Business & Tech

Walker Recall Petitions to Circulate at Black Friday Events

Politicos trying to force Wisconsin's governor into a recall election are planning to be out among the frenzy of shoppers.

As if Black Friday needed more craziness. 

The annual shopping frenzy will have a dash of the political this year as supporters of an effort to recall Gov. Scott Walker plan to circulate petitions among the deal-hungry masses.

Wisconsin Democrats are planning to collect signatures in the Milwaukee area at several stores, including: 

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  • Southridge Mall in Greendale 
  • Best Buy in Greenfield
  • Kmart in Hales Corners
  • Stores throughout West Allis
  • Bayshore Mall in Glendale 
  • Toys R Us in Brookfield 

Recall supporters won't have any luck at Southridge Mall, said Mary Mokwa, manager of the mall. 

Collecting signatures is a form of soliciting, Mokwa said, and the mall allows no soliciting inside of the building or in its parking lot. The closest recall supporters could get to the shopping center are the public sidewalks surrounding the Southridge property, she said.  

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"If we would observe them and we would ask them to leave," Mokwa said. "(We) can’t pick and choose among groups. A couple of weeks ago I saw an adorable group of kids selling candy bars. We just couldn’t let them. I bought it all from them, but they just couldn’t sell it in the mall."

While largely legal, the proliferation of petitions has drawn the ire of some event organizers. In Muskego, some raised questions about plans to circulate Walker , while about signature gathering at the city's library.

Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving that kicks off the holiday shopping season. Some say it's called "Black Friday" because it marks the day retailers turn a profit for the year, or end up "in the black."


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