Recall Jim Holperin Rally, Merrill

The scene in Merrill at a Recall Jim Holperin rally last week was a clear affront to democracy.

From WAOW:

Emotions ran high as ralliers took to the Lincoln County Courthouse, calling for the recall of Democratic State Senator Jim Holperin, one of the 14 senators who fled the state more than three weeks ago.

Organizers say the rally was originally scheduled at Club 64 in Merrill, but they had to change locations after business owners say they received more than 50 phone calls threatening to destroy their business and cause physical harm if the rally took place.

Protestors both for and against the recall showed up. Even though they initially kept their distance, Holperin supporters engulfed the recall effort, and that's when the situation turned tense.

"They circled around us, and they're bullying us. They have a loud horn and they're trying to intimidate people that would like to come and sign the petition," said Kim Simac, recall leader, "I do think that this is an intimidation ploy."

Simac says protestors even got involved with their petitions.

"We had a lady come up and write profanity and rip some of them right on our table.... so I guess that's what democracy looks like to them."

Holperin supporters say while a few people may have taken things too far, that wasn't their reason for showing up.

..."We're here on a peaceful protest. We don't want to get into controversy with the supporters of the recall for Jim Holperin, but we are here to keep the peace and do our demonstrating."

Video, from WAOW.



Here's a press release from Recall Jim Holperin:

Merrill, Wisconsin - Leader Kim Simac and volunteers for the Recall Jim Holperin Committee will hold a press conference tomorrow at 12:00 pm at the Lincoln County Courthouse

This is the location of the conflict between Recall Petition Signers and Union Protesters last Thursday, March 10, 2011.

The petition rally was originally scheduled at a local Merrill restaurant but was relocated after the proprietors received many phone calls and felt they needed to back out. The committee then set up in front of the Lincoln County Courthouse to offer citizens an opportunity to sign their names to the petition. Over 1,000 calls had been sent out the previous day notifying area residents of the petition rally.

Upon arrival, members of the recall committee were encircled by union protesters carrying signs and a leader with a mega phone who began chanting and ranting loudly. They packed in tightly around the petition collection table so as to prevent those attempting to sign from doing so. At one point, a pro union protester, pretending to be interested in signing the petition, wrote profanity across a partially collected petition form, than began ripping up the completed petitions that were in close proximity.

The policemen who were there, and who were standing in close proximity to these events as they unfolded, did nothing to assist those collecting the petitions as they were being destroyed, despite such an action being a Felony under Wisconsin law. Police also did nothing to clear the walk way for citizens that wanted to sign the petitions. Recall Committee members received many phone calls the following day from Merill area citizens who stated that they showed up to sign the petition, but were too afraid to get out of their vehicles and approach the recall table.

Kim Simac, leader of the recall effort, who has also received numerous personal threats, has now declared that enough is enough. “Tomorrow we begin taking the necessary steps to put a stop to this kind of behavior.” Simac stated. She went on to say: “The people of the 12th District of Wisconsin can not and will not allow this thuggery and bullying to continue. As honorable citizens, I believe we all have an obligation to stand up for the rule of law, which is why I am taking this action."

Information will be released to how the events of Thursday March 10, 2011 are going to be handled and how such threats, intimidation and disorderly behavior is going to be addressed in the future.

This is most definitely NOT what democracy looks like.

It's extremely troubling that police allegedly didn't intervene.

This video exposes the true nature of the anti-Walker forces, the thuggery and the bullying.