Video & Multimedia
Related: About this forum70yr black Viet. Veteran Abused by Wisconsin Capitol Cops, August 1,
As Williams was being led to the elevator in obvious pain, he looked Capitol Police Lieutenant Bob Sloey in the eye and told him, If you had left your damn blood in Vietnam youd be standing up for rights too instead of this bullshit.
** as I watched the video, I couldn't believe it when the cops wouldn't even take the cuffs off this 70 year old Vet after he fell on the marble stairs.. why do they even have to cuff any of them????
And why do they target Veterans??? is it cause they are Veterans for Peace ??? is it their age?
Make sure to see both videos.
This episode marks the third time that an ambulance has transported an individual from the Capitol to a local hospital during the noon hour of singing protests and resulting arrests of dissenters, and the second time that the person transported suffered a medical emergency while in custody. The Lutheran minister Carter Dary was transported to the hospital on two separate occasions, but was only in police custody during one of the incidents.
On Wednesday, Williams returned to the Capitol after being arrested Tuesday to deliver a letter from his providers at the VA hospital about his long term struggles with PTSD, resulting from his service in Vietnam. Williams health care providers informed the Capitol police of the PTSD diagnosis and instructed the Capitol police to treat him carefully should he be detained in their custody. Wisconsin State Senator Bob Jauch immediately delivered the contents of the letter to Capitol police.
In an interview on a local radio station this morning Williams stated, Yesterday when I was arrested it was retaliation for that letter because I made that complaint to Senator Jauch. They were more aggressive. I wasnt doing anything, I wasnt even singing. I was standing there with my sign on my feet. I dont know if I was pushed or what, my feet went out from under me.
Williams indicated that he planned to sue the Capitol Police for their poor treatment of him and vowed, Ill be back at the capitol as soon as Im able to. They can knock me down but they cant keep me down. He added, I bled for those rights and I will not surrender to this administration.
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Longtime Madison peace activist Will Williams, 70, was arrested for singing over the noon hour at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Thursday. He fell on his back on a marble staircase en route to the basement police processing center while escorted by four Capitol police officers. In a move that defied the most basic first-aid principle of not moving someone who has a potential back injury, officers spent several minutes helping the Vietnam vet to his feet on the slippery staircase, while Williams was still in handcuffs.
Eventually he was assisted to an elevator where he was moved to the basement processing area. An ambulance then transported him to the local VA hospital for treatment. He returned home to rest later that afternoon.
http://wcmcoop.com/2013/08/02/will-williams-falls-while-in-police-custody-at-wi-capitol-8-1-13/
(in MN I talked to some of the Vets for Peace who were heading out to Madison for the Nat'l Vets for Peace Conv... they told me about Will and what happened to him. It wasn't right.. they were looking forward to seeing Will and to "visiting" the Capitol)
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)Will Williams was featured in the award-winning documentary The Good Soldier which explores the personal dimensions of war as experienced by the soldiers themselves. In the film Williams talks about how over 40 years later he is still healing from the dehumanizing effects of being a trained killer for the U.S. government.
A mark of Williams enormous heart, he has been able to find the silver lining in his experiences: Vietnam made me a better person, made me love people more. It made me understand that we are all one, one people throughout this earth.
Info on Madison Veterans for Peace
http://madisonvfp.org/about/
avaistheone1
(14,626 posts)K&r
midnight
(26,624 posts)annm4peace
(6,119 posts)David M. Erwin
Chief of Police
Wisconsin Capitol Police
Contact Information
Phone Numbers
Non-Emergency Calls
(608) 266-8797
http://doa.wi.gov/index.asp?locid=163
annm4peace
(6,119 posts)left a message with staff person.
I think others are calling also. Asked why they are targeting Veterans, especially Veterans for Peace and that they were shameful.
AllyCat
(16,177 posts)He has obviously done this more than once.
Midnight Writer
(21,743 posts)That the protesters are defending their jobs, pensions and benefits?
And do the Republicans ordering the arrests of peaceful protesters assembling and protesting in public areas realize how thuggish this makes them look?
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Last edited Fri Aug 9, 2013, 09:02 AM - Edit history (1)
Walker originally exempted police and firefighter unions from his union-busing plans.
