The unrest and growing protests at the Capitol are the result of one man, Chief David Erwin. Things were pretty quiet before his arrival. It seems a few other professionals noticed as well:
In February of 2011, tens of thousands of Wisconsinitestravelled to our state Capitol in order to have their voices heard. It was truly a remarkable time in Wisconsin'shistory, where people from all sides of a political issue came together in oneplace to peacefully demonstrate. Therewas an exceptional relationship between the protesters and on-duty lawenforcement officers during this time, and Madison saw none of the strife orviolence that has touched other protest movements nationwide.
They were professional and courteous, and performed theirduties impartially in order to protect the free speech rights of all partiesinvolved. These officers, from countlessjurisdictions across Wisconsin, set an example for the world to followregarding the role of the police during peaceful citizen protests. Part of the reason they were able toaccomplish this was that the leaders of these agencies were extremely sensitiveto the free speech rights of all participants, and as such, did not place theirofficers in positions that would infringe upon those rights.
It is within this context that we have been watching withalarm the recent developments at the Wisconsin State Capitol. In recent weeks, the Department ofAdministration (DOA) and the leadership within the Capitol Police havecommenced enforcement action against peaceful protesters coming to the Capitol.Officers have been ordered to arrest and cite protesters whose only offense isthe silent carrying of a sign. Other protesters have been cited for gatheringfor the "Solidarity Sing-along," a non-violent group of citizens whosing every day over the noon hour. TheSolidarity Singers have been particularly cognizant of the needs of othergroups who also want to utilize the Capitol, and frequently relocate outsidethe Capitol to be respectful of those needs. They are now being cited for assembly at the Capitol without a permit.
The right to free speech and the right to peaceful assemblyare two of the fundamental rights upon which our democracy is based. We believethat the recent policy change at the Capitol presents a substantial safety riskto the officers who are tasked with its implementation. Simply stated, theseofficers are being forced into emotionally-charged confrontations that areneither necessary nor advisable. We are asking the Department ofAdministration, the leadership of the Capitol Police, and the Governor's Officeto respect the core values and freedoms upon which this great state and nationwere founded, and cease their infringement upon these freedoms.
Chief Erwin's predictable and clueless response is a frightening example of how quickly freedom can fade in the hands of the Walker Authority:
“It’s unfortunate that these associations would issue astatement about Capitol Police actions without ever contacting us. Our officers would never judge another policedepartment’s enforcement without knowing the facts of the situation.
“Everyone has access to the Capitol. Wisconsin has a rich history of freedom of speech,which is a fundamental right that we uphold. There are more than five million citizens in the state, and all shouldhave the same opportunity to voice their views and opinions at our state’sCapitol. This is not an issue aboutsaying what you want – it’s about sharing the space at the Capitol and there isa process to do it.
“Last year was an unprecedented time in our state’s historyand the officers of these departments assisted Capitol Police in keeping theenvironment safe for everyone involved. We know that the officers understand that the crowds are no longer inthe thousands, but a small group who we continue to work with to follow the processto reserve space for their protests.
“We are sworn to protect and serve the citizens of our state– as all other police departments in Wisconsin – and we will continue to doso.”
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