As the fourth week of protests over Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill began Monday, the state Capitol was unrecognizable compared to the past few weeks. The building's walls were clear of signs, its halls devoid of sleeping bags and protesters inside numbering less than a hundred.
Despite decreased crowds the police presence remained as strong as ever, with officers searching bags, using metal-detecting wands on people entering the Capitol and forcing protesters out of the building by 6 p.m.
State Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, said the policy was a deliberate attempt to intimidate protesters.
""The building today, while certainly more open than it was for most of last week, continues to be in a highly secured state,"" Roys said. ""It's still quite onerous for members of the public and staff to get into the Capitol, and there's no safety justification for this lock out.""
Police prohibited members of the public from bringing in megaphones, tape that could be used to put up signs and any items indicating they planned to sleep at the building, including mattresses, pillows and blankets.
Despite the restrictions, a group of protesters stayed in the building to voice their opinion and keep the opposition alive.
Chris Reeder said he has protested each day since Feb. 15 for his friends who are teachers and social workers in public unions. Reeder said the decreased in attendance has not affected his faith in the protests.
""There are less people here sometimes, but I know there are people in other parts of Wisconsin who are out,"" Reeder said. ""I know that people who were here are out now organizing and working on recalls, which are all really important things as well, making sure that our voice is heard across the state, not just in the Capitol.""
Signs taken down over the weekend can be claimed at the state government's Vital Records building until Friday, when the remaining signs will be donated to the state Historical Society.
