Around 500 people gathered in front of the Capitol Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the collective bargaining protests that consumed Madison last year.
Speakers at the event spoke about the future of the progressive movement in Wisconsin and the recall effort underway against Gov. Scott Walker and four state Senators.
Local Green Party activist and Executive Director of the Liberty Tree Foundation Ben Manski, who moderated the event, said he was pleased with the turnout and “good energy” considering the cold weather.
Among the speakers Saturday were Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, President of the Professional Firefights of Wisconsin Mahlon Mitchell, Washington Correspondent for “The Nation” John Nichols and Charity Schmidt of the UW-Madison Teaching Assistants’ Association.
“It was one year ago that, as the governor described it, he ‘dropped the bomb.’ And what a bomb it has been,” Barca said. “It has polarized and divided Wisconsin like never before.”
UW student and candidate for Dane County Board District 5 Leland Pan also spoke at the event. He said students were central to the protests last year and continue to be important in the recall efforts.
“I have to thank all of you for teaching me what democracy looks like,” Pan said. “As a student, I have a vested interest in making sure my teachers have a right to collectively bargain, have a right to a union, have a right to a good wage.”
Governor Walker was in Washington, D.C. at the Conservative Political Action Conference over the weekend speaking to activists from around the country. He said that surviving the recall effort against him would send a message to the whole country that people will stand by politicians who make tough decisions.
