Anyone who tells you the crowds have died out and the protests have ended in Madison is wrong. Don't listen, don't believe it. Check with friends and family of friends who live in Wisconsin, who have visited Wisconsin. Heck, check with the contingent of Minnesota and Illinois teachers who were there today. Check with the Iraqi vets who came from California to speak at today's rally. Or how about the vets from New Hampshire that led the crowd in songs? Check with them.
Thousands of people were in Madison again today. At 10 am we gathered at Library Mall to hear speeches and sing. Then we marched up State St. to the Capitol. We were in the midst of the crowd but I heard many people say the march extended the entire length of State St. As we neared the Capitol we could see hundreds of people lined up on either side of the street and when the march emptied out into the first go around people began chanting "thank you! thank you! thank you!" to all the veterans who were marching. As near as I could tell there were vets from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam. I saw several WWII vets sitting on benches as well.
The march had begun very quietly, a few chants here and there but mostly people chatting about Judge Sumi's ruling this past week to halt the collective bargaining ban. Her name appeared on many signs which thanked her for her move. I thought perhaps this march would be slower paced, calmer, fewer people but nice, Saturday-morning-coffee-and-paper-in-hand kind of march. I was wrong. By the time the march reached the 200 block of State St., close to the Cap, the crowd standing on the sidewalk had increased and shouting and chanting had picked up. The Cap was ringed with people both thanking veterans and joining the parade.
On the King St. steps the march stopped and veterans began to speak. One Iraqi National Guard vet said - "Gov. Walker, you don't need to call out the National Guard! We're already here!" The crowd went completely wild! Mahlom Mitchell, who is somewhat of a Wisconsin hero and is the head of Dane County/Madison Firefighters, spoke. Mahlom is a wonderful public speaker and his passion for this fight is becoming legendary. He asked the crowd to join him in his favorite street chant: "Tell Me What Democracy Looks Like? This Is What Democracy Looks Like!"
Andy and I walked around the square ending up at Starbucks. Each of us had to visit the line and while I was waiting for Andy, I stood in the streets listening to the sounds. I had his flag whipping in the brilliant sun and warming breezes and of a sudden my heart burst wide open. I started to cry just as a group of veterans came by, saluted me and said "thank you!"
It is never about the numbers, it's not about the "budget repair bill" or the unions only. It is about The People, something I have written since the beginning and believe more now than ever. Four weeks have come and gone and still The People gather around this beautiful building and call for honesty, integrity, and justice. Still they exhibit peace, friendship and solidarity. Still they sing, still they march and still they hope in the midst of this republican blitzkrieg.
Best sign for me today: Scott Walker is the reason we need to protect Planned Parenthood! Best sign for Andy today: Walk in our shoes, don't walk on our rights!
My favorite pouch was there today in his tiny striped t-shirt wearing the Union Thug sign.
Today was soft, strong, warm and promising. Yes, much is going to happen, is already happening. None of it good and much of it very bad. At dinner last night a friend said her health care costs will increase by $500/month. She teaches nutrition in the schools. She is a single woman. She can't afford that increase. And there's more coming. The paper tonight announces the first cuts in Badger Care. My question remains - what will people do? Or as the man waiting with me at the bus the other day said: "Why is it when the crap comes down it always comes down on the working person?" When he asked me why the governor of Wisconsin is doing this, I hesitated a second trying to find some intelligent response but all I could say was - "He's a republican."
It was a good day. When your heart bursts open in the sunshine and you cry for the sheer joy of seeing your fellow human beings, it is a good, good day. Whatever comes I have seen and felt something for which I will forever remain grateful.
Power To All The People!
No comments:
Post a Comment