Citizens representing the shared interests of public sector workers -- teachers, firefighters, and others -- are speaking out in Wisconsin in defiance of the draconian cutbacks called for by the the state's new Republican-dominated governor and legislature.
This video practically made me cry:
We need to make this go viral.
Also, students are jumping into the fray to hold a "citizens filibuster". This email from a contact I have in the student movement:
From: Jack Mahoney
Date: Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 12:29 AM
Subject: [USAS Announce] Right now: Wisconsin students & workers sleep-in at
Capitol to stop Gov. Walker's anti-democratic attacks on public employees'
rights!
To: announce@lists.usas.org
Hello everyone - I just heard from USAS activists inside the Capitol in
Madison, Wisconsin, where hundreds of students, workers and community
members have held a "citizens' filibuster" since the 10:00am start of what
Republican lawmakers hoped would be a quiet last-minute hearing of the Joint
Finance Committee on Gov. Walker's draconian attacks on public employees'
rights. At least 100 people were still signed up to speak, and the
activists -- armed with sleeping bags and homework -- are prepared to
"sleep-in" and stay until their voices are heard.
Gov. Walker threatened calling in the National Guard to silence those who
oppose his attempt to use tight budgets as an excuse to strip away state
workers' right to collectively bargain. Newly elected Tea Party-inspired
Republicans are watching Wisconsin carefully, and if Walker is allowed to
succeed, other states will follow. Let's stop this where it stands!
I would ask you to call in or email, but the Capitol switchboard is shut
down and legislators' email inboxes full already! Instead, spread the word
with these articles below, and stay tuned for more on what you can do!
Follow the action on Twitter: *http://twitter.com/...
*"More Than 10,000 Protest Move by Wisconsin's 'Dictator' Governor to
Destroy Public-Sector Unions" (The Nation, 2/15): *
http://www.thenation.com/...
*"Wisconsin Students Protest Governor's Attack on Unions" (The Nation,
2/15):
http://www.thenation.com/...
"Wisconsin's Attack on Public Employees Could Lead to a Nationwide
Campaign" (The Nation, 2/15): *
http://www.thenation.com/...
*"Wisconsin May Take an Ax to State Workers’ Benefits and Their Unions" (New
York Times, 2/12): *
http://www.nytimes.com/...
*Democracy Now! (radio/video, 2/15): *
http://www.democracynow.org/...
--
Jack Mahoney | National Organizer | USAS: Organizing for Student and Worker
Power
http://usas.org | jack@usas.org | cell: (202) 341-1121 | fax: (202)
822-8823
1150 17th St NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036
** Student organizers, become a USAS Member and make our movement stronger:
http://usas.org/...
* Not a student? Sustain our movement by setting up a recurring monthly
donation: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=1280