DOA grants 3-day permit for Capitol singers

Gov. Scott Walker’s administration has granted protesters a permit to gather in the state Capitol for three days next month.

Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said Tom Kasper of Madison requested a permit for the singers. The application asked for a permit with no end date.

In a statement on the group’s Facebook page Friday afternoon, the Solidarity Sing Along said it was unaware that Kasper had sought a permit and that Kasper did not represent the singers.

” The person who applied for the permit is unknown to regular participants of the Sing Along,” the statement said.

Huebsch said in a letter to Kasper that DOA interpreted the application for a perpetual permit. Huebsch said that would conflict with other uses in the Capitol but did grant the request for Sept. 9, Sept. 11 and Sept. 12.

Protesters have been gathering in the Capitol rotunda for more than two years. They refuse to get a permit because they feel they’re exercising their free speech rights. Police launched a crackdown on them last month and have made scores of arrests.