Police prepare to close Wisconsin capitol building

[1776Forever]

Source: Detroit Free Press

MADISON, Wis. -- Protesters at the Wisconsin Capitol grew angry Sunday afternoon when authorities providing security began restricting access to the building hours before its 4 p.m. shutdown.

Dane County Sheriff deputies were letting people in, but in smaller numbers than those leaving. An angry crowd began to form on the Capitol’s east side. Several hundred demonstrators inside roared the chat, “let them in” and “let them inside the rotunda.”

At 4 p.m. central time, the Capitol Police were scheduled to close the building and return to normal business hours. Protesters say police have told them they will begin removing anyone who refuses to leave at 5 p.m.

(more at link)



Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20110227/NEWS07/110227020/0/NEWS07/Police-prepare-close-Wisconsin-capitol-building?odyssey=nav%7Chead

[Geoffrey_Lebowski]

1. What am I missing?

http://understory.ran.org/2011/02/25/breaking-wisconsin-police-have-joined-protest-inside-state-capitol/

I thought the cops weren't going to do it?

[KoKo]

2. That's what I thought according to DU post this a.m. ...Police supporting Protesters and

allowing them to stay in the Capitol? :shrug: Good Cops...Bad Cops?

[inna]

3. We were all hoping. Miracles do not happen, I guess.

[1776Forever]

4. Looks like Walker made the call to clear the Capitol. Here's a another article on it.

Wis. protesters upset with Capitol shutdown
By Steve Contorno and Ben Jones, Gannett Wisconsin Media
Updated 36m ago

MADISON, Wis. — Protesters at the Capitol grew angry Sunday afternoon when authorities providing security began restricting access to the building hours before its 4 p.m. shutdown.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-27-wisconsin-walker_N.htm

[underpants]

6. If they are given orders they have to follow them

I am reading that it is State Troopers not local cops but I am not sure.

[TorchTheWitch]

19. it's the Capitol police

which is apparently a division within the state's Dept. of Administration.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/02/27/wis_demonstrators_flood_capitol_as_movement_grows/
Jodi Jensen, a senior official at the state agency that includes the Capitol police, the Department of Administration, said "there will be no more sleeping over in the Capitol" beginning at 4 p.m., when the building would be closed overnight for cleaning and maintenance.

From then on, she said, the building will be open during normal daily hours and closed at night. She said the decision was made because of health and safety concerns and that she wasn’t aware of any influence by Walker.

...

Later, Jim Palmer, the leader of a large law enforcement union, said that he has been told that the Capitol police were backing away from the plan, and he expected that protesters would still be allowed to spend the night inside.

"Now it sounds like they are going to let people stay,"’ said Palmer, executive director of the 11,000-member Wisconsin Professional Police Association. The police may only ask for people to "voluntarily comply" with requests to leave the building, he said. He added that his union and other labor leaders have urged their members to comply with whatever the police ask.

[TorchTheWitch]

18. there are several police divisions

and there are factions within those divisions that are with the protestors. Jim Palmer is the head of the WI police union, not the head of any police department, and it is him that has been so vocal about support for the protestors. I think a lot of people were/are of the belief that he's the head of a police department and the department that would be responsible for removing protestors from the capitol - he isn't. Though he's undoubtably been working very hard in trying to negotiate with the Capitol police and reporting on what's going on, he's not in any position to make the decisions. It's the Capitol police (a division of the state police) that has jurisdiction of the building and will be handling removal of the protestors (which they've already been engaged in today by only allowing one person inside for every two that come out).

There really is no such thing as "the police". There's always various departments that handle different jurisdictions and issues. And in this case, there are INDIVIUAL members of various police departments joining the protestors.

That blog article you linked was talking about hundreds of INDIVIDUAL members of various WI police units that joined the protestors on their own personal initiative, and there are most likely many members of the Capitol police among them. There was a USA Today article posted I think yesterday that talked a bit about what may happen if members of the Capitol police ended up having to carry out their co-worker bothers/sisters in arms. It will really come down to what those indiviual members of the Capitol police on duty and engaged in clearing the capitol decide to do. So far it looks like they're doing what they're told.

[1776Forever]

5. The USStreaming video just went down. n/t

[KewlKat]

7. Live coverage at this link

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12986654

[1776Forever]

8. Thanks got it back up. n/t

[ekelly]

9. I think that's a recorded segment n?t

[ekelly]

10. Is there a working, live link?

[ekelly]

11. CNN reporting live now

[Ghost Dog]

12. This means Trouble, then?

[Geoffrey_Lebowski]

13. I think given Walkers MTP comments this AM ...

It's time to up the ante and get into the realm of PEACEFUL civil disobedience.

[SkyDaddy7]

16. The governor wants shots for the evening news...

of angryt protesters refusing to leave in order to sway public opion! This is a trap!!

[Tx4obama]

14. Here's a LIVE stream link

http://qik.com/Brandzel

[SkyDaddy7]

15. THIS IS A TRAP!!!!

They want protestors to resist so that they can show it on the news & sway public opinion!! I KNOW THIS IS A TRAP!!

[prolesunited]

21. I hope there is someone inside

training everyone in passive resistance techniques.

[1776Forever]

17. Update from Madison TV 3000.com site:

Hundreds Defy Order To Vacate Wisconsin Capitol
Protesters Plan Peaceful Stand
Updated: 5:38 pm CST February 27, 2011

http://www.channel3000.com/politics/27016632/detail.html

The Wisconsin Capitol police chief said officers are trying to persuade the protesters who haven't left the Capitol to leave voluntarily Sunday.

Wisconsin Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs said officers have not arrested any of the protesters who remained in the building in defiance of a 4 p.m. Sunday deadline.

When asked whether those who refused would be arrested, Tubbs repeated that authorities want people to leave voluntarily.

Protesters have remained in the building since Feb. 15. They are fighting legislation proposed by Wisconsin's new Republican governor, Scott Walker, that would take away nearly all collective bargaining rights for most public employees.

As of the 4 p.m. deadline Sunday, about 200 protesters had left the Capitol, but many more have remained behind.

[Iliyah]

25. If this was

a t-party thingly, even the commericals for the oscars would be shown.

I'm tired of the media, period.

[Lastactiongyro]

20. THEY HOLD IT FOR THE NIGHT.!!! AUTHORITIES BACK OFF!

http://qik.com/Brandzel

[midnight]

22. K&R

[MadisonMike]

23. Please help feeding the people in the Capitol tonight

The people inside the Capitol need food and Ian's is closed. Roman Candle Pizzeria is open, will deliver, and will match up to 3 pizzas. Call 608-258-2000.
Please repost widely and call in some orders. Also Use Glass Nickel Pizza 608 245 0880

[MadMaddie]

24. Don't taxpayer dollars fund the Capital of Wisconsin?

The peoples house?

Walker is getting scared.....he is desperate....