Pictures Of Massive Saturday Union Rally At Wisconsin State Capitol
Today was billed when both state workers, public employees, and their supporters would face off in separate rallies with the Tea Party and conservatives on the Capitol Square. Under ideal weather conditions 60,000 packed the Madison isthmus while waving signs and chanting slogans. There was no real acrimony that I witnessed, which was good. In fact, I over-heard real discussions between clearly varying points of view. That is to applauded. That is the tone of Wisconsin that should not be divided, as Governor Walker is so desperately trying to do with his bill now before the State Legislature.
There was a HUGE number of union supporters, and a much smaller number of Tea Party sympathizers. (I bet it was 10-1.) It was hard to see the signs of the Tea Party as they seemed to be huddled near King Street while the unions supporters had taken to the streets. But of the signs that I was able to see it was not even close when it came to creativity. (I suspect it has something to do with school teachers helping make more memorable wording…..)
James and I milled around and talked with people we knew, and many we did not. It is amazing in a sea of 60,000 how many faces were ones we recognized and chatted with. As I stated before this week on CP, when it comes to union people we are not related as kin, but we are connected through convictions. And that was very evident today.
Here then are some photos of the sights from today. I will have a separate post of the political signs that made me smile up on this blog later this afternoon.
