Co-op Rally, Capitol Square, Madison, 3/26/11

[htuttle]

Run time: 03:51 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmGCClebrMw   Posted on YouTube: March 26, 2011 By YouTube Member: callenjh Views on YouTube: 10   Posted on DU: March 27, 2011 By DU Member: htuttle Views on DU: 1300

 
March and rally sponsored by cooperatives in the Madison area in opposition to Governor Scott Walker's "budget repair" bill and budget proposal, held on Saturday, March 26, 2011.

This was the second or third pass around the square. People had started gathering on the State St side after the first pass.

[midnight]

1. I like see the dogs and the bikes..... Thanks to everyone who helped out with this....

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. AWESOME!!!

We were inside the Capitol at the time, trying to get ourselves arrested for protesting in the non-"demonstration area." By the time we got out of there, things had quieted down outside a bit. But we went and had a glass of wine across the street, to watch the remaining protesters circle the square (!). Thanks SO much for sharing the video. What a musical group we are, eh? :toast:

[RBInMaine]

3. Great, but all these folks need to be out gathering signatures. THAT is what really needs doing.

[Lefta Dissenter]

4. We each do what we can

Yes, gathering signatures in the districts of the senators who need to be recalled is a top priority. Not everyone can drive to those districts, or can devote an entire day to participating in a carpool to go to a recall district.

We also need to maintain a presence in front of Walker and the Fitzgeralds - those folks who are hoping that we all will just get tired of this and go home. There's also a strong "Vote Kloppenburg" voice in every protest, and Kloppenburg had a 'meet & greet' a few blocks from the square late morning.

Some others of us are fighting a different battle inside the Capitol, where the Dept of Administration has declared that their rules trump the US and the State Constitutions.

So, you're right that the recalls need to be a priority, but if you're not here, you may not recognize the value of all of the other forms of protest that are taking place at the same time. Seeing the video of the protest that was taking place outside the Capitol while I was inside is very inspirational to me, and I hope it is to others, as well.

[Ed Suspicious]

5. I agree.

I was saddened, however, to get there around 5:30 in the afternoon after a 2 hour drive with my family and our signs and bells only to find we were very lonely on the capitol square. I was really expecting a larger amount of buzz than we found. It seems a couple weeks ago it was nonstop marching. I would love to go back tomorrow earlier since my wife and I don't have to work tomorrow, but really don't want to make the trip down and be a lone voice on the corner.

Does anybody know where you can go to find out when rally's are taking place? We are coming from near Green Bay and really want to show up when there is more going on so we can help make a greater impact.

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. Thank you so much for coming

and don't ever feel that your time and your presence here are wasted.

Today was quiet compared to what we have had in the past. A lot of people are out working on the recalls, and some of us who were spending all of our waking hours (and many their sleeping hours, too) there have realized that we need to water our plants and do our income taxes!

I've been there when it's been so packed with people that we literally couldn't move. I've been there when I've been just one of about a dozen people strolling around the square with signs, calling out chants and waving to the tooting cars. We need to keep the reminders there. Walker said that it's just out-of-staters who will get tired of this and stop showing up. I plan to take every opportunity I can to tell him that I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere, and I CERTAINLY won't have forgotten about him by next November, when we can start circulating HIS recall petitions.

DefendWisconsin.org is a good site with events listed (on the right side in the scroll area), though a lot of the protests are more organic and fluid - some days, depending on the events, the crowds just grow and grow and grow. It's also important to go in to the Capitol if it's open, carry some signs in and say hi to the wonderful Capitol Police. There's a good blog entry on the efforts inside the Capitol at http://www.dailykos.com/blog/uid:138806 Jeremy's website is DefendingWisconsin.org (different from the one I listed above, which does not have the "ing" after "defend").

Again, please come and make your voice heard! It's actually sort of fun to be one of a few out there sometimes - there's never a lack of support, and if you're lonely, just shout out, "Show me what democracy looks like," and you'll hear a chorus of replies, "THIS is what democracy looks like!" :hi:

[RBInMaine]

9. Protesting is a feel-good motivator, but does little to create real change. Electoral campaigning

much more effective in creating the change you desire.

[Lefta Dissenter]

17. HA,

tell that to the Secretary of the Dept of Administration, who has had people arrested for exercising their first amendment rights in the Capitol. He's not changing the rules day by day, even hour by hour, just because he's amused or bored. I'm sure the judge won't be amused on April 8th, either, when there are ummmmm... by my count at LEAST 15 tickets that have been issued so far in violation of the First Amendment.

That's how I chose to create the change I desire. :hi:

[htuttle]

13. Also, check the WI AFL-CIO website

They keep a regularly updated list of protests and events around the state:
http://www.wisaflcio.org/
http://www.wisaflcio.org/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=2c28b9a1-cd6a-4080-9fb5-e9fd81314a77

There are several coming up in the Green Bay area.

[roody]

14. A lone voice is just as important as many voices.

[RBInMaine]

8. It has some value, but the most effective use of time is to phonebank and canvass for campaigns.

[RBInMaine]

10. Can people phonebank, even from home? Electoral work is far more effective than protesting.

[roody]

15. Possibly. In the case of Obama, not.

[A wise Man]

16. Have you ever seen the birds....

They attacked then watched then attacked again then watched again. They have to make walker the fitz and all they rethugs affraid of their own shadows. THATS A MASTER PLAN. Night and day..MAKE THEM AFFRAID.

[Hardrada]

6. Excellent. Love the Union Cabs!

[jerseyjack]

11. Status of Recall Petitions?

Does anyone have an update? It was reported at 50% of required number of signatures.

[Ed Suspicious]

12. I heard yesterday...

Randy Hopper has enough signatures to trigger the election. I heard they are still trying to add some more as insurance. Not sure on the rest. He's the one who's closest to my district.