Police arrest 20 protesters at Wisconsin Capitol

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Police have arrested more protesters in the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda.

Department of Administration spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis says police issued 20 citations on Tuesday for gathering in the rotunda without a permit.

Protesters have been showing up in the rotunda almost every noon hour for more than two years to sing songs against Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

Capitol Police — which are controlled by Walker’s administration — launched a crackdown on the singers last month after a federal judge ruled officers can require large groups to get a permit to gather in the building.

The protesters contend they don’t need a permit to exercise their free speech rights. Police have been making almost daily arrests in the rotunda since the crackdown began, citing scores of singers over the last three weeks.