Sing a Song of Solidarity: Wisc. Gov. Scott Walker’s Crackdown on Singers Ruled Unconstitutional

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.afscme.org/blog/sing-a-song-of-solidarity-wisc-gov-scott-walkers-crackdown-on-singers-ruled-unconstitutional

BY CLYDE WEISS | FEBRUARY 24, 2014

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s scheme to deny free speech rights – to demonstrators who expressed their opposition to his anti-worker policies through song – was deemed “unconstitutional on its face” by a judge.

The governor’s heavy handed policy involved issuing tickets to hundreds of demonstrators who staged peaceful sing-alongs at the Capitol each weekday. His crackdown began in September 2012 when police issued hundreds of tickets. Many were later dismissed, but ticketing resumed last July and even caught up Jana Weaver, assistant director of Wisconsin State Employees Union (WSEU)/AFSCME Council 24.



The singers sang traditional protest and civil rights songs, occasionally changing the words to make them relevant to their opposition to Governor Walker’s anti-worker campaign. That campaign led to the revocation in 2011 of collective bargaining rights for nearly 200,000 Wisconsin public service employees, including more than 60,000 AFSCME members.

FULL story at link.

[Scuba]

1. Kick

I sang with the Solidarity Singers once. At least one other DU member participated more often than that.

[AllyCat]

2. Of course it's unconstitutional. That's why he did it.