MADISON (WKOW) -- Protesters celebrated the Department of Administration's decision to remove metal detectors from the entrances of the state Capitol Wednesday in an unusual way.
The Autonomous Solidarity Organization, a group of protesters who camped inside the Capitol during the height of the protests, passed out free cake and cotton candy to DOA employees as they left work for the day.
"It's going to be a little easier to get in and out [of the Capitol] and it's a step in the right direction," said William West. "We're here to celebrate."
Most kindly declined the offer, but a few employees did accept a piece of locally-made cake.
For months, armed police officers stood guard at three of the Capitol's entrances following the massive demonstrations in February and March.
The DOA's decision to remove checkpoints Wednesday came ahead of court ordered deadline. A spokesperson tells 27 News that Secretary Mike Huebsch felt it was the right time to start phasing in the security changes now that the legislature has finished its work on the budget.
Some doors to the capitol remain locked. The Department of Administration until Monday, June 27 to open all the doors.
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MADISON (WKOW) -- Protesters are celebrating what they're calling a victory tonight.
Ahead of a court order, the Department of Administration took down the metal detectors from all of the state Capitol's entrances. Metal detectors and police officers were stationed at three Capitol entrances following large scale protests in February and March.
For months, demonstrators have asked the DOA to re-open the Capitol.
Thomas Spellman of Lake Geneva says, "It felt different when I walked through the door, I can't describe it, it just feels like the Capitol belongs back to the people of the state of Wisconsin."
Some doors to the capitol remain locked. Last week the Department of Administration was ordered to open all eight entrances and stop screening people as they walked in, by next Monday, June 27.
A DOA spokesperson did not immediately return our message on why the metal detectors were taken down early.
