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FACT BRIEF

Is the Wisconsin State Capitol building open 24/7?

By Erin Gretzinger
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NO

The Wisconsin State Capitol building is not open all day and night, seven days a week. The facilities are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

In 2011, thousands of people flocked to the Capitol to protest a bill, later signed by then- Gov. Scott Walker, that limited collective bargaining for a majority of public sector workers. Amid the intense protests, police ceded control of the building to protesters, who remained there "around the clock" for weeks, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

During the peak of the protests in mid-February to March, there were fewer than 20 arrests, none related to weapons. In the aftermath of the protests, many citations were dismissed by the Dane County district attorney's office.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Wisconsin Legislature Visit the Capitol
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel The day Scott Walker 'dropped the bomb': 10 years later, Act 10 maintains a firm grip on Wisconsin government
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Some are comparing the U.S. Capitol riot to Wisconsin's Act 10 protests in 2011. Here are the key differences.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Archives: Many citations against Capitol protesters dismissed
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.