Protesters gather outside Messmer Preparatory school where Gov. Scott Walker was scheduled to read to second- and third-graders. Credit: Breann Schossow

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Gov. Scott Walker read "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss to a group of second- and third-graders seated on a colorful rug in Messmer Preparatory Catholic School library Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, protesters outside wished the governor would go, well, anywhere else as they chanted "Shame!" and "Recall Walker."

One person was arrested on accusations of battery during the protest Friday, according to Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz, and Milwaukee police also had their first lead on who vandalized eight door locks at the school before Walker's visit.

"A review of the video cameras reveal that at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday night, a lone subject arrived at the school in a light-colored, compact vehicle and walked up to the school," Schwartz said in an email Friday afternoon. "Due to the poor, grainy quality of the video, the gender of the suspect cannot be determined."

Custodial staff at the school, at 3027 N. Fratney St., replaced locks Friday morning, said the school's development director, Jeffrey Robb.

"We're very disappointed," he said Friday morning. "This visit is talking about education."

At least 100 people flocked to the school to protest. Michael Thomas, president of the local chapter of Service Employees International Union, said he protested Friday to keep a fire under Walker.

"Our community is hurting," he said. "We need jobs here."

Thomas said that so far, he hasn't seen evidence of improvements in jobs, education and health care.

"We're not going to let him go anywhere, especially in our community, without him being protested," said another protester, Jacob Flom of the Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society.

Flom said he didn't know who was behind the vandalism, and that acts such as that don't help the protesters' cause. Instead, he said, a more effective tactic is to show up and protest. Flom was pleased with Friday's turnout.

"People are loud, and showing how angry they are with Scott Walker," he said.

It was a different story inside, as the second day of school at Messmer went on as normal, or as normal for its 500 students as possible under the circumstances.

Some students welcomed Walker to the school in a brief meet-and-greet, and he was given a handmade card, flowers, Messmer shirts for him and his wife, and a Messmer baseball cap, among other presents.

Jim Bender, president of School Choice Wisconsin, didn't think the protests outside affected activities inside.

"I'm thoroughly impressed with staff and students," he said.

After reading to students and stressing the importance of literacy, Walker spent a few moments with reporters, telling them the protesters have a right to voice their opinion. But he said he was disappointed about the damaged locks.

"People don't have a right to vandalize," the governor said.

Many protesters had left by the time the governor exited the school into a fenced area where his car was waiting, but those remaining crowded around the fence, shouting.

Jennifer Morales, 41, a former member of the Milwaukee School Board, waited because she wanted to have another chance to yell at the governor. She said that as a mother, she was offended that Walker used a child-serving institution for political purposes.

"This guy has no business being around children," she said.

More photos

Go to jsonline.com/photos for a slide show of the governor's visit.