MacIver News Service | November 15, 2011
[Wauwatosa, Wisc…] Protesters planning on marching to and picketing outside Governor Scott Walker’s home in Wauwatosa are getting the green light from local officials, but should be prepared to adhere to municipal ordinances.
We Are Milwaukee Facebook Posting
We Are Milwaukee is planning to publicize the effort to recall Walker and will meet at Juneau High School in Milwaukee and then march four blocks to the Governor’s Wauwatosa house. They have announced plans to circulate recall petitions while sitting in Walker’s neighbor’s front yards, who have agreed to help. The group describes itself as an alliance of community-based organizations, unions, faith communities, and local leaders. According to the group’s Facebook page, hundreds of individuals have signalled their intent to participate in the march and rally.
The Milwaukee Public Schools administration issued a permit allowing the protesters to use the grounds around Juneau High School, where they will be meeting. The contact listed on the permit request is Bruce Colburn of the AFL-CIO.
The Wauwatosa Police Department decided the protest does not require a permit.
“There are no plans to block any streets off,” said Lt. Gerald Witkowski, Wauwatosa Police Department. “There is a contingency to do that if the crowd is especially large or if there’s any safety concerns.”
There are several City of Wauwatosa ordinances that could apply to the protesters. These include: right-of-way forfeited when jay walking (11.20.040), when walking on the road pedestrians need to walk on the left side and move out of the way of vehicles (11.20.60), and standing or loitering on roadway is prohibited (11.20.090). There is also an ordinance prohibiting use of electronic or mechanical devices to “disturb the comfort, quiet, or repose of persons therein or in the vicinity (7.48.030). Car horns are also held to this standard (7.48.040).
Captain Jeff Sutter of the Wauwatosa Police Department said that they will be enforcing these ordinances, but would not go into details.
“I can tell you that we’ll be there but I won’t go into any more details about our deployment strategy,” Sutter said.
Protesters will begin to gather fron 4:30 to 7:30 pm.