Live in Madison, just came home from the square

[undeterred]

Sorry, I don't have any photos, just my personal experience. I got downtown about 10:30am and came into the square with some Milwaukee Public school teachers. The first group organizing that I saw were "Americans for Prosperity" - probably about 100 people. Somebody was speaking and a few were carrying signs, i.e., they were having their own rally.

In front of them were some men I recognized from our local area chapter of Veterans for Peace. On our side, of course.

I talked to a few teaching assistants who were handing out flyers on what to do if things became violent with an individual, i.e., how to de-escalate situations. There were sheriffs standing around the square, and lots of police. I got to the other side of the square by 10:30am. There were speakers right out side the Capitol, but honest to God, I could only barely see some of them and I could not hear what they were saying! So I applauded when everyone else did. After more than an hour of speeches (union organizers, I'm sure) the Madison Fire Department band came down first and then the rest of the fire department, with everyone yelling thank you to them. Took a long time for everyone to come down, and lots of the firefighters had their children with them.

There were lots of Madison police just standing around the perimeter, just taking it all in. Sorta bored looking. Like this is just standard fare for Madison, because it is.

I met people from all kinds of unions from all over the state of Wisconsin. I met teachers from Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. One man told me he was a snow plow driver and his wife is a teacher, and if Walkers cuts go through they will lose $800 a month. Tonight we are getting 10 inches of snow.
I asked him if he would consider not clearing the snow, and he said no, of course not, its a safety issue.

And I saw tons of people from Madison. Funny thing, some people who I never knew what their politics was until I saw them there today, standing up for union workers.

After this people were marching around the square chanting and holding signs.


"Might as well face it, you're addicted to Koch"

A picture of Sarah Palin and Walker saying "I'm with Stupid"

"Of Course it Hurts, You're being %*#!ed by an Elephant!"

On the way back to my car I walked with some Republican women from Milwaukee... and we had a nice conversation about politics and some other things. I did hear some not so nice conversations on the square but I didn't see any violence at all. I'd guess that the left outnumbered the right at least 10:1 maybe more. I heard Sarah Palin was coming downtown, but I thought going to the dog park was more important.

[barbtries]

1. thank you for going.

i hear there's going to be a solidarity demonstration on monday in raleigh and plan to be there.

[robdogbucky]

2. Bless you and keep up such reports, they are much appreciated

I grew up in Madison, on Doty St., 2 blocks from this square.

My Mother, 95, still lives there, though our home was raised decades ago.

The facility she is in is on that same block, on the Main St. side.

Hope the 10 inches later today/tonight does not dampen things going on, but it is hard to see how it couldn't.

This is a 3-day weekend, so by Monday maybe the plows and sanders will have cleared the streets such that the locals can get out t here again. Go home, get warm, get some sleep, connect with others for the next move, return on Monday.


Go Badgers!

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

3. Love the signs !! K&R n/t

[tinkerbell41]

4. I know this is off topic

But Madison has the best "Taste" I have ever attended. I live in Chicago. Madison is such a pleasant town to be in. I attended yesterday, and to me it was much like the "Taste" except no food, and lots of bullhorns.