Supervisors oppose sheriff's participation in breaking up encampment

This is an open letter to Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett:

We are writing this open letter as Dane County Board supervisors to express our disappointment regarding UW-Madison’s coordination with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and resources to break up the peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment at UW-Madison.

University campuses maintain a special status in society where First Amendment rights, and their extension into academic freedom, must be zealously preserved. UW-Madison maintains a robust history of free expression, which has helped shape the university into a world-class institution that substantially contributes to the vibrancy of our Dane County communities.

The ongoing war in Gaza has surfaced many strong feelings, which will continue to build pressure around the demonstration. As public officials acting in the public’s interest, we must not succumb to any impulse for action that will silence activists working to shape public discourse through peaceful means.

To these ends, we do not approve of the use of any county resource, law enforcement or otherwise, to remove anyone from the current encampment or any other future demonstrations who is acting in a peaceful manner for the primary purpose of engaging in protected First Amendment activities. The utilization of county resources in support of any such action constitutes a failure of our leadership and is an inappropriate use of public monies.

We are hopeful for your cooperation as we evaluate the role of your office in responding to political demonstrations and requests for mutual aid from other law enforcement agencies.

Supervisors Heidi Wegleitner, District 2; Jay Brower, District 13; April Kigeya, District 15; Kierstin Huelsemann, District 27; Henry Fries, District 5; Tommy Rylander, District 12; Rick Rose, District 16; Yogesh Chawla, District 6; Michele Doolan, District 28.