Protesters from last week’s rally outside of city hall released a statement in response to allegations of threats lobbied by District 8 Alder MGR Govindarajan and District 5 Alder Regina Vidaver’s comments to the Isthmus.
Rallies have been organized to call for a reconsideration of demolishing the Dairy Drive city-sanctioned campsite that over 20 unhoused individuals call home while they seek more permanent housing arrangements. Protesters rallied Sept. 24, 26, 27 and 30 with continued calls for alders who voted to dismantle Dairy Drive to reconsider — which would only require one to change their vote. The most recent rally on October 1 brought around 40 protesters to City Hall during a special session on the planned Bartillion Shelter, slated for opening in Spring 2026. Plans for the shelter aim to have more capacity, and be a replacement from those now displaced from Dairy Drive.
After the meeting, protesters waited outside to call out alders on their way home. Alder Govindarajan stopped to talk and agreed on video that he has sent emails about a reconsideration and would file a motion to do so. However, the following day, Alder MGR released a statement stating that he agreed “under coercion.”
In the statement, he said his safety was not threatened “as long as I didn’t say the wrong thing and escalate tensions.” He said he “was deeply concerned for my privacy, my home, and those close to me.”
Protesters dispute that characterization. Rather, the protest was and remained peaceful throughout its entire span, they said.
“We are extremely concerned by the Alders’ portrayal of the September 30th protest, namely MGR’s public statement and Alder Regina Vidaver’s comments to Isthmus (both issued on October 1st),” said the Save Dairy Drive Coalition in a statement. “During a time when unhoused people, protesters and marginalized people are being scapegoated by the right as ‘violent criminals’ to advance authoritarian ambitions, MGR and Regina are using similar right-wing fear-mongering tactics right here in Madison.”
Among the threats alleged by Alder Govindarajan, he claimed protesters stated they would find where he lives or would place stakes in my yard.
Alder Vidaver’s statements defended Govindarajan and said it’s “kind of too late,” the Isthmus reported.
The coalition believes that their actions undermine their ability to hold elected officials accountable.
“These accusations are meant to distract from the main issue of Dairy Drive residents being forced into homelessness right before winter while providing political cover for MGR as he once again goes back on his word to save Dairy Drive,” the coalition said.
They believed that of all alders, Govindarajan would have been the most likely to reconsider. The coalition stated that Govindarajan ran as an active advocate for housing justice and a platform for affordable housing. He previously attended meetings with Madison Tenant Power and has been a guest speaker for the Dane County Homeless Justice Initiatives.
As a guest speaker, Govindarajan stated that he believed “housing was a human right,” according to the coalition.
“His decision to demolish Dairy Drive was a massive betrayal, both to his constituents and to his own stated principles. We did not want him to leave the September 30th council meeting without hearing our grievance face-to-face,” the coalition said. “Our protests are not designed for the comfort of politicians; they are designed to hold politicians accountable.”
