Madison - Several hundred chanting, cheering protesters entered the Capitol rotunda Thursday around the 6 p.m. closing time. An hour later, Capitol police carried 13 of them away.
Most of the protesters left around 6:30 p.m. at the urging of police. Officers sought to close the building and enforce a Dane County judge's order from earlier this year that the building be cleared of the public after its business was done for the day.
"I'm asking you very nicely to leave," Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs said. "Please leave now. We need to lock the building."
The protest came on the first day that higher pension and health contributions kick in for state employees.
The scene recalled in a modest way the massive protests of last year over Gov. Scott Walker's legislation repealing most collective bargaining for public workers. That measure also made the cuts to workers' benefits taking effect Thursday to help balance the state budget.
The first wave of protesters entered the statehouse carrying banners, shouting and banging on drums and cowbells. One of them - among those later arrested - was waving an American flag and standing on the first-floor railing overlooking the rotunda until police asked him to step down. - JSOnline
It is this type of behavior and that at the offices of Paul Ryan that have led many Independents to turn away from supporting the Union. Disruptions to the system and blatant disrespect of the law.
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