As I walked past the flight attendants on my return flight Monday, I overheard them talking about Governor Walker (R-WI). I chimed in and mentioned I was at the Capitol in Madison the day before; one of the flight attendants said “there must have been a lot of people.” I said “there were, probably 100,000.”
Last week I sat on my couch reading about what was happening in Madison, WI from my friends’ links on Facebook. It was hard for me to fathom this direct attack on working families in the name of a budget deficit. I take this assault personally. If it wasn’t for organized labor, my mother would not have been able to provide for my sister and me. I may be from California, but Wisconsin’s struggle is symbolic of what’s happening around the country.
As state and local budgets are struggling to balance their budget, we see an ongoing struggle for power. Who has it and how are they going to keep it? This is at the heart of the debate in Wisconsin. Although organized labor has agreed to concessions to help offset costs in the state budget, the Governor will not negotiate: he wants to essentially eliminate collective bargaining. This would be a major blow for organized labor and for worker rights – an inherent Democratic value.
Although I could have stayed in Oakland and supported the campaign from afar, I needed to go to Wisconsin. I called up my dear friends, used my frequent flier miles, and traveled to a city that I hadn’t visited since I was President of the United States Student Association. It brought back a lot of memories. In 2005, I traveled throughout the state numerous times for student organizing campaigns, and even though I felt like a fish out of water spending so much time in the Midwest, it also felt very comfortable.
It’s no joke when folks say there’s a friendly and charming feel to Madison. I had numerous conversations with complete strangers about the impacts this bill would have in their lives and for Wisconsin. As I walked along State Street (a street that connects the University of Wisconsin with the State Capitol), I saw solidarity signs everywhere. They’re along store front windows and countless people were walking with them. However, what took my breath away was walking in the Capitol building.
It was in the middle of the week and I had just missed a rally, so the crowd was going in the opposite direction. I was unsure if there were folks still in the rotunda, but as I walked in with no security check needed, I could hear chanting echoing throughout the halls. There were hundreds and thousands of letters, posters, and banners all along these walls. That was the first time I understood the term “the people’s house.” I passed by several sleeping bags and mats, and the following Friday night, security had to limit the number of people into the building because there were too many people sleeping in the Capitol preparing for the biggest action yet.
The national media outlets may not have covered the march and rally of Saturday, February 26th, but I sure felt it from head to toe. This was a true Wisconsin action. It was 16 degrees and snowing, but it didn’t keep people from marching around the State Capitol and participating in the rally that day. The rotunda was already at capacity and the line wrapped around the building.
Everywhere I looked there were displays of anger, humor, and sadness, in signs and costumes. From the plumbers union saying “Walker needs to be flushed” to a 4 year old girl asking the Governor to “Save my Future.” You can check out more signs here. This exemplified Wisconsin’s character. Despite the cold, thousands of people came out because this was about the livelihood of families in Wisconsin and its effect on families around the country.
At the rally, I listened to Bradley Whitford from the West Wing describe Wisconsin residents as stubborn because, “We fish through ice.” Another actor also stated today’s action is “a great union production – the lighting, make-up, and costumes look amazing.” A nurse with a heavy Wisconsin accent that “cannot be faked” expressed her deep concern for patient care if catheters are given by anyone other than a union nurse. A pilot who helped land a plane safely in the Hudson River proudly listed all of the union members aboard who saved all of the passengers. Every day, firefighters walked through the Capitol playing bagpipes to show their solidarity. Countless others have spoken up and will continue to put pressure on Wisconsin Republicans to do the right thing.
Last week, Governor Walker spoke on tape with a blogger who claimed to be John Koch. During an interview on Meet the Press, he clarified his statement about inciting a violent protest by “planting a troublemaker in the crowd,” because he will not allow anyone from outside the state to come and disrupt the debate. In reality, the actions throughout the last several weeks have proven to be very peaceful. Regardless of where we’re from, we can all make a difference.
People around the world are watching. From Ian’s Pizza receiving donations to feed demonstrators from 43 states and 10 countries including Egypt, to #WeAreWI being a frequent trending topic on Twitter, it is critical to keep the pressure on. Governor Walker has already threatened layoffs in order to balance the budget if none of the 14 Senate Democrats return to Wisconsin. As this continues to unfold, I urge you to take a moment to help. If you know ANYONE in WI, ask them to call their Senator. If you can donate, support one of the community organizations on the ground. Please keep educating your friends and family about what’s going on in Wisconsin.
I’m a firm believer that your time, talents, and treasure should reflect your values. If you believe in fairness, equality, and justice, then let’s keep this momentum going. After all, we are all Wisconsin.
Jennifer Pae is an At-Large Executive Committee Member of the East Bay Young Democrats.
