Protesters criticize Tim Michels' call for 'pitchforks and torches' against the media outside an Appleton fundraiser

Sophia Voight, Appleton Post-Crescent
·2 min read
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APPLETON - Protesters outside a Republican fundraiser at The Grand Meridian in Appleton criticized Tim Michels' recent call for "pitchforks and torches" in response to a news story about his foundation.

"He has to know you can't come into Wisconsin and talk like that and get away with it," said Souls to the Polls founder, the Rev. Greg Lewis, during the Friday afternoon protest.

Earlier this month during a conservative talk radio show, the Republican gubernatorial candidate went on the attack against the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel over a story about his foundation giving $250,000 to anti-gay and anti-abortion groups in 2020.

"I believe people should just be ready to get out into the streets with pitchforks and torches with how low the liberal media has become," Michels said. "People need to decide, ‘Am I going to put up with this? Am I going to tolerate this — taking somebody that gives money to churches or cancer research and use that as a hit piece in the media?’ I’m appalled. It’s disgusting.”

"That's where we draw the line," Service Employees International Union Wisconsin member Calena Roberts said about Michels' comment. "We're taking to the streets to let him know that that is not acceptable."

Demonstrators carry a Tim Michels puppet outside the Republican gubernatorial fundraiser on Friday in Appleton.
Demonstrators carry a Tim Michels puppet outside the Republican gubernatorial fundraiser on Friday in Appleton.

Demonstrators held signs reading "Tim Michels too extreme for Wisconsin" and a 13-foot puppet of the GOP candidate wearing a MAGA hat. Other demonstrators wore masks of former President Donald Trump, claiming Michels is "trying to be Wisconsin's Donald."

Trump endorsed Michels for governor.

Michels appeared alongside former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who oversaw a failed taxpayer-funded GOP review of the 2020 election, at Friday's fundraiser.

The protest, organized by Power to the Polls and SEIU Wisconsin, also called for Michels to cut ties with Gableman.

Sophia Voight can be reached at svoight@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Anti-Tim Michels protesters gather at Republican Appleton fundraiser