BadgerBlogger on Fox6

Our friend Jeni from Sheboygan Shenanigans and Sheboygan Spirit has been one of the few voices critical of the shenanigans that have been going on in her home town, Sheboygan Wi. and this includes being critical of Sheboygan's Mayor, Juan Perez. In fact, Jeni spearheaded a recall effort against Perez.

Now, apparently is time for payback. Recently, Jeni received a letter from the Sheboygan City Attorney, Stephen G. McLean, demanding that she remove a link to the main page of the Sheboygan Police Department. Jeni did remove the links, even though there is absolutely nothing inappropriate about linking to the very public main page of the police department, a page that one would think they would want people to use. Shortly after receiving this letter and removing the links, a Lieutenant from the Sheboygan Police Department followed up with a phone call, telling her she is the subject of a police investigation. Mark Belling has confirmed that this lieutenant was ordered by Sheboygan Police Chief David E. Kirk.

Very interestingly, on the Chief's webpage, he includes the following statement:

---

Lastly I like to have an open door policy. In this case, an open website policy. We want to hear your opinion on the Sheboygan Police Department whether it's good, bad or otherwise.

---

He is inviting people to use the website, but he is ordering a private citizen not to add a link to the site... Want my opinion Chief Kirk?

This is a clear illegal abuse of power by government officials of a small town that think they are running their own little fiefdom, but the word is out and the watchdogs have been alerted and we are watching.

Note to Jeni: Were I you, I would document EVERY contact with every one involved in this. Names, numbers, times, everything you can. I would also consider contacting the District Attorney and the Attorney Generals Office, heck, maybe the U.S. Attorney, there may be Civil Rights violations in this! Don't let them silence you, you have done noting wrong.

A mayor can not use a city attorney and police department as his own private intimidation squad. The Mayor, City Attorney and Police Chief have all overstepped their authority by using the coercive power of government to intimidate and silence critics! The First Amendment reads:

---

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

---

It is illegal for government to abridge the freedom of speech or prohibit the right of the people to petition the government for a redress of grievances... HOW DARE the elected officials of Sheboygan do this to a private citizen!

Citizens of Sheboygan, you must end this, contact your elected officials and demand that this abuse of power end. You might also want to contact your news paper and demand that they cover this story!

Please spend a few minutes listening to Mark Belling's coverage, he supplies details from contacts that he has made to Sheboygan officials. (As of 9 p.m. the audio has still not been posted. I will link to it ASAP, but I felt this should be posted, so I will update it as it becomes available)

Peter is also on the story: HARASSMENT IN SHEBOYGAN