Rolling protest of F-35s coming to Madison 'amplifies voices' around State Capitol
A cacophony of cars’ horns filled the air around the state Capitol on Saturday afternoon as a caravan of protesters registered their dissatisfaction with last week’s decision to base a squadron of F-35 fighter jets in Madison.
It was the latest protest organized by the Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition, a grassroots organization opposed to bedding down the next-generation fighters at Truax Field at the Dane County Regional Airport. But this was the first since the U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday it will send the jets to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing in 2023, which proponents say will create new jobs and benefit the local economy.
Precautions were taken during the protest to observe social distancing amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Following the example of rolling protests being held across the country, almost all of the participants drove the route from Truax Field to the state Capitol and stayed in their vehicles as they made several laps around Capitol Square. A handful of cyclists and pedestrians wearing face masks joined the demonstration.
Tehmina Islam, a leader with Safe Skies, said it’s important to advocate for the vulnerable people and neighborhoods that stand to be most impacted by the jets, despite the barriers presented by the pandemic.
Read more: https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/rolling-protest-of-f-35s-coming-to-madison-amplifies-voices-around-state-capitol/article_c00c0939-3ff2-590d-a1b7-3764600c0050.html
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