WI War protester wins legal battles - donates money

[Broca]

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/wdhlocal/301570541528113.shtml

Sat, Sep 24, 2005

War protester settles legal clashes
Mosinee man hails free-speech victories, plans to donate money from claims

By Jessica Bock
Wausau Daily Herald
[e-mail]

A Mosinee man says he has reached a $6,500 settlement stemming from two separate incidents - one in which he was attacked by another man, and one in which he was wrongfully cited by police - while protesting U.S. policy in Iraq.

Mike Wallschlaeger plans to donate the $3,000 he received from the city and the $3,500 from his suit against Casimir Krasowski of Wausau to the Disabled American Veterans Association and a Madison peace group. Wallschlaeger regularly protests the war outside the Marathon County courthouse.

"These victories demonstrate that free speech in this country is still a protected right worth fighting for," said Wallschlaeger, 42. "During the first Gulf War, I organized 'Support the Troops' rallies at the courthouse in Wausau, and not once was I harassed by Wausau P.D. or attacked by citizens. During peace rallies I organized during Gulf War II at the same location, I have been witness to over two years of repeated harassment by some, not all, city police officers and city officials, as well as some freedom-hating citizens who chose to meet peaceful speech with belligerent violence."
Wallschlaeger sued Krasowski, 65, for a March 24, 2003, incident when many residents were upset that Wallschlaeger and another man, Wayne Olson, had been carrying upside-down, defaced American flags in their protests when military action against Iraq began.

The civil complaint filed in March in Marathon County court by Wallschlaeger's attorney stated that Krasowski pulled over his vehicle on the triangle south of the Marathon County courthouse, got out and punched, kicked and pushed Wallschlaeger. It says Krasowski also grabbed Wallschlaeger's flagpole and bent it.

Wausau police investigated the incident when it occurred. Bystanders said Krasowski assaulted Wallschlaeger, and police who responded at first said both men would face disorderly conduct charges. One officer told Wallschlaeger that he could not guarantee Wallschlaeger's safety if he continued his protests.

Ultimately police cited Krasowski, but not Wallschlaeger, and Chief Bill Brandimore sent officers a memo reminding them of their obligation to protect residents' First Amendment rights. Krasowski paid a $225 fine after pleading no contest to violating the county's ordinance against disorderly conduct.

The settlement from the city of Wausau stems from an incident earlier this year when Wausau police cited Wallschlaeger and seized a sign that read "This war is Bushit," after a passer-by complained. Wallschlaeger was carrying the sign Jan. 7 near the Marathon County courthouse.

A few days later, City Attorney Bill Nagle dismissed the $102 public obscenity citation, which experts say was a clear violation of Wallschlaeger's constitutional rights. Officials blamed the citation on miscommunication between Nagle and police officers.

Krasowski did not return a phone message regarding the settlement, and Nagle was not available for comment on Friday.

[madeline_con]

1. "... after a passer-by complained ..."

We lost free speech on the radio and TV the same way!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Good!

It's refreshing to realize that there are citizens who realize that the Constitution is still in force in this country. I wonder how many of the pro-Bush "patriots" have ever donated even a dollar to the DAV?

[MADem]

3. And they could use the money

As could PVA, Paralyzed Vets of America...seeing as this administration is bound and determined to abandon those who have lost their 'two good legs' in this foolish war.

What a principled gentleman that guy is. A song comes to mind....

Mrs McGrath (My Son Ted)
Now, Mrs McGrath, the captain said,
Would you like to make a soldier out of your son Ted?
With a scarlet coat and a big cocked hat,
Now Mrs McGrath, wouldn't you like that?

Now Mrs McGrath lived on the seashore
For the space of seven long years or more,
Till she saw a ship sail into the bay,
Says, It's my son Ted, will you clear the way,

Oh captain, dear, where have you been,
Have you been sailing in the Meditereen,
And have you any news of my son Ted,
Is the poor boy alive or is he dead?

Well, up comes Ted, without any legs,
And in their place he's got two wooden pegs.
She kissed him a dozen times or two,
Saying, Holy God, it isn't you,

Now was you drunk, or was you blind,
When you left your two fine legs behind,
Or was it walking on the sea,
Wore your two fine legs from the knees away?

No, I wasn't drunk, and I wasn't blind
When I left my two fine legs behind,
But a big cannon ball on the fifth of May,
Took me two fine legs from the knees away,

Oh Teddy, my boy, the widow cried,
Your two fine legs were your mammy's pride.
The stumps of a tree won't do at all,
Why didn't you run from the big cannon ball?

All foreign wars, I do proclaim,
Between Don Juan and the King of Spain,
And I'll make them rue the time,
They took two legs from a child of mine,

Well then, if I had you back again,
I'd never let you go to fight the King of Spain,
For I'd rather have me Ted as he used to be,
Than the King of France and his whole navy.

[sybylla]

4. Excellent.

Not only did it cost them, but the money is going to support the causes Kraskowski and a few of the cops are apparently opposed to.

Way to show 'em how it's done, Wallschlaeger! One of these days, I'll get to Wausau and stand at that man's side.

[ewagner]

5. I'm glad to see this

I think Wausau needed an object lesson in free speech.

[goddess40]

6. correction to story

"One officer told Wallschlaeger that he could not guarantee Wallschlaeger's safety if he continued his protests." What the cop actually said was that he would not protect Mike if he continued to protest which is quite different then not guaranteeing someones safety.
I was there standing next to Mike when the jerk told him that.

[Broca]

7. Mike follows up with his own LTTE this morning

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/wdhopinion/304370767639532.shtml

Tue, Sep 27, 2005


Free speech remains an invaluable right


EDITOR: As the Daily Herald reported, I have accepted settlements of $3,000 from the city of Wausau and $3,500 from Casimir Krasowski, both in connection with interruptions of my war protests. I agreed to give half the money to the Disabled American Veterans Association and half to a Madison peace group.

During the first Gulf War I organized "support the troops" rallies at the Marathon County Courthouse and not once was I harassed by Wausau police or attacked by citizens. Not once.
During peace rallies I organized during Gulf War II, however, I have witnessed more than two years of repeated harassment by some city police officers and city officials, as well as some freedom-hating citizens who chose to meet peaceful speech with belligerent violence.

Despite this, I hesitated to take legal action until I read a memo distributed internally by Wausau City Attorney Bill Nagle.

Officers acting under Nagle's counsel have issued citations for attended protest signs and suggested that they could make arrests for words on those signs - this while they ignore sale signs posted and left unattended along city streets.

The memo demonstrates Nagle's dubious legal reasoning regarding constitutional rights and the legal precedents protecting everyone's political speech. I feared that the memo promoted continued harassment and insinuated that harassment by citizens would be tolerated.
The only way to protect all peace activists was by winning this lawsuit against the city. These victories demonstrate that free speech in this country still is a protected right worth fighting for.


Michael Wallschlaeger,
Mosinee

[sybylla]

8. What a wonderful response.

I am forever a fan of Mike Wallschlaeger.

:toast: Here's to in your face activism, Mike!