So...How was the Welcome Back 14 party from your venue?

[HereSince1628]

I was on the sidewalk about 200 ft so. of State. Could see very little, crowd was definitely a full wheel of cheese, but I heard it all FINE!

I'm currently waiting for Ibuprofin to erase awareness arthritic hips after 7 hours of circling the Capitol. It felt like a really big day. I'd guess at least 75K between 2pm and 3pm.

[htuttle]

1. Shuffling for 5 hours was exhausting!

I've been marching on that Square for 20 years, and I would guess closer to 150K. The entire inner loop and State St were full from end to end before the WI 14 showed up and everyone crowded in to hear them. It was packed like an Asian subway train.

Full wheel of cheese, indeed!

:rofl:

[HereSince1628]

2. Yes, my back isn't good for the museum walk or the protest shuffle

But, I'm glad I was there...when the grandchildren ask how they lost and then regained their rights as workers, I'll say look at me! Yes, Tan coat Maroon hat, just to the left of THAT tree!

[sybylla]

3. We were at the Wisconsin Avenue intersection.

No view of the speakers, but we could hear them well. Street was packed, lawn was crowded and hardly anyone could move. John Nichols estimated 150,000 at noon. I'm betting by the time the Fab 14 spoke, it was more like 200,000.

[annm4peace]

4. It was beautiful sign of Solidarity and Democracy !

so many different kinds of people there. I saw a lot of older people who I could believe were out there in the cold in wheelchairs and with canes. It must have been something for them to see a repeat of the protests of the 30's, of the 60's and now 2011.
So many incredible signs.

[luckyleftyme2]

5. WE WERE THERE

WE WERE THERE IN SPIRIT!
GOD BLESS YOU! LET'S TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!

[undeterred]

6. It was awesome.

I was marshalling on state and caroll- the busy corner at 3pm. Somebody had a medical emergency further east and the paramedics had to get a stretcher through to get in and get him out at the busiest possible time and place, but somehow we got them through the crowd. People were cooperative and very happy.

Earlier in the day I was up by the sound/stage area during the farmers rally and saw John Nichols introduce Susan Sarandon, among other things. She gave a nice speech and was very emotional. Crowd was thrilled when Jim Hightower came on too.

Couldn't see Mark Miller but I could hear him and had tears of joy. Love our Democratic 14. :loveya:

[Sabriel]

7. It was amazing

I've been there four times, and this crowd was HUGE. But we were able to squeeze in at State to see the F14 and Jesse Jackson. Amazing.

I'm proud to be from this state and to live among these amazing Wisconsinites (except the Walker voters, of course...).

Does anyone know if they ever found that boy who was missing? They announced it on the PA around 2:00.

[PeaceNikki]

8. I never got a good enough position in the crowd to see the stage.

However, while we were trying to find a spot, the fab 14 were being escorted right next to us. I looked to my left and Lena Taylor was right there. I screamed like a schoolgirl and she said to me, "Shhhh, I'm hiding." :D

[nebenaube]

9. It was a hero's welcome.

I marched with the WI 14... Best day of my life despite the reason we were there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKqYEUk9s5U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIn69WkyTZY

[nebenaube]

10. more

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