Published 12 Mar, 2011
Passion flooded Madison, Wiscosin today as thousands of workers and their families from all over the state and nation swarmed Wisconsin’s capital protesting the recent passage of the law eliminating most collective bargaining rights for wisconsin’s public employee unions. Today’s massive demonstration followed yesterday’s walkout by Madison high school students, who congregated at the Capitol in solidarity with their teachers. The recent attacks on workers’ rights, which began in Wisconsin, has (demonstrated by, among other things, the pizza orders for protesters that have poured in from all over world) literally brought people together from all walks of life to show their support.
Citizens from across the nation made the pilgrimage to Wisconsin to stand with those families that have just been robbed of their collective bargaining rights. Local families pushing strollers joined the massive crowds of public and private sector union workers, youth, seniors and farmers, as they marched in solidarity while 30 or so tractors rolled along side displaying, “It’s not over – here; it’s just begun” as part of the procession circling the capitol, with recall petitions in hand.
TWU members from Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, Nebraska, New York, Connecticut, and Washington DC, representing all three divisions of TWU – rail, transit and airline – arrived throughout the day. Theotis James, International Representative from Columbus, Ohio came with his son,
“I wouldn’t miss this protest for the world, this is real people power, and this is what democracy looks like,” said James.
The display of human kindness and solidarity was impressive as numbers not seen for decades, rallied and picketed around the Capitol. Angry voters here are unified and determined to stop Gov. Walker’s plan to crush working families at any cost.