From July 31:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R ) said this week that state Republicans might expand the state's controversial restrictions on collective bargaining to the two sectors spared from the new law more than two years ago.
Wisconsin Public Radio reports that Walker commented during a town hall meeting Monday that Republicans in the state Legislature are open to expanding the restrictions to police officers and firefighters. He added that he had not made a proposal to further the restrictions.
"There are some voices in the Legislature that talked about (expansion)," Walker said at the forum in Milwaukee, before defending his reforms. "Public employees across the state have seen that the fears that some of them projected just haven't happened."
In 2011, Walker and Republicans in the Legislature made national headlines when they permanently eliminated collective bargaining rights -- with an exception for wage inflation adjustments -- for public-sector employees. Although first-responders were exempted from the law, they joined mass protests at the state Capitol in Madison in solidarity with other public employees. Mahlon Mitchell, the leader of the state's firefighters union, ran for lieutenant governor against incumbent Rebecca Kleefisch in last year's unsuccessful recall election.
--more--
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/31/scott-walker-anti-union-restrictions_n_3682957.html
No doubt "some voices" means David and Charles (Koch)
________
Welcome to DU!
sheshe2
(83,729 posts)It was wrong. It was force it was abuse, it was unconscionable.
However, before we claim police brutality, let us put the blame where it belongs. The blame needs to be put firmly in the lap of Governor Scott Walker and the Koch Brothers that own him. They did this. They ordered this.
I want to believe that had I been one of the arresting officers, I would have thrown up my hands and said NO!
However, this gross display of power lies solely with the Governor Scott walker. He ordered this at the direction of the Koch brothers. May they rot in hell.
Thank you Will for Standing up for our rights.
thelordofhell
(4,569 posts)Fucking fascists..........
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Fucking Fascist assholes.
democrank
(11,092 posts)~PEACE~
midnight
(26,624 posts)Convention taking place here.
http://VFPNationalConvention.org/
Scuba
(53,475 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)mtasselin
(666 posts)Welcome to the world of walker, the news media will not cover this because for the most part they are owned by the rich and these bastards want total control. it is a sad time in America and I only can hope that I live long enough to see it change for the better.
bonniebgood
(940 posts)I saw the photo without watching the video.
Start around 2:07 in tape.
Im saying youre talking to me about some draft all you white boys are breaking your neck to get to Switzerland, Canada and London. I m not going to help nobody get something Negros dont have.
If I want to die, Ill die right now right here fighting you. If Im going to die-Youre my enemy.
My enemy is the white people, not Viet cons, Chinese or Japanese
Youre my apposer when I want freedom
Youre my apposer when I want justice
Youre my apposer when I want equality.
You wont even standup for me in America for my religious beliefs and you want me to go somewhere and fight but you wont stand up for me right here at home?
Muhammad Ali
heaven05
(18,124 posts)years ago was this, and it has just gotten worse. SHAME AMERIKKKA!
heaven05
(18,124 posts)SHAME! SHAME! SHAME! Fucking PIGS!!!!
PBRGM2
(1 post)Thank you, Sergeant, for being there for being there on the battle lines for those of us who cannot be. I was a Gunner's Mate serving on PBRs (Patrol Boat River) in the "Brown Water Navy" on The Mekong Delta. Since returning from Viet Nam I have asked myself the same questions you have. In particular, what did leaving my blood in Viet Nam have to do with defending the people of the United States? The obvious answer is, not a damn thing. Not since the end of World War II have those of the United States Armed Forces fought, bled, and died for the the "Freedom of the American People", although far too many have allowed themselves to believe that lie. If that were true, you would not be suffering the pain and humiliation of being handcuffed and arrested for exercising your "Right to Free Speech". Seeing the Sergeant's Stripes on your Special Forces Beret subjected to such indignity makes me so angry I can't even think straight. I wear the Beret of the Mobile Riverine Force, and although I can feel with you, I can't feel, right now, what it must be like to be hauled off in handcuffs, having committed no crime. I hope to God that something will bring the American People to their senses, so that those who have committed the real crimes might be brought to justice!