Capitol Chaos: Protests Throughout State
MILWAUKEE COUNTY – The chants started Thursday morning outside Governor Scott Walker's Milwaukee state office, where at least a hundred protesters gathered.
Many even gained access inside the state building after hearing the governor was in his office.
“You have to stay in the lobby,” a state police officer told other protesters who were denied access.
The protesters, which were part of a statewide effort Thursday, are upset over Walker's plan to take away most collective bargaining rights for public employees.
“It seems the majority of the people of Wisconsin at least want to come to some sort of agreement that not one side is bullying the other,” said Tom Frontczak, of Greenfield.
Not everyone agrees.
“They're taking away the rights of those who voted for change,” said Roseann Dieck, a Walker supporter and Jeff Stone volunteer.
Stone is a Republican state representative in favor of Walker's budget proposals and is running for Milwaukee County Executive.
Protesters gathered outside his campaign office in Wauwatosa Thursday night.
But Dieck believe its the protesters who are wrong.
“There was an election on November 2nd. The people in the State of Wisconsin said we need change,” she said.
Stone's campaign manager Vi Hammelman even told volunteers to stay home Thursday because of the planned protests outside the Wauwatosa building.
“Sometimes the discourse is uncomfortable and I don't want to put anyone I care about in the middle of that,” said Hammelman.
Despite concerns, the protest was peaceful.
"They (Republican legislators) are not seeing the ground swell of people that support this," said Frontczak about the support for public employees.
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