In my previous two diaries, I have linked to videos edited and published by Arthur Kohl-Riggs, a Wisconsin activist. One of the videos shows Wisconsin citizens being arrested for silently filming the proceedings of the Wisconsin Assembly from the gallery. The second shows people being arrested for displaying small sheets of paper with excerpts of the Wisconsin constitution printed on them.
Shortly after the people with the signs were arrested, Arthur, who was filming the events, was himself arrested and battered by Wisconsin Capitol Police with assistance from the Wisconsin State Patrol. Watch.
http://youtu.be/...
The civil disobedience actions taken by these dedicated activists are designed to accomplish a few things. Most importantly, they are a push back against the illegal attempts by Scott Walker and the Republicans majorities to limit public access to the capitol building. They also prevent the Republicans in power from trying to pass laws when nobody's looking, because someone is always looking. The actions also keep the Republicans fretting, which is a good job for them. Keep in mind, they are in no physical danger from these activists. They are afraid of being shamed. Again.
What is most disturbing to me is that the physical abuse against Arthur was dished out by an officer from the Capitol Police Department. Their department was not given an exemption from Scott Walker's union-busting measures as was the State Patrol. The hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who demonstrated against that law fought for the Capitol Police when it counted, but when it came time to return the favor and treat Arthur with some respect, this officer chose to act like a bully. I take it personally that this is the way this officer chooses to "thank" us for trying to save his pension and his salary. When he shoved Arthur to the floor, he shoved hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites to the floor, including me.
I think what made the Capitol Police Officer lose his cool was that Arthur rightly pointed out that the officer had a camera attached to his uniform and was also filming from the gallery in violation of the rules. The cognitive dissonance created by Arthur in the mind of the officer caused the officer to snap. No excuse, though. This officer should be disciplined.
The Chief of the Capitol Police, Charles Tubbs, has been civil and has shown a lot of restraint even while he was being encouraged from above to have his officers pull out the billy clubs and the pepper spray. I have defended his department's actions in general, but I cannot defend this. Arthur was not resisting arrest, he was walking on his own, and most importantly, he wasn't breaking the law by filming in the Assembly gallery. First amendment rights are not simply washed away by an arbitrary Assembly rule.
This will not stand. If the Republican legislators or Scott Walker think they will soon be able to pass more of their radical agenda behind closed doors or with little notice, they are sadly and tragically mistaken. They will see more of these actions, and it won't just be "the kids." Eventually the parents and even the grandparents will show up with their cameras and their sheets of paper. We will occupy the Assembly if we must, and you can take that to the bank credit union.
Arthur edits the facebook page Shit Scott Walker is Doing to My State. Give him some love.