More than 300 people gathered outside Opportunities Inc. Thursday afternoon to protest the appearance of Gov. Scott Walker at the company's 45th anniversary gala.
The event - keynoted by Governor Walker - showcased completion of a $6 million agency reinvestment, two-phase expansion project. The gala itself was held in the newly built 80,000-square-foot training, production and warehouse facility at 100 E. Cramer St. in Fort Atkinson.
The emotions of those opposed to Walker's policies and actions since taking office were ignited further by a letter to the editor in the Daily Jefferson County Union that was written by a nondisabled Opportunities employee who voiced concerns about treatment of nondisabled workers.
Fort Atkinson police arrested two protesters during the demonstration, with one receiving a disorderly conduct citation and the other being taken from the scene and released. One Walker supporter was given the choice to leave or be arrested; he chose the former.
Thursday's event marked a first for Fort Atkinson Police Chief Tony Brus, who said past governors have appeared numerous times in the community with no incident.
"As far as I know, there has never been anything like this when the governor has come to town," Brus said.
Considering the number of people involved in the protest, he described the result of two arrests as being "typical."
"Overall, it was a well-organized event," the chief said. "The fact that there were three incidents, we are not surprised at that. We dealt with them accordingly and did what we had to do."
In general, the protestors gathered along East Cramer Street or Clarence Street near the entrance to the new facility as they awaited the governor's arrival.
Walker's motorcade arrived around 7:30 p.m., traveling down Cramer Street, turning right onto Jefferson Street and then right down Hake Street and onto Clarence Street to enter the parking lot.
The motorcade appeared to be traveling fast as it passed protestors and law enforcement officers along the roadway. Wisconsin State Patrol troopers on the corner acknowledged observing the vehicles' seemingly higher rate of speed and subsequently spoke with the drivers, advising them to be more cautious.
Shortly after Walker's arrival, a number of protestors had crossed barrier lines established to prevent trespassing on the private property. As officers began to approach, most started to walk off Opportunities' lot.
However, two did not.
Officer Brandon Sachse approached Karolyn Broehm, 53, of Fort Atkinson and asked her to leave. Sachse continued up the sidewalk and proceeded to ask other people to step off the Opportunities property.
As the officer addressed the other protestors, Broehm turned and walked up to the Opportunities building and pounded loudly on the wall.
"He told me to leave," she said. "He didn't tell me not to pound on the building."
Sachse turned around as the police officer took her into custody, issuing a $294 disorderly conduct ticket.
"He is a kid doing his job," Broehm said, noting that she had no regrets about her actions.
"I'm here to oppose Walker and I'm here to oppose the corporatization of our state," Broehm said. "I believe, unfortunately, that despite Opportunities doing good for the community and doing good for disabled people, I think there truly is a dark side. "
She said she believed that the jobs available at Opportunities are not the kind of jobs that Wisconsin needs.
"They do not need perma-temp jobs; they need real jobs," she said. "They need a livable wage."
Broehm said she felt having her voice heard was worth a $294 ticket.
"I would do it again," she said.
Despite suggesting she would repeat her actions again that evening, she ultimately did not.
Meanwhile, as Broehm was being taken into custody, Edward A. Sadlowski, 49, of Janesville was taken into custody for disorderly conduct when he crossed the line onto the Opportunities property. As Lt. Chad Lange took Sadlowski into custody, Sadlowski dropped the American flag, causing an uproar among the other protestors.
Sadlowski was transported to the police station and released without being charged.
The only individual observed to be at odds with police was a Walker supporter, Chad Humbach, who was seen taunting the protestors from a bicycle and swearing at them. Warned by police and security three times, he eventually was given the ultimatum to either leave or be arrested. He chose to leave.
"I stand for Scott Walker," he said. "He made us balance our budget, didn't raise taxes, put us back in the black. We're not Illinois."
Humbach suggested that residents of both Illinois and Minnesota would give anything for Walker to be their governor.
