Posted on 06/09/2011 6:24:54 PM PDT by Jean S
Madison - Opponents of Gov. Scott Walker were backing away from a demonstration against him held Wednesday at a Special Olympics event, even as organizers of the ceremony said the protesters did not disrupt it.
Also Wednesday, state Capitol Police removed a dozen protesters dressed as zombies from the office of Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) on Wednesday and arrested them.
Matt Guidry, a spokesman for the United Council of University of Wisconsin Students, which organized the Vos protest, said his group did not back the demonstration during the noon hour Special Olympics ceremony attended by Walker, though some of the same zombie demonstrators were involved.
"That was not associated with anything that United Council was doing," Guidry said. "That doesn't make us look that good."
Guidry said the intent of the "die-in" in Vos' office was to raise awareness about legislation requiring voters to show photo IDs at the polls and separate issues in the state budget such as a decision by Republicans to turn down federal money for increasing Internet broadband access.
Vos is co-chairman of the Joint Finance Committee.
Rachel Grant, a spokeswoman for the Special Olympics, said officials were nervous when the zombie protesters first arrived but they turned out to be peaceful.
"We were all a little bit on edge, but it turned out for the best," Grant said. "Nothing was disruptive at all."
Kelly Kloepping, another Special Olympics official, said the protesters were respectful and did not diminish the excitement the Special Olympians felt about being in Madison to meet Walker and other leaders.
"We feel it's really about the athletes," Kloepping said. "We knew the protesters were there, but they were respectful of our athletes."
State Treasurer Kurt Schuller, a GOP official whose daughter was a Special Olympics competitor, denounced the demonstration in a statement.
"To be confronted by protesters, who will never understand the personal challenges that these Special Olympians face, who decided to politicize a nonpolitical event, shows a complete lack of civility when civility is something we should all be working toward," he said.
Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) issued a statement Wednesday praising most demonstrators for being engaged in government but chiding a few for crossing the line in recent weeks.
"The concern about the direction the proposed budget will take our state is real, and the right to be heard on the issues is undeniable," Carpenter said in a statement. "Sadly, there have been recent instances in the Capitol where enthusiasm to express a difference of opinion has crossed the line and endangered the safety of those working in the Capitol, including law enforcement and Capitol personnel. Along with the public right to express an opinion on the legislative issues of the day comes the personal responsibility to do so without putting others' safety at risk."
Janet Ramsey, a medical laboratory technician and a member of the Wisconsin State Employees Union, said protests such as the Special Olympics event do not help the cause that state union members are trying to further.
"It's taking away from what the Special Olympics do and putting a bad mark on what we're trying to do," Ramsey said.
Ramsey differentiated between union members who are protesting Walker's budget and the protesters involved with the zombie demonstration.
"I think that's someone looking to get their 15 minutes of fame. That's not what we're trying to do," Ramsey said.
Cullen Werwie, a spokesman for Walker, called the demonstration "unfortunate" but declined further comment, saying that he didn't want to draw attention away from the ceremony.
"That event was about the Special Olympics," Werwie said.
Of the 12 who were arrested in Vos' office, 10 were cited and released, one person was booked and released and one person was required to post $263.50 because he was from out of state and has no ties to the community.
Kit Beyer, Vos' spokeswoman, said the group came into the office around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. After first gathering in the receiving area, the group then walked into Vos' personal office, locked arms and sat or laid down.
She said the group was asked to leave and refused. Vos was not in the office at the time, Beyer said.Don Walker of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this article.
For union people, the union is more important than anything or anyone. They would kill their mother rather than dis the union. They would refuse to go to heaven if one of the angels wasn’t union.
100 to 1 those are all from some Frat House that were promised 2 kegs for a “kegger” if they did that act.
That bunch never worked a day in their lives and are going to UW on Dad and Mom’s dime.
Each face should be identified and name with photo published on the front page of the newspaper.
Each face should be identified and name with photo published on the front page of the newspaper.
One?
The uniontards wouldn’t go unless they ALL were union!
But I highly doubt that more than a couple will ever get to meet any angels-at least-not any angels in Heaven...
Please see what is said by the group that organized this mess. www.jsonline.com
Then clock on the article that has 403 comments (at last count)that blasts the loser students.
For all you liberals lurking out there may this serve as a lesson to you that you can’t count on the Unions when you really need them.
I’m surprised they didn’t do a beat down on handicapped kids.
Isn’t that their usual style..find the weakest that can’t fight back and hit them.
The libs think those children should not have been born — should’ve been aborted.
>> For union people, the union is more important than anything or anyone.
The psychological bonding is perhaps cult-like.
How many are willing to kill a ‘scab’ who’s willing to work for lesser wages and benefits?
We all saw the video. They didn’t look respectful to me. They looked like spoiled brats from rich homes. And then there was the picture of them lying on the Capitol Steps screaming for tuition assistance! I wouldn’t give them a dime. What chutzpah!
I hope they all catch a disease from lying in the dirt.
And why was it that most of the zombies looked as young as middle schoolers and all the organizers looked older. Were these folks puppeteers pulling the strings of marionettes?
College students have a union?
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