Paul Ryan Protester Handcuffed, Pushed To Ground By Wisconsin Police (VIDEO)

WASHINGTON -- Three individuals were arrested and charged with trespassing on Tuesday for protesting a speech by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). Video footage taken by an attendee at the event shows that one of them, Tom Nielsen, received particularly harsh treatment -- he was pushed to the ground and handcuffed. Nielsen received an additional charge of resisting arrest.

Ryan was speaking Tuesday afternoon at the Whitnall Park Rotary Club. Protesters gathered both outside his event and inside, standing up and disrupting the congressman's remarks.

According to Oak Creek Patch, as many as a dozen protesters were escorted out of the event. Another dozen or so left willingly.

Nielsen is a 71-year-old retired plumber from Kenosha, which falls within Ryan's district. He had never been able to attend a Ryan town hall event in the past -- partly, he explained, because he rarely knew when they were scheduled for in advance -- and was excited to get to Tuesday's to make his views heard.

In video posted by Wisconsin Jobs Now, Nielsen shouts that he disagrees with Ryan on entitlement programs during the congressman's speech. Two uniformed police officers and another man in a suit then escort Nielsen out. In the hall, Nielsen can be heard shouting. He was eventually pushed to the ground and handcuffed by police officers.

"Three people got me and hauled me backwards out the side door and into a little room. ... They pushed me the floor and twisted my arms back and handcuffed me. They said I was resisting arrest," recounted Nielsen in an interview with The Huffington Post.

"I have a broken clavicle from a car accident I had about four weeks ago, and it's in the process of healing, but it's not done yet. So I was protecting that. I said, 'Don't hurt me! I have a broken shoulder here and collarbone.' They didn't pay attention to that. They put the cuffs on really, really tightly."

Nielsen and the two other individuals who were arrested had to sit in a "paddy wagon" for an hour or two before being taken to the police station, he said.

Nielsen said he is still a bit sore from Tuesday's scuffle. He faces fines amounting to approximately $1,000 for trespassing and resisting arrest, which he plans to challenge in court.

Ryan took heat during the August recess for refusing to hold any open, public, free town hall events. Instead, he has chosen to speak at events -- such as the one at the Rotary Club -- hosted by outside groups that often require admission fees to attend.

Nielsen received his ticket to the event from Wisconsin Jobs Now. The group purchased extra tickets to the event and handed them out to protesters who wanted to attend.

After Nielsen was removed from the event, Ryan tried to make light of the situation, saying, "I hope he's taking his blood pressure medication."

Ryan's office did not return a request for comment.

Comments

[safara]

11:44 PM on 10/10/2011

We supposedly have a representative government with the right to confront our elected representatives and freely express ourselves. Mr. Ryan and some other Republican elected officials seem quite unaware of these nuances and prefer to have any meetings with constituents purified, sanitized and totally congruent with the "view from the slit." They will make elaborate efforts to see that there are enough jack booted thugs with clubs and handcuffs available to prove it.

[Totto]

10:43 PM on 09/12/2011

Nothing like our "public servants" ignoring the public.
Since they do the bidding of the rich, only the rich can afford to ask a question.

[sarsipius1979]

12:30 PM on 09/14/2011

well according to our supreme court money=speech. so the more money you have, apparently the more speech you have.

[WarrenPease]

05:55 PM on 09/12/2011

"Nielsen is a 71-year-old retired plumber from Kenosha, which falls within Ryan's district."

Is this what happens to the real, licensed plumbers?

[Totto]

10:43 PM on 09/12/2011

Yes, where is "Joe" these days?

[tj101]

01:17 PM on 09/13/2011

if they have a repub representative, Yes.

