Sorry to post twice in one day, but this one just came in.

Arrests started today in our State Capitol in Madison. Their target? The Red Cross. (Updated information: No, it wasn't the Red Cross, but some sign carrying peaceful protesters near their blood drive. People just standing there with signs. No disruptions or anything that would merit police intervention).



Police arrested eight protesters in the state Capitol on Wednesday for holding up signs - including ones promoting the Red Cross - without getting permits.

On Wednesday, police told 14 protesters they could not hold up signs on the Capitol's first floor while the Red Cross was conducting a blood drive. The Red Cross had a permit; the protesters did not, according to police. Six of the protesters agreed to go outside to continue their protests, but eight refused. Those eight were arrested and ticketed for unlawfully displaying signs, according to the Capitol Police.

Unbelievable.



Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) said she saw one protester being arrested for holding a sign that said, "It's about freedom." "If they're not being disruptive, if they're not causing trouble, they should be allowed here," Sinicki said. "These people aren't hurting anybody." Stacy Harbaugh, a spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, called the permit requirement unreasonable. "Police Chief Erwin has made an irresponsible statement in characterizing these peaceful protesters as being disruptive," she said in a statement.

The Walker administration, emboldened by his "win" in the June recall elections, appointed a new chief of the Capitol Police shortly after the election. The new chief indicated that crackdowns would begin against any group without a permit with no indication of when they would begin.

They began today.