SHAWANO, WI- A Black Lives Matter walk is scheduled to take place in Shawano Wednesday afternoon.
The peaceful protest is in response to the officer involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Law Enforcement in the City of Shawano and in Shawano County have been made aware of the plans to protest.
“I support the Bill of Rights and our right to peacefully assemble,” Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber said. “I will always defend the freedom of speech and it is a good thing for people to get whatever is in their hearts out for people to hear.”
“They have an absolute right to express their opinion peacefully,” said Chief Dan Mauel. “That is as long as they stay on public property and try not to obstruct traffic or other people trying to move freely about.”
Some of the protests in other states and even in Brown County have turned violent at times, and Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber says it could happen anywhere.
“I think it can happen in a smaller community like ours, but we do have a smaller community where everybody tends to know everybody.”
He says while he is confident that the people of Shawano County will handle the situation appropriately, preparation is still important, especially when it comes to business.
“Business owners should take extra steps to protect their building.”
He says that is especially true in the evening hours.
“We have always talked about having security cameras, and extra lighting to discourage crime, and that is all the time, not just during times like this,” Bieber said.
However, he says business owners should probably take broader steps during high tension times. He says that also goes for homeowners.
“That is why we would advise to put away anything that is outside of your house that could be damaged or even used as something that could be thrown.”
Both Sheriff Bieber and Chief Mauel say that damaging property and hurting others will not be tolerated.
“It is not protected in the constitution to burn buildings or create damage or chaos or terror upon other people. That is where that right of peaceful assembly would ends,” Bieber says.
“They have that right and I would encourage them to use that right, just don’t damage anything or hurt anybody and that is all we ask,” Mauel expressed.
Bieber says people not following those guidelines will be taken into custody.
“If we have probable cause to believe that you committed a crime and you are out vandalzing, we will arrest you and hold you to justice.”
Sheriff Bieber says he would ask those people to make a difference in an additional way.
” I would ask people to get involved in local government. Get involved with places that you can effect change in young lives. Instead of getting involved in a walk or march, also get involved in programs that will benefit our youth.”
Bieber says it is also important for everyone to be registered to vote because that is where a lot of change can happen.
“I will defend the Bill of Rights, but I will also defend our business owners nad people in the community. They have a right to run a business, and a right to feel safe in our community.”
Mauel says Wednesday’s event may bring out lots of people so traffic in the downtown area needs to be aware that there may be more pedestrians around.
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