UPDATE: From Laughing Vergil who pointed out the comment from JVolvo: Overpass Light Brigade and Solidarity Singers election watch:
the Capitol > 8pm then heading to Majestic Theater for the waiting-for-results---> Victory Party!! 115 King St, just off the Square.
If you're in Madison and can make it, do it!
***original post below:
Since it's election day, I will keep it short and sweet...
...but really, THREE CHEERS FOR THE OVERPASS LIGHT BRIGADE!!!
I woke up this morning thinking about all of the various things that each of us do to spread the word about, to gain support for, or to try to get a vote for a candidate or issue (whatever the issue or whoever the candidate may be).
From simply talking to friends, to putting up a yard sign, to maybe attending an event or calling a voter or even knocking on a door--all of these things are great. But the OLB took things to such a different level and I just wanted to offer my thanks.
Thanks for the creativity, thanks for the inspiration. Thanks for bundling up and contending with the frigid temperatures. Thanks for dealing with vandalism of your personal property (cameras and cars come to mind). Thanks for putting up with those who would shout at you in anger, or flip you the bird. Thanks for traveling at your own expense across the great state of Wisconsin to present a simple message. Thanks for setting a shining example (pun intended) of what "grassroots" really is. I'm sure there are many more things that we could thank all involved for (and maybe some may appear in the comments) but for me, last and certainly not least, thanks for sharing the stories with all of us.
I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with noise of rain and badscience while studying in Ireland, and I thought, wow, how cool that I could meet a couple of people from halfway across the country with such dedication--not just for their own state, but for all of us--because today's results will have profound effects on our democracy, one way or another. And then this morning I thought--with elections as close as they are...the incredible value of that one voter talked to, that one door knocked, that one phone call made. And then I thought about the literally what, TENS OF THOUSANDS (more?) that must have seen the bright lights on an overpass, on some chilly night while driving home somewhere in Wisconsin. One thing is for sure--if this race is close, which it will be--if Barrett wins, the OLB definitely had something to do with it. If the race is lost, the OLB kept it closer than it would have been. And if the citizens of Wisconsin reject the politics of divide and conquer and of incredible wealth saturating their state urging them to vote for Walker and the 1%--then it means we all have a fighting chance to reject the same in our own states and our own country.
I'm sure everyone who participated in the OLB are humble; just regular folks who happen to care about the world around them just a bit. But one more thing is definitely certain--their efforts spoke loudly and clearly for all of us, all across the country, who believe in something just a little bit better. What's more, they created a community of people across the state who in real life were willing (and are willing) to stand up for what they believe in. And that is F'N AWESOME. I love it. Love it love it love it.
And for that, I say, THREE CHEERS FOR THE OVERPASS LIGHT BRIGADE!
Hip hip, HOORAY!
Hip hip, HOORAY!
Hip hip, HOORAY!!!!
Thank you all, really. And a huge thanks to anyone who lifted a finger in the efforts. Regardless of outcome, you all are the best. Thanks for being such an inspiration.
NOW LET'S GO WIN THIS THING!!!!!
PS - I looked for a good photo for the bottom of this diary by image googling "Overpass Light Brigade" and so many pictures come up--so many slogans, so many places, so many people, so many faces. I highly recommend doing the same and taking a peek. Cheers!