Access Denied

Teeming outside of the Capitol building of Wisconsin were thousands of angry citizens.  Early in the morning a judge ruled that it was illegal to keep the capitol closed and they must immediately open the doors.  The Department of Administration (DOA) stated that they would open the doors.  This order was issued in the morning, when I arrived at the capitol around 2pm only handful were getting in, and nearly all of them were entering due to democratic assemblymen who had to come to the door to allow them entry.  This is not the public access that is required.  The DOA blatantly disobeyed the court order and was attempting to delay a court hearing on the injuncture.

People were furious, this was their capitol and they were being denied access.  Most people were frustrated, a few vented their frustration at the police who were enforcing the order.  However, many protesters quickly rose to their defense, reminding them that they were doing their job and that they relationships with them had been great.  However, one group of law enforcement was pulled from the capitol because the Sheriff of Dane County stated his deputies were not "palace guards."

The reason for this denial of entry was obvious, it was the night of the Governor's Budget Address.  By doing so he limited the number of protesters in the capitol.  The rumor mill held that supporters were being brought in through the steam tunnels under the capitol, and those accusations are being investigated.  This further angered people.

As they crowded the door they shouted "Let us in" and  "Whose House?  Our House."  They maintained a presence until it was time for the budget address, at which time the crowd moved to the side of building where the address was being given.  Arriving there they found out that the area closest to the room had been blocked off, an attempt to keep us from being heard during the address.  They under-estimated how loud we could be.  Assembly democrats confirmed that they could hear us in the room.  At one point a democratic staff member opened the window and gestured to the crowd to get louder, which we happily obliged.

Toward the end of the speech the crowd suddenly surged forward into the blocked off areas, the cops moving out of the way to allow it to occur.  I'm unsure if the cops invited the people in or if they just did it; but suddenly the crowd was at the doors chanting and demanding to be let in.  However it was not to be, none of us were allowed in our capitol.

However, we made it known that we cannot and will not be silenced.  If he wants to shut us up, then he needs to come to the table and compromise, as we're willing to do.