Several thousand MN Mud Ducks braved frigid temperatures and snow to attend Saturday's Rally in St. Paul in front of the state Capitol in Solidarity with their neighboring Chedder Heads. It was just above 0 degrees F but the cold helped bond the crowd that sang and shouted loudly of union, solidarity and common purpose. The message was that neither the Cold, the Koch Brothers, Scott Walker, the Republicans, the Teapublicans, the Corporatists, Wall Street, nor any other anti-Working Class devils would destroy their unity.
When it gets as cold as it was yesterday, it pays to have spent most of ones adult life working outside in all kinds of weather. Among other things you learn how to dress. So my partner-in-attendance at Saturday's Rally and I were more than prepared and quite comfortable. Most others seemed to have done the same but we met a few who complained about the cold. But they didn't leave until it was over.
The Rally presented the usual program of chants, songs, and speakers but it was envigorating none the less. Especially appreciated was a hat tip to the late Paul Wellstone who was quoted as affirming that
"We all do better when we all do better."
The crowd was energized by state union leaders and members, MN state Sen Scott Dibble from Minneapolis, and US Rep Keith Ellison. There were plenty of photographers and videographers whose work may surface in the days to come. Here are some visual records that have already been posted.
Slideshow of signs and people
Blogger interviews attendees
This Land Was Made for You and Me
UpTakeVideo by Bill Sorem
Slow Justice
A poster here recently suggested that
“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”
Although it seems like we are living in one of those latter periods, I was overjoyed to hear
Paul Metsa, the great Minnesota singer/song writer share one of my favorite songs of his called
Slow Justice. The lyrics speak loudly of Paul's committment to labor and human rights.
Slow Justice
by Paul Metsa
Not all poor men are honest, not all rich men are thieves
But the rich man owns the orchard and the poor man rakes the leaves
And as the world goes around all I want to ask is
If the rich man owns the land why must the poor man pay the taxes?
Chorus:
Why does Justice go so slow
Slow justice slowly go
Poor means stop and rich means go
Slow justice slowly goes
They say a woman's work is never done and do you wonder why
They make half as much for double time on the bye and bye
I ain’t no big shot doctor ain’t no big shot doctor's kid
But I can tell you that my mother never lived in Adams rib
Chorus:
Why does justice go so slow
Slow justice slowly go
Poor means stop and rich means go
Slow justice slowly go
They killed a black minister in Memphis town,
And black prince in Audubon Hall
They used different guns in Capetown but the same bullet shot them all
South Africa’s a ghetto someday its gonna break like glass
One world with different colors you know there ain’t no second class
Chorus:
Why does justice go so slow
Slow justice slowly go
Poor means stop and rich means go
Slow justice slowly go
They will bomb a row of houses
Try to take down the family farm
Shut down all the unions with the help of the National Guard
Someday those in Congress will have to swallow a bitter pill
They believe Clarance Thomas, I believe Anita Hill
Repeat Chorus
You'll never guess who you'll meet at these affairs
As the Rally wound down we had a chance to meet some new brothers and sisters. One fellow who stood out in the crowd turned out to be a DFL businessman/entrepreneur from Minneapolis who told us that he attended all these kinds of rallies because he supported labor and the middle class. He was smart, a good communicator and, as the MPR article he penned on environmentally friendly living demonstrates, he's also able to walk the walk. He obviously "gets it" and this encounter gave me more evidence that the small business man or woman has as much at stake in this battle as the rest of us working stiffs. They should be our natural allies.
And it isn't just about the business environment. Thom Hartmann tells of a conversation he had with a businessman from a heavily taxed European country. He asked him why he didn't revolt and join the anti-tax bandwagon. The gentleman replied that he wouldn't want to live in a society where all the life enhancing social programs and protections had been dismantled, or words to that effect.
A Heated Crowd
During the Rally my friend asked me if I thought that it had gotten warmer because of the heat generated by the crowd. I thought that was possible. I also noticed, as we lingered, talking to new friends after most people had left, that my nose was, for the first time, starting to complain about the cold. I'll take that as a sign that when good people come together their collective enthusiasm can work miracles.