[brinniewales]

03:00 PM on 09/12/2011

Just because he had a ticket to an event at the Rotary Club, Mr. Nielsen and the other protesters did not have authorization to interrupt the private meeting. Besides being incredibly rude, it was stupid of Mr. Nielsen to even enter a private venue if he knew he would be unable to control himself during the meeting. I am younger than Mr. Nielsen, but even I know that if I voluntarily create a scene of any type at a public event, I certainly must expect to pay the price, including arrest and/or incarceration. Mr. Nielsen can only thank himself for re-injuring his shoulder. If he wants to be a protester, he should learn to "go slack" when apprehended by the police. It means one less legal charge (resisting) and less chance of injury to his 71-year old body. There are more effective methods of being heard than this outburst by Mr. Nielsen.

[Totto]

05:45 PM on 09/12/2011

The phrase, "Freedom of Speech", thus possesses no meaning for you.

[brinniewales]

07:21 PM on 09/12/2011

Freedom of speech means everything to me. I have lived in countries where freedom of speech was not guaranteed or protected. It is vital for a free and open society.
Mr. Nielsen entered a private venue, with a ticket to hear a speech. He was not making the speech or presentation. This was not a town hall meeting or public forum. It was private.
We, as Americans, are completely losing any sense of decorum. We have been subjected to people running naked across ball fields to the viewing of millions of people. We have been subjected to people using vulgar, abusive and hateful language (guaranteed right) in areas where it is an embarrassment (think KKK). The shock factor has now become accepted. We are desensitized. At one time, there were rules of order for meetings. Everyone now wants to have their say, regardless of the agenda, the allotted time, or often, even the subject. Perhaps Mr. Nielsen chose the wrong place and time. The group he represented (by acceptance of the ticket) seems to have used him to their advantage. It now appears as though it was a set up to see who could most quickly disrupt the presentation. It made Mr. Nielsen look foolish. If his group had rented a space and had their own presentation, the message would have had a more respected outcome. There has to be a better method of delivery than the one he chose.

[capercaper]

08:11 PM on 09/12/2011

Freedom of speech and assembly does NOT apply on private property.

This was a private Rotary Club event on private property. None of us had a right to "freedom of speech" in that venue.

[Rodger leMonde]

04:18 PM on 10/15/2011

The time for polite acquiescence is past. The abuse of the people by our elected representatives is fair game for rude expressions of protest. Poverty is the ultimate violence and it is on the rise thanks to the party of no.

[Sheila Whitehead]

11:39 AM on 09/12/2011

The Wisconsin politician Ryan is so hated in his own state, that Ryan will probably be petitioned for removal of office. The gentleman who was ousted from a town hall meeting of late, is just one person who is mad as hell at Ryan's hell plan to ruin and take away all entitlements like medicaid, medicare and s/s ...This man should not have been hancuffed and treated like that. Ryan has caused so much hate between the parties. He is a tenderfoot, and without a heart of understanding the poor and elderly. Get rid of him, not

[capercaper]

12:30 PM on 09/12/2011

Shelia,

The Rotary Club luncheon was not a town hall meeting.

Ryan was voted in by 68% of the electorate.

He is being targeted by a unionista org WI Jobs Now.

They aren't getting any traction.

[Totto]

05:47 PM on 09/12/2011

"Unionista", oh how so very clever of you, thimblebrain.

[Jerry Aripez]

11:16 AM on 09/12/2011

Ryan should be arrested for impersonating a US Representative.....

[Zeus9000]

12:35 PM on 09/12/2011

Obama is impersonating a president...poorly

[Jerry Aripez]

12:25 PM on 09/15/2011

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2010/10/president-obamas-244-accomplishments-part-4/

Ya you keep telling yourself that _ool...

[SueEll]

12:57 PM on 09/15/2011

I really thought Ryan would be fryed this. I thought every elderly person in America would be howling mad. (In addition to those of us who were taught to treat their elders with respect.) Too many r_ed_meat stories to keep up with, I guess.

[Brian Gilmer]

11:14 AM on 09/11/2011

Am I correct in understanding the Rep Ryan was being protected by Union thugs?

