Posting for noiseofrain, founder of OLB and creater of the letters. Pictures below courtesy of badscience! Can you tell how much I love the DK Photo Coop?
For the first time in nearly 2 months I was able to rejoin my fellow Holders of the Lights in another night time action. Health good (thanks rubyr for the care package), new puter finally running properly, I was not only ready, but in serious need of action!
Many people were concerned (and the RW was hopeful) that we would just go away after the June 5 recall election, but that's not what happened. The electronically lit voice of the Wisconsin Uprising and Awakening needs to be seen and heard now more than ever. In the absence of real media, reporting real facts, the voice of the people is necessary.
On Wednesday night we each travelled from Milwaukee and elsewhere to Racine, Wisconsin, to meet up with and thank the activists who worked so hard to elect Democrat John Lehman in the recall election. His election gave the needed majority in our State Senate to the Democrats to ensure that there would be access to secret documents and materials which are available only to the majority in the Senate. It also prevents Gov. Scott Walker (R-Koch Brothers) from calling a special legislative session to ram through more of his evil agenda.
Sadly, because of delays caused by the recalled Republican, Van Wanggaard, victory was slow in coming. It was obvious to anyone with a brain that Lehman won, but Van Wanggaard refused to believe he was defeated, complained about massive "voter fraud", and demanded a recount. After Lehmans victory was reaffirmed by the recount, Van Wanggaard continued to make wild claims about "voter fraud" and only relinquished the seat on the last day possible to file a court challenge.
It was, therefore, only last week that John Lehman was sworn in and the State Senate met to assign new committee chairs and committee assignments.
The message of OLB was tailored as a thanks to the Racine area activists:
Many area activists came and appreciated the message and OLB visit. The last time we were in the area it was a very cold night and the overpass, with it's open grate below our feet, offered no protection whatsoever. Wednesday night we were in T shirts, shorts, and summer wear with temperatures in the mid 80s. What a difference!
Noiseofrain began the action by thanking the Racine activists for their hard work and success in getting John Lehman elected to the State Senate:
And then the OLB message letters were handed out and it was off to the overpass.
Another view of the nights message
One of the Racine activists called John Lehman to let him know about the OLB action and it's message with the following result:
Newly sworn in State Senator John Lehman posing with the message that was a surprise to him.
He was surprised about the message and came straight from his home to see it.
Not only did he come to see the message, but came up on the overpass to go person to person to thank everyone. This was not the first time we did an OLB action specific to a person, but the first time that person showed up at the action. Classy!
Sen. John Lehman on the overpass talking to the holders.
And we ended the event on the ground:
It's incredibly gratifying to participate in OLB, to enjoy the comeraderie of fellow activists, and to hear the public support with their car horns and waves (and the "tourists", as I call them, who occassionally stop by to just say Hi). Our being there reminds them that they are not alone.
It also reminds us that we aren't alone. It reminds us that we're part of a movement that includes many tens of thousands of us that pounded the pavements in protests and recalls and GOTV. It reminds us that the actions of a group exponentially expand the efforts of every indivdual in that group.
There remains a long road ahead of us in Wisconsin and in this nation. Together we can overcome and move our state and our country in a better, fairer, and wiser direction for the benefit of us all.
Solidarity.
.