Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia, Belgium, and Wisconsin: Ringing in 2011 with Global Revolution
by Linda Zhou
They chanted, “Kill the bill! Kill the bill!”
The aches in my bones from yesterday's rally in Madison, Wisconsin, were welcomed aches. After four successive days at the Wisconsin State Capitol protesting Governor Scott Walker's "budget despair" bill, I'm exhausted, but energized and inspired. The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Teaching Assistants’ Association TAA called for a “teach out” today, asking for all activity to cease on campus so that the university can stand as unified front against the imposturous bill. I've watched as hordes of people grew each day from 20,000 on Wednesday to an estimated 75,000 on Saturday, although it seemed to many that it was more like 200,000.
It has been an immensely moving week of growing solidarity as Wisconsinites joined together to rally against Gov. Scott Walker's harsh agenda. Those standing in opposition ranged from very politically astute young people to seniors in canes and wheelchairs. There were people standing up against MedicAid cuts, and union workers from both the public and private sectors. There were nurses, pharmacists, doctors. teachers, families, children, firefighters, and police officers. Wisconsin gained many new progressive leaders as individuals stepped up and organized, led chants, formed car pools, made creative signs, and generally worked together to fill the Capitol and the Capitol Square every day.
As I've watched this truly historic grass roots uprising unfold, I grew more and more proud of the Madison community. It isn’t as if these kinds of attacks on unions are brand new; what’s different is their scale, intensity, and the real possibility of success. In these protests, more than 100,000 found an outlet for the despair, insecurity and anger they've been feeling when they came together to stand in opposition. Soon, what was happening in Madison was national, then international news. Experiencing these protests close up has been exhilarating. I've not only seen many standing up for their beliefs and civil liberties, but I've seen the whole state standing in a sincere disgust at the draconian agenda being pressed by Walker. I hope the nation will look upon the protests in Wisconsin as an example and resolve to intelligently confront authority on the necessary issues, such as poverty and violence.
PHOTOS
COMMENTS
- ydgrtr on June 26
R0T4aR jvnseapyhcwm
- Jaylin on June 23
I am ttollay wowed and prepared to take the next step now.
- Linda Zhou on March 05
@Darren K: Although the bill was signed and passed, I’m sure this is just the beginning…
- Kate Goetz on March 04
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So they Bussed union thugs from Wisconsin to Sacramento (1,500 mile) just so they could protest union busting in Wisconsin. Tell me something—is the sky blue in the universe you live in?
- Darren Kauff on March 01
@ previous comment: bad***
- Darren Kauff on March 01
...Too back the bill was passed. What happened to democracy?!
- Darren Kauff on March 01
I’m looking back at these past few weeks and I say to myself, “I was part of that phenomenon.”
- CC T. on February 26
My hands still hurt from all the high-fives I’ve got!
- Kayla Pohlmann on February 25
Someone emailed me this article from BH this morning. It’s an open letter from the UW Faculty. United, we stand; Divided, we fall!
http://badgerherald.com/oped/2011/02/21/an_open_letter_to_sc.php
- Linda Zhou on February 25
This is what liberal persistence and toughness resembles:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-best-protest-signs-at-the-wisconsin-capitol
- Linda Zhou on February 25
This is what liberal persistence and toughness looks like:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-best-protest-signs-at-the-wisconsin-capitol