Yesterday I asked for permission to stay home from work so I could attend the protests against Scott Walker’s war on human liberty. And I gave my son permission to leave school so he could participate in a march along with several hundred of his fellow students. It was a good day for citizen activism!
Today neary all of Madison’s teachers suddenly got very sick, but not sick enough to avoid attending protests at the Capitol today en masse. Which meant that I had to stay home again … if only long enough to ensure that my son didn’t waste the entire day sitting in front of the TV playing video games.
But truth to be told, I was glad for the excuse. The teachers were staging a work action? This never happens! Teachers endure a lot of abuse, but they really do care about their work. They always show up to do their job. If they felt compelled to strike, I wanted a piece of the same action.
More of the Same
No, really. I mean this in the most literal sense. There was more, much more of what I witnessed yesterday. And it was good.
No it wasn’t. It was awesome.
Yesterday I heard estimates that the crowds exceeded 10,000 people. (At least one of the speakers at today’s rally asserted that the numbers actually totalled more than 20,000!) I think we easily matched yesterday’s crowds, and most likely dwarfed them. There was a solid sea of bodies all along the Capitol’s east facing on King St.
Protesters mass outside the Capitol's King St entrance
Protesters spill off the Capitol grounds and into King St
A small sliver of the thousands crowding the grounds outside the Capitol.
More Surprises
Yesterday AFSCME President Gerald McKee delivered an electifying keynote address. Today we got Wisconson’s AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt. A big man (“I don’t know how you could miss him”, quipped the speaker who introduced him) with an even bigger voice, he delivered a masterful speech that, incredibly, topped Gerald McKee’s on the previous day. I was ready to jump off my precarious perch (once again I had mounted a copper urn that was itself mounted upon a large plinth; can’t beat the view!) and rush into the Capitol then and there.
But just like yesterday, it wasn’t the speakers that affected me the most. It was the people.
Students Would Rather Be in School
Multiple bands of high school students wound through the crowds, chanting, waving signs, even rushing the lawn and bravely climbing trees to the wild cheers of the rest of us.
On their sudden school holiday, these high school students teach Scott Walker the meaning of civil disobedience.
And while they weren’t as formally organized as their elders, there were plenty of much younger underclassmen in attendance as well.
No school? Woo-hoo! Time to protest!
An unexpectd day off from school, on a warm and sunny day, and they turn out by the hundreds–if not thousands–in support of their teachers. Perhaps a sign carried by one of them said it best: “Walker: We can vote in 2014″.
Made me wish I was a teenager all over again. That’s what I call inspiration!
The Police Take Action
Yesterday the police were present and amiable, but mostly seemed concerned with doing their duty of maintaining public safety. Today they joined with the firemen–who you may recall are also spared the draconian measures in store for nearly all other public employees under Scott Walker’s budget repair bill–and actively protested against the measure.
Police officers in solidarity with the protesters.
But what I found even more impressive is that the officers in uniform–the ones on active duty–were also chanting and waving their fists right along with the rest of us! Upon witnessing that, I felt like we had turned a corner. The bill may yet pass (with an outside chance that it will not), but if all the unions that Scott Walker threw bones to were turning against him, too…. Well, I can’t help believing that whatever it is that Walker and his ilk hope to gain from passage of this bill cannot last for long.
If we keep the pressure up and don’t relent–and we’ve got the support of the state’s protective services squarely in our corner now, too–I think we can break it. Heady–and hard–days are ahead of us, that’s for sure.
The Firefighters Outdo Themselves
As with yesterday, the firefighters proudly showed their solidarity by continually marching through the crowds. And just like yesterday, we saluted them with our cheers.
But today, right at the end of the rally, one of them took the stand to speak. (I believe it was the president of IAFF Madison local 311, Joe Conway, but might be mistaken. If you can confirm who it was, post a comment!) “We didn’t intend to speak today,” he said, but this was “an emergency”. And who shows up in emergencies? “You do!” we bellowed back.
Right, the police and fire departments. The house behind him (the Capitol, of course) was burning down. And what do firefighters do at a burning house? “You go in!” we hollered.
“That’s right!” he agreed. “We go in! We go in first. So we’re going in now! We’ll lead you in there!”
And I kid you not, we went berserk.
And it was just at that moment that I heard the drums and bagpipes.
Firefighters prepare to assault the Capitol.
Firefighters lead the charge into the Capitol building.
Un. Be. Lievable. It couldn’t have been choreagraphed more perfectly. This was dynamite political theatre. And I was soaking every minute of it up.
The crowds parted, and all the hundreds of firefighters in attendance followed that marching band right up King St, right up the Capitol steps, and right into the Capitol building. And the thousands of citizens in attendance lined up right behind them.
Yes!
The Best of the Rest
An incredibly thrilling day. There’s more than can possibly be said about it. But here follow a few more images to round out my report.
Crowds mass inside the Capitol Rotunda
One of the dictators is Hosni Mubarak. I bet you can guess who the other one is.
Let's hope it doesn't get to that.
