If you're going to see Obama in Madison on Monday, please join the Solidarity Sing Along afterwards!

(reposted from the Wisconsin forum by request)

On Monday we will be celebrating the 500th Solidarity Sing Along (though the 500th is actually on Election Day). That will be 500 consecutive weekdays that citizens have gathered at noon at our Capitol to exercise our First Amendment rights. Normally we sing in the Rotunda, but we move out to the State Street corner if there is a conflicting event. Typically we have anywhere between 40 and 100 people singing, though on special days, the number can be significantly higher.

Walker continues to use Palace Guard Chief Erwin to try to crush free speech in the Capitol. There have been more than 80 citations issued to singers since Erwin's crackdown began in September. Until last week, one had to hold a sign or lead some songs in order to be issued a ticket. The citations and accompanying letters have indicated that one should get a permit from the Capitol Police in order to assemble in the Capitol. But a recent development is the issuance of citations merely for attending the Solidarity Sing Along in the Capitol Rotunda. In this last week, at least five of the citations were issued to middle-aged women, two of whom are disabled. As my name on FB declares, the First Amendment is my permit. I don't need permission from Walker's henchmen in order to petition my government through song.

Well, we don't know what is going to happen on Monday. We don't know if the Capitol will be closed for "security" reasons, or if security will be gone by the noon-hour. What we do know is that we will find each other, and for an hour we will sing songs of freedom, labor and love.

If you are coming to Madison to see the President please join us afterwards at the Solidarity Sing Along. Help us stand up to the bullies. Take this opportunity to tell Walker that he cannot rewrite the traditions of our State, and that the Constitution is not trumped by his arrogance.

Solidarity Sing Along on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolidaritySingAlong

A wonderful post about the Solidarity Sing Along: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/08/1141893/-The-Name-Game-As-Played-by-the-Wisconsin-Capitol-Police-Chief