MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Organizers of a Friday rally against Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order are proceeding with the event even though their permit to hold it on the grounds of the state Capitol was denied.
The planned rally is the latest in a string of similar event s, both in Wisconsin and across the country, organized by opponents of orders designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The one scheduled for Friday has the potential to be the largest to date in Wisconsin, with more than 3,300 people as of Wednesday saying they are going and 12,000 interested.
Organizer Madison Elmer applied for a permit with the state Department of Administration on April 14. Elmer said Wednesday she was notified earlier this week that the permit was denied because the gathering would be in violation of the current order barring gatherings of any size.
Elmer pledged to forge ahead, despite the possibility of being cited by law enforcement.
“I think our message is bigger than that to be worried about it,” Elmer said. “I’m willing to risk citation for everybody else that’s speaking to be able to be heard.”
A spokeswoman for Capitol Police did not immediately return a message asking what type of enforcement there would be at the event.
