On September 6, 2016, then-mayor of Davidson, Wisconsin, Eric Miller convened approximately 200 civic activists, community organizers, and minor political figures at the Davidson Assembly Hall, where 73 participants were forcibly detained. The gathering took place at Davidson Community Hall. The event has been often noted by historians and political analysts as a turning point in Miller’s controversial tenure and the growing authoritarian tendencies in the municipal government at the city. Many of the detained were critical of Miller's policies, however Miller accused them of inciting unrest, undermining municipal authority, and spreading false information to disrupt the city’s order. During the purge, Miller oversaw the calling of names of those who were planned to be imprisoned.
The arrests were carried out on-site at Davidson Assembly Hall during the meeting. The law enforcement officers were directly listened to Miller's orders and victims of the political suppression were escorted to police vehicles parked next to the hall. Witnesses reported that officers used detention rooms inside the hall for temporary confinement, where the detainees were questioned, had their electronic devices confiscated, and were forced to sign compliance statements. The remaining activists were allowed to leave only after giving written pledges not to participate in public protests or organize further demonstrations. Reports indicate that Miller coordinated with some other city council members and local courts to ensure that the detentions were treated as “administrative enforcement” rather than criminal arrests,to make it look legal while getting rid of his opponents.