Public acknowledgement of the class warfare that Scott Walker and his cronies are waging.
But Wait, There’s More!
As of yesterday, today was supposed to mark the end of the “official” protest and rally schedule. But Phil Neuenfeldt closed his crackling speech with the proclamation that everybody would be back “tomorrow and for as long as it takes” to stop Scott Walker and the legislature. This was met with a rousing cheer, of course.
We must meet his challenge. For as long as it takes.
15 comments
Roy L. Culver
February 17, 2011 at 2:26 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The story! “It’s like Cairo’s moved to Madison” At least 10000 employees and supporters rallied Wednesday in Madison over a bill that would strip them of most of their collective bargaining rights . . . the officers in uniform–the ones on active duty–were also chanting and waving their fists right along with the rest of us! Madison Protests Day 2: Once More Into the Breach . . . As with yesterday, the firefighters proudly showed their solidarity by continually marching through the crowds . . . “It’s like Cairo’s moved to Madison” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don
February 21, 2011 at 10:20 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Really? Too bad the union are lying to all of you. You are all well protected with county, state and federal laws. You can still bargain for wages and make a lot more than the private sector, especially with benefits.
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/wisconsin-virginia-and-public-sector-unions/
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12171
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12799
You’ll all be more than fine without so much union. I know your union wants you to think you’ll die without them. The only thing that will die is the leaders’ immense power at the local, state and national level.
Chris Meyers
February 22, 2011 at 8:45 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Ah yes, information from the Cato Institute, the bastion of unbiased reporting. Since the Cato institute was founded and funded by Charles Koch, who is also a huge contributor to Scott Walker, it isn’t surprising that they are in support of union busting. Or really more likely, Scott Walker is in support of union busting because Charles Koch wants him to be.
K. Braun
February 17, 2011 at 5:24 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Wow. This gave me goosebumps. My husband and I are recently retired teachers, who visit Wisconsin (from Iowa) frequently. If there is any way we can get to Madison tomorrow to join in solidarity, we will. On, Wisconsin!
J Rosen
February 17, 2011 at 5:59 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
My father was an organizer of the AFT in Detroit in the ’30s. (He was also a sometime Communist who was HUACed out of his job, elementary school music, into a very successful career as a businessman, and his grandson is a Wall Street attorney.) I am no Trotskyist (in fact I am a slightly left Democrat) but do I smell a general strike in the wind? Cairo, Sana, Bahrain, MADISON? Where’s next? All power to you. I’d like to see that crypto-fascist governor riding on a fence rail.
Larry
February 17, 2011 at 6:15 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congratulations on standing up to these SOBs! People all over the country are pulling for you – best of luck, and be strong!
Gayle Stamler
February 17, 2011 at 9:48 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We lived in Madison from 1978-88 and both my kids were born there. I’m proud and a little overcome to see the pictures of places I know so well and loved so much, filled with the energy and passion of people who believe this country is for everyone, not just the rich. Get ‘em, Badgers.
David D
February 18, 2011 at 3:01 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
This is a movement from below signaling the re-emergence of the American working class. No faith can be put in the Unions that have isolated and sold out workers for the last 3 decades. Workers and students must organize rank and file strike action commitees in oppostiton to the decrepit unions and the Democrats for seizure of political and industrial power in common cause with Eygptian, Iraqi and workers everywhere.
We are witnessing nothing less than the begining of a world wide revolution that will end in the overturn of the exploitation of the capitalist system
Steven
February 20, 2011 at 10:33 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
“We are witnessing nothing less than the begining of a world wide revolution that will end in the overturn of the exploitation of the capitalist system”
Yea right. Unions as we know them are about 40 years ago and don’t help America. Look at our education and workforce. Um, GM anyone? Public teachers? Terrible.
steven
February 20, 2011 at 10:35 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Free speech, moderator? Hypocrite?
David Huttleston Jr
February 20, 2011 at 12:50 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
We love Free speech here in Wisconsin, we just hate spam. We moderate for spam and obscenities, and you gave us neither. Thank you for being here!
don
February 21, 2011 at 10:24 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hey Steve, they blocked the truth when I tried to sent some info. Left wingers are evil. Just like the unions, they don’t want their puppets to hear the truth so they can keep steering them.
Chris Meyers
February 22, 2011 at 8:38 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Don, as you can see we let your posts through. We moderate because we get hit with tons of spam every day. However now that you’ve been approved once you can post to your heart’s content.
Kevin Van Cleave
February 23, 2011 at 4:37 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
As a union member(IBEW Local 134) from Chicago just wanted to give out a SHOUT of support to all the union members who were out there marching in Madison including my own cousin Mike who happened to be one of the Bagpipers marching at the front of the Firefighters. These are tough times sadly but to keep what has been fought for all these years we must stay strong.
David Huttleston Jr
February 23, 2011 at 5:00 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Nicely said, Kevin. I believe tens of thousands of shouts of support is showing the world that our rights can not be sold to a couple of Kansas Billionaires. Solidarity!