Mifflin Street Block Party
mifflin street block party annual block party celebration held mifflin street madison wisconsin party held last saturday april attended predominantly student attending university wisconsin–madison originally political protest since become focused socializing alcohol consumption final exam party typically featured local outofstate musical act playing house porch balcony backyard stage party city sponsorship since effort university city create competing event unsuccessful one two large party held madison freakfest halloween party state street mifflin street block party began street protest involved dancing protest vietnam war original date may set coincide oneyear anniversary french student rebellion antiwar sentiment accelerated madison since dow chemical protest thousand student occupied violently expelled ingraham hall original event arose part continuing conflict student police centered mifflin street police refused allow permission street dance entered area response noise complaint confrontation ensued lasted three night spread surrounding student area student threw stone police constructed barricade defend police responded tear gas billy club end people injured arrested including future mayor paul soglin event continued annually duration war despite effect nearby sterling hall bombing attempt control event city created mifflin mall music concession state street mall however student taken mifflin street sponsorship mifflin coop block party often used community fundraiser various political social cause coop dropped greater involvement city requested organizer keep alcohol within fencedin beer garden police decided officer patrol event removed official presence party despite crowd excess major problem occurred riot following event city police took control planning effectively dictate term party spending excess policing may riot broke crowd several thousand people threw bottle fire truck come put bonfire started crowd combat cold weather police used riot gear retake block riot resulted thousand dollar damage event planned carefully attracted people due poor weather major riot occurred since block party occurred first saturday may every year student lobbied date changed last saturday april avoid conflict final exam mayor dave cieslewicz refused date change first citing additional cost strain would place police student vowed throw large celebration weekend mayor agreed move date block party promise student leader would discourage celebration first week may however mayor requested associated student madison pay additional cost moving date event considered one calmest record arrest citation including arrest football team running back booker stanley block party scheduled saturday april city official city allowed local promotional group dcny pro officially sponsor event would first time decade city allowed sponsor support wsum radio station produced one live music stage intersection bassett mifflin street year attendance grew arrest declined authority credit official sponsor decrease incident dcny production brought music stage security staff food vendor dcny pro sponsored event partnering wsum radio maximum ink produce two stage one dj stage bassett mifflin street another live music stage bedford mifflin street city also granted sponsored small beer garden parking lot block mifflin street open alcoholic beverage allowed street individual legal drinking age wristband madison police reported change attempt bring people backyard street allow greater observation majestic theater local music venue officially sponsored hosted event attempting put greater emphasis music police officer reported crowd size number significantly intoxicated people far greater likely due change open intoxicant rule resulted underaged drinking arrest people arrested two people stabbed multiple police officer injured event montee ball heisman award candidate cited trespassing patrick kane star forward chicago blackhawks reportedly choked woman house party made antisemitic slur photo surfaced drinking heavily yelling police officer passed local bar party coincided cinco de mayo celebration throughout country resulted event drawing condemnation uwmadison dean student lori berquam month speculation regarding annual block party city madison released statement officially cancelling block party effective april warned severe punishment violator release also indicated studentcreated music festival held day however three day apparent cancellation party city madison announced fact cancelled annual gathering blaming confusion poor wording previously released statement soglin favored shutting event since attended first one drew accusation hypocrisy event attendee sold tshirts mocking using image face city website sorry partying next photographer sued tshirt maker printer copyright infringement since sought permission use photo promised subject would never let photo used negatively trial ruled fair use verdict upheld appeal united state court appeal seventh circuit party reportedly calmer orderly anywhere attendee combined party cancelled due covid pandemic police seen patrolling street throughout day house playing music audible street given police warning turn else would violation new city ordinance street historically quiet day april thousand student gathered block party despite city ongoing covid protocol despite controversy madison police reported four people ticketed event however group student vandalized university staff member vehicle attendance ranged several hundred couple thousand however unexpected people showed event year riot madison halloween festivity prompted police begin systematically clamping mifflin event city consistently refused proposal student close street revive block party student control madison police lieutenant quoted saying quite frankly wish event would go away since increased number arrest decrease attendance majority arrest alcoholrelated incident police dealt event heavily enforcing number ordinance included banning glass container mifflin limiting number keg house party creation processing center dealing arrested police also notorious handing open container citation targeting especially loud raucous house party one house received fine selling alcohol without permit police arrested people issued citation cost city issued fine dismissed reduced madison police department reported arrest offense consuming alcohol street public urination carrying glass container la fete de marquette state street halloween party great midwest marijuana harvest festival history mifflin street coop madison wi