Vandalism and Violence in Madison Overnight

Governor Tony Evers says those who committed acts of violence overnight in downtown Madison will be held accountable. Evers said he also is prepared to call out the National Guard to protect state buildings. Evers said Capitol police responded to attempts to get into the State Capitol and were able to prevent people from getting inside. Broken glass and windows were still visible Wednesday morning as grounds crews began cleanup. The damage and vandalism early Wednesday grew out of a protest sparked by the arrest Tuesday of a bat-wielding man shouting at diners with a bull-horn. The demonstration grew increasingly violent overnight, with people pulling down the “Forward” statue on one corner of the square and the Col. Hans Christian Heg on another. Both statues have since been recovered. State Senator Tim Carpenter, who was filming the protest, says he was attacked. The window of Senator Howard Marklein’s office was broken.