[tj101]

11:40 AM on 09/11/2011

Link? Proof?

[Zeus9000]

11:34 PM on 09/11/2011

Cops...

Are you d u m8?

[luvdatbobcat]

12:36 PM on 09/11/2011

I can see how it is easy for you to make the connection.

[BoycottFox2]

11:09 AM on 09/11/2011

Ryan will be very lucky to win his own district in the next election, he'll always have a job for the insurance companies that he represents.

[luvdatbobcat]

12:46 PM on 09/11/2011

Ryan won his seat in 2010 with 68% of the vote. Between that and redistricting, that probably explains why the Cook Political Report does not even list this as a competitive seat for 2012.

[jimfl]

11:02 AM on 09/11/2011

Who ever voted for this ----head.

[Maconman380]

02:32 PM on 09/10/2011

No Mr. Ryan he did not take his high blood pressue medication. Thanks to you he can no longer afford it.

[jmsmith28]

12:04 PM on 09/10/2011

If a protester had an outburst like this at any political event (republican or democrat) they would be escorted out. Do you guys honestly believe if you went to a private Obama speech, YELLED at him disrupting the event, that you would not be kicked out? By signing up and attending a private and paid for event like this you are agreeing to cordial discourse with everyone involved. Candidly, everyone speaks about the rights of the person arrested but what about my rights? If I paid to be there, I would want to listen to the speech I paid for and not have to deal with someone yelling in my ear. If you want to bring up issues and questions for the politician you need to wait for the appropriate time, venue, and do it politely.

Realistically, this man was not kicked out because he brought up issues Paul Ryan did not want to deal with. He was kicked out for his lack of tact and disrupting a private event, anyone saying otherwise is being disingenuous.

[capercaper]

09:44 AM on 09/11/2011

Spot on.

[HairFarmer]

12:04 PM on 09/12/2011

???? how many of you effin teabaggers were escorted out of Dem reps town halls in 09 ?? ZERO... You are a Liar

[LuvsCheerios]

11:11 AM on 09/11/2011

Did I miss Joe Wilson being escourted out of the State of the Union Speech?

[capercaper]

11:57 AM on 09/11/2011

The State of the Union speech was a government event in a government venue on public property. Our freedom of speech and assembly is protected in a government venue on public property. Joe Wilson broke no law.

Our first amendment protections do NOT apply on PRIVATE PROPERTY. Nielsen DID break the law.

[fgrammit]

10:05 PM on 09/09/2011

what a piece of work. How did he ever fool them long enough to get elected. The blood pressure remark was not the only crass remark either. get her a togo box was for one older lady.

[capercaper]

09:48 AM on 09/11/2011

What pieces of work the protesters were!

People came to this event to HEAR Ryan, not the protesters. The protesters had no right to protest/disrupt this private Rotary Club event.

[tj101]

10:57 AM on 09/11/2011

Of course they had a right to protest.

WE, as Americans, ALWAYS have the right to protest our public officials.

[fgrammit]

01:04 PM on 09/11/2011

I DON'T LIKE YOUR DEFINITION OF OUR IST AMENDMENT. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD LOOK IT UP AND WHEN YOU FIND IT SEND A COPY TO YOUR BULLY HERO

[Spike5]

05:16 PM on 09/09/2011

Wow, this is really interesting. I wrote a couple of posts saying that Ryan isn't giving his constituents a chance to meet with him in open and well publicized town hall type meetings and that it was outrageous to drag a man this age out in handcuffs because he was trying to be heard by his own elected representataive.

I can't believe the number of attacking responses. The trolls are orchestrated and out in force on this one. I've written far more derogatory stuff and barely gotten a glimmer of notice, and yet this comment, out of 4,000 at the time I wrote, got plenty of replies.

It's hard to believe in spontaneity when there are so many all of a sudden saying the same thing. Every body who takes orders from the right, please march in step.