"We've got $360 million in surplus, thanks to Walker and the 'awesome' Republicans," he said.
Humbach criticized the union workers and their complaints about paying an additional 5.6 percent and 12.8 percent to their pension and healthcare, respectively.
"I don't have a pension," he said, noting that he is self-employed. "Their pension is guaranteed and I pay their salary as a taxpayer."
Humbach added that some of the union members make twice as much as he does.
"Thank God Walker is our governor," he said. "We're going to be the next Texas."
He pointed out that Texas has created more jobs than any other state in the country. To date, Humbach said, 40,000 jobs had been created by Walker since January, well on the way to the promise of 250,000 new jobs.
"It's all about money," Humbach said, citing union dues specifically. "Thanks to Scott, we're going to be a right-to-work state; you watch how fast the union membership will fall off the books when they have to contribute without being payroll deducted."
Dick Schultz, a member of both the Fort Atkinson City Council and Jefferson County Board of Supervisors, was on hand as a citizen. He had sent out emails encouraging people to protest Walker at the Opportunities Inc. gala, and Schultz said he was pleased with the overall turnout.
"It's a good group," Schultz said. "They are saying what they need to say and they're obeying the law and doing everything right."
While speaking to the Daily Union reporter, Schultz observed that the protest was very much under control. That was prior to the two individuals being arrested.
"My concern is that Scott Walker has divided this state worse than anybody in my lifetime," he said. "He doesn't think he has to consult anybody and he has done a lot of damage."
Schultz said he would support recalling Walker. As far as the other reasons drawing protestors to the event, the city council member emphasized that Opportunities Inc. has done a lot of wonderful things for the community.
A majority of the signs carried by protestors addressed recalling Walker and seeking "real wages for real workers."
Schultz pointed out that the protest, from his perspective, was not intended to be an anti-Opportunities Inc. rally.
"They have been good for this city," he added.
However, others disagreed.
"My primary reason (for attending the protest) is the governor is going to be here," said Jim Garity, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 40. "I think it's wrong to exploit people who are handicapped in any way."
He suggested that that is what Opportunities is doing.
"I think the people that started this company years ago had an excellent idea," Garity said. "I just feel this is wrong. If this is what Gov. Scott Walker wants Wisconsin to look like, I don't want any part of it and I will do my best to change it."
The July 20 letter to the editor that raised ire was written by Robert Heussner of Fort Atkinson, a nondisabled Vietnam veteran who has worked at Opportunities as a "temporary" employee for three years.
In the letter, Heussner stated that he was disappointed that the agency has "embraced the type of work environment Walker is bringing to Wisconsin." He claimed Opportunities runs an "American version of a Chinese sweatshop" in which temporary workers make $7.50 an hour with no benefits, no vacation and little hope of a raise.
Talk show host John "Sly" Sylvester of Madison's WTDY's "Sly in the Morning" show joined AFSCME leaders in blasting what was described as the company's "dark side". All week on his program, he had encouraged listeners to arrive in Fort Atkinson at 4:15 p.m. to protest Walker's appearance.
At the protest Thursday, Heussner said he was pleased at receiving so much support.
"It's just wonderful to have all the support for the working people and to keep Wisconsin Wisconsin," he said.
Heussner noted that he works the second shift, which currently has around 100 employees who are "perma-temp" and are paid minimum wage.
"There are people there that have been there for five years, they earn $7.50 an hour and they started at $7.50. That's what they will earn as long as they are there unless company policies change," Heussner said.
He expressed concern about the new building, saying that with all the publicity, the "real story" was not being told.
"It was just really bothering me; I couldn't live with myself," Heussner said. "Every time I came to work, I would know of these stories of the people that work here."
Heussner said no one has told him his job was in jeopardy, but he has heard and believes that it might not be good politically for them to fire him right now because so many people are aware of the situation.
Since writing the letter, Heussner said, he is treated at work much as he always was, with no special attention.
"Just like we're nothing," he said. "I was hoping they would have the concern and decency to at least address me and acknowledge the problem."
