Crowds tear down statues in Madison, punch Wisconsin state senator after arrest of Black activist

MADISON (AP) - Crowds outside the Wisconsin State Capitol tore down two statues and attacked a state senator amid protests following the arrest of a Black man who was at a restaurant with a megaphone and a baseball bat.

Video released by the Madison Police Department shows the man talking through the megaphone Tuesday while walking near the restaurant's outdoor patio. He goes inside and says he's "disturbing" the restaurant.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that late Tuesday Democratic state Sen. Tim Carpenter was assaulted after taking a photo of protesters. Statues of Wisconsin's motto "Forward" and of Col. Hans Christian Heg were dragged away from the statehouse.

The unrest followed weeks of mostly peaceful protests of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers condemned the violence, writing, "violence against any person—whether in the middle of the street in broad daylight, at home trying to sleep, going for a run, or happening upon a protest as was the case last night—is wrong. It should never be tolerated. Any single act of injustice against one person is less justice for all of us, and the people who committed these acts of violence will be held accountable. My thoughts are with Sen. Carpenter who was among the individuals attacked last night and wish him a quick recovery."

The Wisconsin GOP Chair, Andrew Hitt, released a statement on the violence, writing, "There is absolutely no excuse for the outright lawlessness and destruction that occurred in Madison under Gov. Tony Evers and Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s watch. When Wisconsinites were looking for leadership and protection from their leaders, both the Governor and the Mayor refused to take control and protect their own citizens."

To read the full statement, click here.