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Wisconsin
Political repression plays out state by state — shaped by local institutions, prosecutors, and movements for defense. These are the documented political prisoners and cases the census holds for Wisconsin.
434Documented
2In custody
130Released
1Awaiting trial
Eras of repression in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin’s entries fall across the census’s historical eras.
1940s 250
1930s 47
1910s 33
1960s 23
1970s 22
2020s 19
Recent dashboard entries from Wisconsin
The newest published events and reporting located in Wisconsin, updated automatically from the live dashboard.
Arrest
A man is arrested dousing an Appleton courthouse Pride flag with gasoline
Protest
About 100 rally outside Ridglan Farms, calling for release of the last ~650 beagles and the facility's closure
Protest
A May Day march from Voces de la Frontera to the Federal Building in Milwaukee
Arrest
Palestinian-American community leader Salah Sarsour, a longtime green-card holder, detained by ICE in Milwaukee; rights groups call it retaliation for his pro-Palestinian advocacy
Protest
Hundreds line State Road and Losey Boulevard for a 'No Kings' rally
Arrest
Wayne Hsiung and three activists charged with four felonies each over an "open rescue" of 22 beagles from Ridglan Farms
Prosecution
Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan is found guilty of obstructing ICE agents
Prosecution
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was convicted of felony obstruction for helping an undocumented man avoid ICE agents at her courthouse
Documented cases
434 entries in the census — every one stays in the record, whether the case is open or closed.
B
Bernard Bensch
Bernard Bensch is individually named on the U.S. Army’s Camp McCoy civilian-internment roster as confined at t...
A
Andrew Berg (Wisconsin antiwar defendant, 1918)
The Wisconsin Espionage Act account reports his not-guilty plea July25,1918 and release on his own bond. No fi...
H
Herman Carl August Bernsdorf
Herman Carl August Bernsdorf was individually recorded in a Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, receipt report dated 1942-0...
P
Paul K. Beyrau
Paul K. Beyrau was individually recorded in a Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, receipt report dated 1942-06-24. The repo...
J
Johann Block
Johann Block was individually recorded in a Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, receipt report dated 1942-06-06. The report...
K
Karl Blossey
Karl Blossey was individually listed among additional civilian internees at Camp McCoy in the list forwarded w...
O
Oscar Bobby
Released
Oscar Bobby was one of the leaders of the 6 March 1930 unemployment demonstration in Milwaukee — a crowd estim...
T
Theodore L. Boege
Theodore L. Boege was individually recorded in a Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, receipt report dated 1942-06-24. The r...
M
Mathias J. Borniger
The March 16, 1942 Camp McCoy personnel-record transmittal individually names Mathias J. Borniger among civili...
C
Carl H. Brandt
Carl H. Brandt was individually recorded in a Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, receipt report dated 1942-06-24. The repo...
M
Max Breu
Max Breu is individually named on the U.S. Army’s Camp McCoy civilian-internment roster as confined at the Wis...
M
Melany P. Brieno
Released
Melany P. Brieno participated in the April 2026 animal-rights action at Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin. She was de...
B
Brown (Milwaukee relief protest, 1932)
Released
A Milwaukee unemployed-relief protest defendant printed only as Brown was one of six people arrested before th...
C
Caleb A. Brown
Released
Caleb A. Brown, 24, was arrested May 1, 2024 at the UW Madison Palestine encampment after grabbing a Madison p...
P
Paul Brown
Released
Paul Brown (born Samuel Horowitz) was a Communist Party official who changed his name to avoid blacklisting an...
F
Fred Burback
Released
Fred Burback was an unemployed Milwaukee worker and father of six children. After he became ill, the city stop...
B
Burke (Milwaukee unemployed leader, 1930)
The January 9, 1931 Daily Worker’s delayed Milwaukee report says unemployed leaders Burke and Clark were welco...
D
Donald Burke
Released
Donald Burke was a communist candidate for Wisconsin state senator arrested with John Hilty and other members...
J
Joe Carl
Released
Joe Carl, listed as Joseph Carl in the International Labor Defense’s prisoner roster, was jailed after the Mar...
R
Ralph Celmer
The Wisconsin account records Celmer’s actual confinement and escape from the Superior jail July12,1918 in the...
R
Robert Chevalier
Released
Robert Chevalier was a member of the Menominee Warrior Society and one of the leaders prosecuted after its 197...
K
Katherine Christianson
Released
Katherine Christianson pleaded guilty to willful injury to government property for her role in the July 20, 20...
M
Max Cichon
Released
Max Cichon was a German-born American farmer near Elkhorn, Wisconsin, who organized against farm foreclosures...
C
Clark (Milwaukee unemployed leader, 1930)
The January 9, 1931 Daily Worker’s delayed Milwaukee report says unemployed leaders Burke and Clark were welco...
Institutions in Wisconsin
Prisons, jails, and detention centers in Wisconsin that appear in the census’s case files.
FCI OxfordOxford, Wisconsin
11 cases
Milwaukee House of CorrectionMilwaukee, Wisconsin
11 cases
Dane County JailMadison, Wisconsin
8 cases
Ashland County JailAshland, Wisconsin
5 cases
Dane County Circuit Court
2 cases
Wisconsin state prisonMilwaukee, Wisconsin
2 cases
Wisconsin State PrisonWaupun, Wisconsin
2 cases
U.S. Federal Custom House Jail, MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
1 case