An estimated 35,000 Democrats and union supporters gathered at the state Capitol Saturday to memorialize the first anniversary of the passing of a contentious bill limiting collective bargaining rights for public workers.
Those who spoke at the event used the occasion to rally support for the recall efforts, launched largely in reaction to the legislation passed one year ago, against Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four state senators.
“We have all worked too long and too hard to come up short,” said state Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, who won her seat from a Republican senator following a round of recall elections last summer. “We must continue to fight for what is at stake here in Wisconsin.”
While there were a few isolated pro-Walker demonstrators, no major Republican counter-protest took place. The rally was the last in a statewide “Reclaim Wisconsin Tour.”
Earlier Saturday morning Democratic candidates for the anticipated gubernatorial and state senatorial recall elections held a candidate forum in Madison.
Two leading candidates in the gubernatorial race, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, attended the forum.
