WI senate candidate pepper-sprayed, arrested while getting sigs for nom

[bobbieinok]

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=89595

Candidate Masel sprayed, arrested at Union Terrace
By Steven Elbow

University police confronted Ben Masel, longtime local activist and current U.S. Senate hopeful, while he was circulating nomination papers on the Memorial Union Terrace Thursday night.

After a brief struggle, he was pepper-sprayed, arrested, and charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, then released.

Masel says he's being singled out.

Several politicians confirmed today in interviews they have used the terrace to solicit signatures, including both Democratic candidates for secretary of state.

more....

[rzemanfl]

1. I thought all the guys who pepper sprayed me and everyone

else there in 1968-1971 would have retired by now.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. who is Masel? Seems he gets arrested a lot

What's up? :shrug:

Masel has a string of legal victories concerning unlawful arrests and other matters.

He has won four "relatively modest" settlements from local agencies in recent years, including a highly publicized run-in with the city during the 2002 Mayors Conference and a $95,000 settlement from Sauk County officials over his arrest at the 2000 Weedstock festival.

In 1996 and 2000, he won hefty settlements after being arrested and roughed up at Democratic Party conventions.