6 Protesters Arrested For Trying To Block Donald Trump From Entering Wisconsin Hotel

Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 06:52 pm

Don't Miss Sarah Jones's Essay On Kristi Noem Titled Predatory Is The Point On The Daily.

Six anti-Trump protesters were after they staged a sit-in while trying to block Donald Trump from entering a Holiday Inn in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Video of the protest:

According to Groundwork, which is the Standing Up For Racial Justice group in Madison WI:

six people locked themselves together using PVC pipe in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Express Janesville, surrounded by two dozen others, to demand “Holiday Inn: Don’t be a Host for Hate”. Tomorrow the hotel’s convention center is scheduled to host Donald Trump, in spite of Holiday Inn’s alleged policy that the chain “doesn’t tolerate racial discrimination.

The six Wisconsin residents, five of whom are white and one of whom is biracial, said in a statement: “Donald Trump’s hate speech has had real, violent consequences for Wisconsinites, and there should be costs to companies like Holiday Inn that profit from his hate-mongering. Trump’s racism has emboldened violent attacks on people of color across the country – eroding safety for Holiday Inn’s clients and employees of color, to say nothing of millions of others.”

The six protesters were arrested and face charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer. Local law enforcement is also warning that the protest was a small sample of what they expect to face when Trump arrives for an event in Paul Ryan’s hometown on Tuesday afternoon.

Shawna Lutzow, one of the arrested six protesters, said, “I am taking action because I will not tolerate hate and bigotry. Trump’s tactics have encouraged people to speak out and act out on their racism and I am fearful for the future. I feel like it is my responsibility, as a white person, to put my body on the line in the name of justice and I am prepared to do what it takes to stand up to hate.”

Contrary to Trump’s rhetoric these protesters were not violent. There was no violence to be found anywhere at the protest. There were more than sixty people inside and at outside protesting, and not a single violent incident was reported. It isn’t the protesters who are causing the violence, but violence seems to follow Donald Trump and his supporters.

When the Trump campaign rolls into a town, the atmosphere becomes tense and violence fills in the air.

From coast to coast people are standing up and saying that they don’t want Donald Trump’s violent rhetoric and hate speech to poison their communities. Donald Trump is trying to send a message by holding an event in Speaker Ryan’s hometown, but some of the people of Wisconsin are sending their own message that Trump is not welcome in the Badger State.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association