By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The Town of Norway is the latest municipality to enact an ordinance designed to give law enforcement the opportunity to respond proactively in situations involving picketers.
The issue has drawn scrutiny in recent months, with the City of Racine enforcing an ordinance on its books that addresses the issue.
In January, Racine police issued citations to 17 people demonstrating outside the home of a prominent industrialist. State Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, was at a campaign fundraising event at the business leader’s home.
Police allege the 17 protesters were harassing people coming and going at the fundraiser. But the protesters said their First Amendment rights were violated. Racine’s ordinance states people cannot picket outside a residence.
In Racine, each of the 17 protesters was issued a $271.50 citation for violating the municipal ordinance.
Most of the people cited live within Racine County, according to court documents.
Jean Jacobson, the Norway town chairman, discussed the merits of having a picketing-related ordinance last week at a joint intergovernmental meeting with municipal and school leaders representing the Town and Village of Waterford and Village of Rochester.
“The political climate today is a lot different than it has been in the past,” Jacobson said. “This gives the law enforcement personnel a reason to look into something that might take place.”
Jacobson said Town of Norway’s ordinance is not a replica of Racine’s, which is being challenged in the aftermath of the citations issued in January.
She said an ordinance was proposed in an effort to respond proactively to any situations that might arise within the confines of a residential neighborhood.
“We’ve tried not to get into too much detail. It’s pretty broad,” Jacobson said. “The ordinance we’ve adopted is real simple. It’s cut and dried.”
The Village of Wind Point is another Racine County municipality that has adopted an ordinance addressing picketing outside residences.
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Dear Town Chairwoman,
This would be favorable ordinance as we need to insure that freedom to assembly is provided under the Constitution.
Ron
This ordinance and ones like it are not only not necessary, they are unconstitutional. We have a constitutional right to assemble on public property. But those who live in fear of a free citizenry just keep whittling away at our liberties. Freedom to assemble? Under assault. The Constitutional right to seek redress for grievances in a court of law in front of a jury of our peers? Infringed. The founders are rolling over in their graves. Freedumb baby, freedumb!