Demonstrators march Wednesday on E. Kenwood Blvd., just south of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus during a rally connected to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Three people, including a newspaper photographer, were arrested. Credit: Kristyna Wentz-Graff

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A Journal Sentinel photojournalist and two University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students were arrested near campus Wednesday during a rally connected to the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Photographer Kristyna Wentz-Graff was covering the rally, which began at noon in a plaza beside UWM's student center. The group left campus on E. Kenwood Blvd., marching westbound in the street and on the sidewalk, chanting and carrying signs.

No arrests were made on campus, according to a university spokesman.

In a statement hours later, Milwaukee Police Spokeswoman Anne Schwartz said those arrested off-campus ignored repeated commands to clear the street and were arrested near the intersection of N. Oakland Ave. and E. Linnwood Ave.

"I can tell you that no one at MPD had any idea (Wentz-Graff) was a journalist until she arrived here at the police station," Schwartz said. "She never identified herself as a journalist to officers."

Schwartz said Milwaukee police had responded to a call by UWM Police at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday "to assist with protesters who took to the city streets near Kenwood Ave. and Locust St. without a permit following a rally on campus."

UWM spokesman Tom Luljak said Schwartz's statement mischaracterized the call from UWM police.

"We called Milwaukee police for informational purposes to inform them the students had left our campus and were marching down the sidewalks and streets," Luljak said. "We did not request assistance."

Luljak said a permit was not needed for a protest if it stays on campus.

Journal Sentinel Editor Martin Kaiser disputed the police account as it pertained to photojournalist Wentz-Graff's arrest.

"At no time did Kristyna Wentz-Graff ignore any commands by any officer," Kaiser said. "She came upon the scene to do her job as a photojournalist. She was clearly not part of the protest. She was wearing her Journal Sentinel photo press credential. She was carrying photography equipment while taking photographs of police making arrests when she was grabbed by a police officer and handcuffed. Her arrest was completely uncalled for and violates the First Amendment. No reason for her arrest has been provided."

Schwartz confirmed that no tickets for specific violations of the law were issued. She said the matter was referred to the city attorney.

The Wisconsin News Photographers Association issued a statement defending Wentz-Graff, stating the association "finds today's arrest of Kristyna Wentz-Graff entirely unacceptable. This is the second time this year that Milwaukee Police officers have arrested a photographer legally going about their job. It is time for the Milwaukee Police to recognize that photography is not a crime. Journalists provide a public service, but in Milwaukee they are being treated like a public threat."

Michael P. King, secretary of the photographers association, noted that Wentz-Graff is a longtime member of the organization and a three-time winner of its Photographer of the Year award.

"She is the epitome of 'professional,' " King said. King said the association will contact Police Chief Edward Flynn "and others to express our dismay over Kristyna's arrest, and we hope that they will be willing to sit down with us and other media organizations to discuss how we can prevent incidents like this from happening in the future."

The same offer was made when photojournalist Clint Fillinger of WITI-TV (Channel 6) was arrested in September while covering a house fire, King said.

"So far, they have not taken us up on our offer," King said.

Wednesday's protest began with about 30 people gathered on the plaza near the UWM Union. The protest spilled onto nearby E. Kenwood Blvd., where protesters marched west, then south down N. Maryland Ave. Traffic backed up behind those in the street, and the group grew to about 50 protesters. They turned west onto Locust St., then marched north along Oakland Ave.

Police warned students to get out of the street at E. Linnwood Ave. or they would be arrested. Wentz-Graff was not there at the time of the warning. Most students were on the sidewalk along Oakland Ave., and some were in the street near the curb when police made the arrests.

UWM students were encouraged to walk out of classes Wednesday in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Organizers of the movement say they are protesting social and economic inequality, corporate greed, corruption and influence over government - particularly by the financial services sector and lobbyists.

Sharif Durhams of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.