Wisconsin protester sues Capitol worker who popped balloon

MADISON, Wis. — A woman is claiming a state Capitol worker violated her constitutional rights by popping a balloon and allegedly slamming her against a door.

Leslie Peterson, of Madison, filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages from Ronald Blair, an assistant director in the Division of State Facilities.

The 56-year-old Blair has been charged with disorderly conduct while armed. The altercation allegedly happened July 25 during a daily singalong, which was an ongoing protest of the state law curtailing collective bargaining rights for public workers.

The lawsuit alleges Blair violated Peterson’s free speech and due process rights and subjected her to unreasonable search and seizure.

Blair’s lawyer in the criminal case, Colleen Locke, told the Wisconsin State Journal she hasn’t seen the lawsuit.