My wife, a Madison, Wisconsin school teacher, attended a union meeting today to ratify new contracts just hammered out with the Madison Metropolitan School District. Many, but not all, school districts in Wisconsin have signed or will soon sign new contracts with their teachers before Walker’s union-busting law takes effect. The law was signed by Walker on Friday, March 11, but under Wisconsin law it does not take effect until one day after it is published by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Publishing it is the responsibility of Wisconsin’s Secretary of State, Democrat Doug La Follette. La Follette has said he will follow standard procedure and publish it on March 25th, 10 business days after it was signed, which is the last day he can publish and be within the law.
After I dropped my wife off to do some ratifying, I headed to the Capitol Square to see what was going on.
I had forgotten that Madison was holding its St. Patrick’s Day parade on the square today, as they do every year on the closest Sunday to the actual holiday. I was struck by how similar the crowd was to the crowds we’ve seen on the square for protests and pro-union rallys. There was a higher proportion of children today, but if it weren’t for all the green, one could easily assume the parade was just another day of family protesting fun.
After the parade, I went into the Capitol. This was my first return since being dragged out of the assembly antechamber last Thursday. I spoke to someone who was on duty inside the Capitol and she teared up when we discussed the heavy police presence and limited access. I asked if I could take her picture for my blog post. She agreed, saying that she was supposed to remain neutral but that “there are no more rules” anyway.
I took her photo, but I will not publish it here. I don’t want to jeopardize her job or get her in any trouble with King Walker. I will post some other photos instead, many of which emphasize her observation that the old rules no longer apply in FitzWalkerstan, and that the king seems to just make up new rules on the fly, as kings often do…
Lots of children at the parade, just like the protests.
Firefighters at the parade, just like the protests.
Mayor Dave was at the parade, just like he was at the protests.
Former mayor, and current mayoral candidate Paul Soglin was at the parade, just like he was at the protests.
One of many dual-purpose Protest/St Patrick's Day signs.
Unlike the protests, the King made an appearance at the St Patty's parade.
Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney was at the parade, but he refused to let King Walker use his deputies as palace guards.
After the parade, there was a log-jam at the one open entrance to the capitol. Contempt of court.
The assembly chamber where the illegal 17-second vote took place a few weeks ago.
Behind this door is the hall occupied by peaceful protestors, including me, who were illegally removed by force by Wisconsin state troopers (aka palace guards.)
I was dragged down this hall and deposited in the designated free speech zone.
The man who operated this stand was arrested this afternoon because he had no license. Thank goodness 3 troopers and capitol police were there to protect the public from the dangerous protest signs, buttons, and bumperstickers. Somebody could have been hurt. It was coincidence that the items were all anti-Walker items.
Best sign yet, IMHO