Having not worked side-by-side with the disabled consumers, Heussner did not comment on how he thought those Opportunities employees are treated.
"How can a company that is supposedly treating the handicapped people so well, how can they be so oppressive to the working people?" Heussner said.
He said that during his three years at Opportunities, he has kept hoping conditions would improve; however, they have not.
"They are having this big huge gala tonight," Heussner said. "We were told last night that Friday night we'll get free pizza. I don't know what they think we are ...like animals, free pizza will keep us happy for another 10 years?"
As for his future, Heussner said he would prefer to keep his job, but in the end, it really doesn't matter to him.
"I like my job, I'd like to keep my job, but I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't do this," Heussner said. "Whatever happens, happens. I just think that things work out. If you do good things, I think things will just work out."
Meanwhile, Sylvester said he, too, was impressed by the turnout of the so-called "Walker Stalkers."
"The governor has tried to put this myth out that everything is orchestrated in Madison," he said. "The truth is, my show may originate from Madison, but I've got a lot of people in Jefferson and Rock counties and surrounding counties that listen."
The talk show host pointed out that is important to "connect the dots" and look at the big picture.
"The reason the state revenue went down in the first place is that we've lost close to 100,000 manufacturing jobs because of the economic policies of corporations moving jobs out of the state with NAFTA and free trade with China," he said.
"It was pretty clear originally (that) revenue was going to dry up for the state and what they did is they decided to pit the people that lost their jobs or had a lack of opportunity in the private sector against middle class public employees," he added. "What they've really done is get people who make $9 an hour to get angry at people that make $12 and $14 per hour."
As for the protest Thursday, Sylvester said there were two important components.
"Obviously, what they (Opportunities Inc.) do with developmentally disabled people is admirable," he said. "There is another part of the story and when Robert Heussner wrote that story, it fits in perfectly with the rest or our narrative."
Sylvester noted he is concerned that companies are outsourcing their work at Opportunities, where people are making little money with no benefits in poor working conditions.
"The final insult is that Mr. Heussner had written about the sweltering heat conditions and they put in air conditioning for the governor and this gala," he said. "Doesn't that say it all?"
According to a spokesperson from Opportunities, the temporary air conditioning was installed for Thursday's gala, as well as an employee-related event being held today. Plans for the air conditioning system were in place prior to the company asking the governor to speak at the event.
Opportunities reportedly has several consumers (employees) who are very sensitive to temperature changes and there was concern about the heat for workers at their party today, as well as guests at Thursday's gala. Second, the system was paramount in keeping food at both events from spoiling.
Also among the protesters was Jude Hartwick of Fort Atkinson, the School District of Fort Atkinson Crossroads program instructor, said he disagreed with Walker coming to Fort Atkinson because of what he has done to the disabled.
"He has cut their benefits," Hartwick said. "I find it very hypocritical he is here praising Opportunities Inc. and the workforce whose mission is to bring the disabled and the able together."
He said that what Walker is doing is further segregating and marginalizing the disabled, so they are unable to receive the same integration into society.
"I find it so horrible that he would be here presenting himself," Hartwick said.
Jodi Toepfer, who lives in Lake Mills and teaches in DeForest, also was present at the protest.
"I'm a teacher and my children need to know this is wrong," she said.
"I think Walker is totally out of it," Paul Virnig of DeForest said. "He is working for the rich and destroying everything the middle class and the poor have. I think it's absolutely wrong and I think anyone not out here they are not doing their duty. It's that simple."
He was among those opposed to Opportunities, seeking for workers to receive a living wage and to "stop corporate welfare."
"At the same time, he comes here for a photo op and that's not right," Virnig said.
Lisa Pugh of Madison has a daughter with a disability and is an advocate for disabled persons.
"We're really hoping the governor promotes real wages for people with disabilities and jobs that allow them to make above minimum wage and work in the community instead of the wages they are paying here," she said. "Those are the types of jobs we want for my daughter and other people with disabilities."
