I've spent the last few days almost entirely immersed in the ever-growing protest on behalf of worker's rights and against Gov. Walker's attempt to take them away. Tuesday I found myself in the middle of a 10,000-plus crowd of students and workers, union and non-union alike, as they stormed the Capitol building and filled its halls with the almost overwhelming echoes of their chants and cheers.
It's been intense, but incredibly inspiring.
I don't know what the outcome will be – whether Walker and his cronies will simply ignore the deafening will of the people of their state and push the budget repair bill through as is, or if reason and compassion will actually win the day and force them to at least delay and reconsider.
What I do know is that there are tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people in Wisconsin who are out there walking the line, showing support for their friends and families, and doing so peacefully but passionately.
I walked with over 700 students from East High School as they marched up East Washington Ave. and to the Capitol building to join the protesters there. While I'm sure there were some in the crowd who simply found themselves swept up in the moment and the opportunity to miss class, the vast majority knew what the issue was and knew what was at stake. I spoke with several who expressed a desire to fight for the rights of their teachers and family members who worked for the state. There will always be those cynics who dismiss the activism of youth as naïve and pointless, but this is our future, folks. As far as I could see yesterday (and again today, as yet more students joined the throngs), the future's looking pretty damn good.
http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=32281
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
