

What thuggery, exactly? What crime has been perpetrated by the pro-union protesters in WI?

[james&olya 1,121]

So you are ignoring the criminal thuggary of unions and rail against Fox? Quite responsible of you. I wouldn't expect less of you, good job.

The right to peacefully assemble is guaranteed in our bill of rights. I suppose you would like to see that repealed as well!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The right to peacefully assemble is guaranteed in our bill of rights. I suppose you would like to see that repealed as well!

Except when the tea party does it to disrupt any discourse on legislation they don't like. Then he applauds them.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

You all are willfully blind I guess. Union violence is a very well documented thing. I have been attacked as a contractor and have been fired as a union member. I have seen it first hand. Unions are a blight on the American working people. They are criminals and thugs.

Except when the tea party does it to disrupt any discourse on legislation they don't like. Then he applauds them.

Show me where I applauded anything about the tea party. Typical, just make sh!t up as you like.

The right to peacefully assemble is guaranteed in our bill of rights. I suppose you would like to see that repealed as well!

There was nothing peaceful about the WI protests. The protesters broke windows and fought with police. Most of them were not even teachers but outside thugs bussed in by other unions. You are willfully ignorant.

What thuggery, exactly? What crime has been perpetrated by the pro-union protesters in WI?

Failure to disperse when ordered to do so by the police. Attempting to invade the Senate chamber to block votes. Threats to Senators. Shall I go on?

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

The Madison police reported fewer arrests than during a Badgers game

[JohnSmith2007 353]

The Madison police reported fewer arrests than during a Badgers game

Turning a blind eye isn't the same as not committing a crime.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Turning a blind eye isn't the same as not committing a crime.

Uh huh - facts sometimes get in the way of a good argument, don't they?