Wisconsin Rapids protest group receives noise complaint – moving location

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) –  The protest group in Wisconsin Rapids is moving their protest location after notification of a complaint received from the Aspirus Hospital. The group has been protesting on the East Riverview Expressway since March, though they’ve moved from the bridge to the green space along Daly Avenue across from the hospital.

Kris Dauenhauer, one of the protest organizers, said Police Chief Daniel Hostens asked to speak with the group after receiving a noise complaint. Dauenhauer says the chief is respectful of the group’s right to protest and is willing to work with them to resolve the noise problem. The group initially tried to stay in their original location and made a sign asking drivers not to honk their horns. She said, unfortunately, they received even more honks from both supporters and non-supporters.

New location

Chief Hostens recommended several different locations further from the hospital. Dauenhauer said she felt those suggestions wouldn’t work due to lack of parking and access for attendees with mobility issues. They’ve decided to relocate up the hill away from the hospital.

“We’d move up the hill and try out on the corner of Lincoln and the Expressway,” explains Dauenhauer. “There still are open grass areas there. There’s a lot of side streets and we can still park on Daly Avenue.”

Dauenhauer said the police chief didn’t say they had to move; however, they’ve decided it would be in the best interest of patients at the hospital. She said after the conversation with Chief Hostens, she received confirmation from the Aspirus Nursing Director the complaints were received from patients.

“There are some people who don’t really want to move, but they are willing to move because they want to be able to have people honk at us and not cause a problem,” says Dauenhauer. “That is the way I feel. I don’t want to be disturbing patients in the hospital.”

Food drive during protest hours

For the month of November, Dauenhauer said they’ll be taking donations for the FOCUS food pantry. They collected during their protest times the weekend of Halloween and raised $529.30 in monetary donations and a significant amount of food.

The Wisconsin Rapids protests take place at their new location at the same protest times. They meet on Friday from 3:00 – 4:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.