[Zeus9000]

06:22 PM on 09/09/2011

It's not an attack, it's the truth. Ryan has had several town halls and conference callas already this year, which is more than the dems in the state have. You can't cry that he is unreachable, without taking a look at the poor availability of your own reps

[fgrammit]

10:09 PM on 09/09/2011

like everythong else you try to blame the other side to deflect blame from yours. why cant you just admit the this man was wrong . If he can handle these people in this fashion how can you possibly have any faith in his doing you bidding in congress. He is there for his agenda and his alone so dont be surprised when you ewake up one day with fewer freedoms than you have now. he is a bully and like most bullys he is a coward when cornered

[Rasheed Kalifani Knowles]

03:09 PM on 09/09/2011

"ha ha...Hope he's taking his blood-pressure medication!"-------------?

Not surprised that the statement is wildly inappropriate. I'm shocked that he felt secure enough to display his true nature in front of his constituents at such a volatile moment in his political career.

Oh yeah...that's right --- those are mostly rich gated community people in that audience.

But I'm afraid even though it was closed to the gp, Ryan may have a lawsuit on his hands. Those that had tickets had every right to be there, even if only to protest - which of course is the ultimate of Constitutional rights. Of course, he had no problem when astro-turfers where marching in his favor.

Watch them closely America because there is more to come.

These gestapo tactics are all the proof needed to assess what the right-wing agenda is all about.

These Joe Miller, Rand Paul organizer, Eric Cantor 'bum rush the opposition' assaults of individual liberty and personal space should be taken as a warning.

Of course for the stupid---the 25%ers, there is no hope.

[capercaper]

03:41 PM on 09/09/2011

You don't have the facts correct.

This was a regularly schedule Rotary Club luncheon meeting at which Ryan was the speaker schedule that week.

It was not a town hall or a govt venue.

It was a private event on private property.

First amendment rights DO NOT APPLY to private property.

"The event was a private function, held on private property," Greenfield Interim Police Chief Brad Wentlandt said. "The Whitnall Rotary was the host and in control of the banquet hall, thereby having the right to allow entry, refuse entry or demand that anyone be removed who they did not want there."

According to Wentlandt, all attendees were provided with a statement on the standards of conduct for those attending the luncheon. The statement stated anyone who engaged in loud, boisterous or disorderly conduct would be asked to leave the event, and if they failed to do so would face arrest.

http://muskego.patch.com/articles/greenfield-police-explain-arrests-at-paul-ryan-luncheon

[Rasheed Kalifani Knowles]

04:26 PM on 09/09/2011

He had a ticket.

IT WAS PAID FOR IN ADVANCE.

He had every right to attend.

Those are the grounds on which my commentary is based.

You on the other hand, are the one not paying attention to the facts.

Brutalizin­g a septagenar­ian because he shouted out questions isn't justified just because it took place at a private venue. It's very transparen­t why the choice was made to have it at such a place----- just so they could do just that to any one that opposed them with such 'criminal' offenses as truth-seek­ing.

How would you like it if that was your father of grandfathe­r? *feh* ---___----­-

smh

[Rasheed Kalifani Knowles]

05:45 PM on 09/09/2011

I only deal in truth.

It is you that can't handle it. That's why you gotta sick the castle gaurd on the peasants that act out of place by confronting you as an equal.

Enjoy it while it lasts.

I'm bored with you. Caio.

[LarryBud]

12:35 PM on 09/09/2011

The proper way to get the attention of the speaker is to raise your hand, not your voice. When he was on the floor, did I see plumbers crack?

[tj101]

02:04 PM on 09/09/2011

He was a 71 year old man.

You're looking?

[Rasheed Kalifani Knowles]

03:11 PM on 09/09/2011

Aha ha ha...good one. FF ^_^

[Jerry Aripez]

11:18 AM on 09/12/2011

Where is it that Roberts Rules of Order are ever so near to a town meeting....