Following a court order late last week banning protesters from sleeping inside the Capitol building, police officials will also begin preventing any Capitol camp-outs Monday after Capitol Police ordered the enforcement of a long-standing Wisconsin administrative rule prohibiting overnight stays on Capitol grounds.
The Department of Administration published a statement Monday reminding citizens camping overnight on Capitol grounds is illegal under the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
Groups of 10 to 30 people have been laying sleeping bags and blankets down near the west entrance of the Capitol since March 3 after a court order required protesters sleeping in the Capitol overnight to leave. Volunteers from multiple organizations set up tables and provided food and drink to those who chose to sleep outside overnight.
Protesters dubbed the area “Walkerville” – a reference to shanty towns built by the homeless during the Great Depression called Hoovervilles after President Herbert Hoover, who allegedly caused the nation’s economic troubles.
However, the no-camping rule makes it illegal for “Walkerville” residents to use tents, trailers, motor vehicles, tarps, bedrolls or sleeping bags for temporary residence on Capitol grounds. The rule has been in place since before “Walkerville” was created, though law enforcement had not been applying it.
“We will be enforcing a long-standing rule that unfortunately has not been done as of late,” DOA spokesperson Tim Donovan said.
The fine for failing to adhere to the no-camping rule is $205, Donovan said.
Despite the DOA’s intentions, one “Walkerville” volunteer said he would be staying the night.
Kyle James, 19, from Pittsburgh, Pa., dressed up in four layers of clothing and volunteered Monday night to watch the tables and foodstuffs that had been placed under tarps because of the snow. He said he heard the DOA would start enforcing the no-camping rule, but said he had figured a way around it.
“We can be here all day long but we can’t be sleeping here. As long as you’re awake, you can be here,” James said.
He said volunteers would be staffing the tables at “Walkerville” in shifts to maintain a presence throughout the night, while being sure to remain awake so law enforcement could not fine and remove them.
While James prepared for a cold, long night, citizens were voluntarily leaving the inside of the Capitol building at 6 p.m. in accordance with new building rules.
The total amount of citizens who entered the building Monday added to 2,466, Donovan said. Around 5 p.m., roughly 30 protesters remained on the ground level where they alternated between chanting and giving impromptu speeches.
Rep. Brett Hulsey, D-Madison, said the crowd was smaller and calmer than in the past, which he attributed to rules limiting certain carry-ins.
“They can’t bring drums in anymore, which gave people a break when they were tired of chanting. They’re more mellow tonight,” Hulsey said.
Cris Folk, a 49-year-old instructor of industrial electronics at Madison Area Technical College, said the crowd size was smaller than in the past, but pointed out it was a snowy Monday night. He said the protesters were not losing spirit and pointed to a scheduled rally on Saturday as evidence.
