The rock tosser of Atwood Street may have alarmed people by shooting a rock into The Victory coffee shop. But that’s where the negatives both begin and end. When I came by today the place was packed with people, recall petition circulators were constantly busy, and the food case was bare – - we purchased all of Patrick’s provisions. The tip jar overfloweth and a neighbor even stopped in with flowers.
I spoke with a recall signer who said her husband had worked a petition table at Edgewood. According to her yesterday a man came up to their table and tore through a stack of signatures destroying 450 of them 1 page of signatures. A total of 450 were collected in all that day [that correction is made per a comment submitted on this blog---a forthcoming police report may reveal more details]. The volunteers will alert the signers who will redo them.
That petition destroyer committed a Class I felony. I’m not sure what the rock launcher committed, but the cops are on it. They took the original text that was literally taped to the rock but Patrick recorded the text for posterity. You’ll see it in the last photo below.
As long as I have you here, I will run The Victory’s street address and web site by you. As the now classic Wisconsin protest sign says, “Screw Us and We Multiply”. I think that logic works for coffee houses too.
2710 Atwood Ave
Madison, Wi 53704
608 240 0366
Sun: 7:30 am – 7:30 pm
Mon – Thur: 6:30 am – 7:30 pm
Fri: 6:30 am – 9:00 pm
Sat: 7:30 am – 9:00 pm
Link to initial story on the rock tossing.
There are some seriously malevolent people out there. Check out http://www.facebook.com/recall.walker.infobase and http://www.politiscoop.com/us-politics/wisconsin-politics/570-tea-party-plans-premeditated-felony.html (not unrelated.)
Sad.
Just an update: Wisconsin uses letters for felony classifications, not numbers, so the felony indicated in the story is Class “i” not Class One, making it the least severe class. The penalty is up to $10,000 and 3.5 years in prison, or both.
I’m aware it is a class I —that is a capitol letter. It looks like a 1? I’ll double check what I typed. Thanks.
Stopped by for a mocha this morning and business was snappy. Overheard Patrick tell other customers that insurance isn’t going to cover the window. Left what cash I had in the ‘window repair jar’ – wishing I could’ve done more. Anyone know a sympathetic glass company who might donate the labor or glass??
This is Patrick. The response from the community has been humbling and overwhelming and just really spectacular. Re: the window – Martin glass down the street is giving us a big discount and I think we are pretty much at what we are going to need… ballpark. If there is any left it will go straight to the recall campaign. I’ve got two words: wow & thanks!
Thanks for the update. What madness has taken over here! I’m glad there are people who even so continue to work for sanity and reasonableness, and for the kind of community the people at the Victory help create in that neighbourhood.
Rock on, Victory Cafe! Wear that cracked window like a badge of honor!
LOL! Perfect description of the scene as it stands. They are getting crushed by business–What a problem to have.
I’m from Northern Indiana, but I’ll be visiting in Madison next weekend. I’ll be sure to patronize the establishment… and leave a big tip. This is what democracy looks like.
I hope that the people who had their petitions ripped had the sense to call the police.
I believe they did call.
Just a clarification on the incident at Edgewood. It was only one sheet of petitions with just a few signatures that was ripped up and security was indeed notified. The 450 signatures was the total collected at Edgewood in just the first day (out of 2400 students)….not bad!
Thanks for that point. Did anybody else report on the incident in the press? I assumed somebody else would. Maybe not
Great blog! Keep up the good work! You have supporters all over the world.
Thanks Baruch.