Monday, February 28, 2011

Madison, the new Cairo






Walking into the center rotunda in the Capitol building in downtown Madison, it was overwhelming the absolute energy that was palpable in the air. Filled with passionate chanting, "tell me what democracy looks like! THIS is what democracy looks like!" there were thousands and thousands of people from all walks of life packed into this small space to demonstrate against SB11.

Spending all day with these people in freezing temperatures as the snow came down, I was moved by their passion for their cause. Protestors have spent two weeks sleeping in the Capitol, refusing to relent to Gov. Scott Walker and those who have labeled them everything from "union thugs" and "socialitsts." They are neither. They are teachers, police officers, and fire fighters. They are just people, standing up for what they believe in. Almost 70 to 100 thousand people poured into the sleepy little town of Madison to protest the bill that will remove the right to collective bargaining, among many dramatic budget cuts.

Although Patrick and I had initial hesitations about the 12-hour drive in blizzard conditions, I have never been so proud to be apart of something.

Bearing witness to this movement was truly historical.

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