State officials say they won't issue citations to Solidarity Singalong observers

[hue]

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/0d27c1e7-5868-5686-b55f-99dbda5ced2c.html

Observers of the Solidarity Singalong won’t be cited, state officials said Wednesday, just hours after police told people in the Capitol rotunda they could be arrested for watching the regular noontime protest.

Capitol Police have been issuing arrest warnings to observers since the first week police started citing singers for failing to get a permit to gather in the Capitol rotunda. The warnings gained greater attention this week when state Rep. Sondy Pope, D-Cross Plains, received one.

Department of Administration spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis said in an email that “observers will not receive citations” in response to a State Journal inquiry about what authority the state had to cite observers. DOA officials declined to discuss why police were warning observers.

UW-Madison political science professor Donald Downs said the right to listen is an inherent part of the First Amendment protection of free speech.

“As long as the people that are watching are not joining in and are not contributing to a problem of the Capitol being able to conduct its business, they have a right to be there,” Downs said.

[postulater]

1. Sooooo 19 sing, and 5000 listen!

Problem solved!

[midnight]

2. When state law makers are threatened from observing what their constitutes are singing about

state officials must of concluded that they unreasonable in their threats....

[Scuba]

3. Let's all join in the singing. I've never been arrested; maybe it's time.