Last August there was a rally in Wisconsin on a day that we called "the day of impact." It was when most public employees received their first paycheck after the cuts imposed on them by Walker's legislation. I personally know families who are now taking home up to $1000 less each month because of these cuts.
That day, many of us gathered at library mall, and we then marched down State Street towards the Capitol. By the time we got to the steps of the Capitol, there were about 2,000 of us altogether. We listened to a few speakers, and by the time the rally was over, it was about 5:55pm, which is 5 minutes before the Capitol closes. The rally organizers had a deal worked out with the Capitol police to march through the Capitol at this time, so we made our way towards the building. The officers, including police chief Charles Tubbs, even held the doors open for us.
We marched in, some with drums and megaphones, which are against the rules, but the police didn't see a problem with this. Once inside, we decided to stay and exercise our first amendment rights by chanting, singing, and holding a people's mic, where individuals have a chance to speak to the group and tell their story. At about 6:45, we heard the first announcement to leave the building. This was 45 minutes after the building closed. Many people still didn't leave at this point, but they did slowly start trickling out through the doors.
Around 7:30, most people had left, but 13 of us decided that although the building closed at 6pm, the first amendment doesn't have a closing time, so we sat down in the middle of the rotunda, clutching into an American flag. Many people leaving the building thanked us for staying and standing up for their rights.
Photo by Callen Harty
Ultimately, each of us were arrested and removed from the building. Seven of us refused to walk on our own, went limp, and were carried by cops. Six of the seven were charged with obstructing arrest, which is a class A misdemeanor. We decided to fight the charges, and this past Tuesday we had a jury trial. Below is a picture of us at trial:
Photo by Leslie Peterson
Although, in my opinion, we did not obstruct arrest because we did not believe the officers were acting within a lawful capacity, the jury found all six of us guilty. The judge decided to fine us $200 plus court fees, which adds up to $505. This may seem like a slap on the wrist, but all six of us are extremely involved in our communities and don't spend a lot of time actually making money. For me, the fine is over half of what I make in one month. We have had offers to help with the legal fees, so we have a link set up for donations. If you are interested in helping out, you can donate here. Any help is much appreciated!
Even though I don't believe our conviction was just, I am willing and ready to accept the consequences. I do not regret my actions, and I believe that the other five don't, either. All we did was stand up for something, and now we're considered criminals. This will not deter me from continuing to stand up for what I believe, even if it means risking arrest or conviction again. Forward!
The six of us on break a break during our trial