Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

VIDEOS: Reclaim Wisconsin Rally, March 10, 2012

Over 65,000 Wisconsinites marched on the Capitol on Saturday, March 10, 2012 to mark the one year anniversary of the passage of Gov. Walker's union-busting bill.  Check out the great videos of protesters who took to the streets in support of worker rights. 

 

Hum along with retired music teacher Frank Koczan and friends in this two minute video.

 

Take a peek behind the scenes with this video of pre-rally prep.

 

One Year Longer, One Song Stronger. Listen to song #308 from Wisconsin's own Solidarity Singers.

Footage from Friday, March 9 candelight vigil in Madison.

 

For more videos visit our Youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/wisaflcio and "like" the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO on Face Book at https://www.facebook.com/wisaflcio

One year longer, one year stronger

 

Shedding a light in the darkness

UPDATE:  Check out photos from across the state

This Friday, March 9th, we will shed a light on the one year anniversary of one the darkest times in Wisconsin state history. Join us as we hold candlelight vigils across the state and remember when Gov. Scott Walker illegally rammed his union busting bill through the legislature in the dead of night.

Acting under the cover of darkness, Gov. Walker wanted to silence the voices of working people and give his corporate cronies unchecked influence over policies that affect the lives of Wisconsinites. Unfortunately for him, his attacks only strengthened the bonds between the people of Wisconsin and kicked off a grassroots movement that continues to this day.

From La Crosse to Milwaukee to Wausau and beyond, communities in every part of the state will come together to host these vigils. Use this map to find the event closest to you.

We want to feature the faces and stories of the communities who have banded together in this movement to Reclaim Wisconsin. Use the hash tag #ReclaimWI for tweets and send your pictures and videos from your local candlelight vigil to: reclaimwi@gmail.com.  Follow this link to see pictures from across the state, and keep yours coming.

Whether you’re in Racine or River Falls or anywhere in between, Wisconsin is standing together. We’re looking forward to seeing, and sharing, all the great photos and video clips you send in.

(And we’re also looking forward to plenty more when we all meet in Madison to Reclaim Wisconsin this Saturday.)

Here's a quick list again of all the vigils:

• La Crosse: Green Island Park, 2312 7th Street S, 6pm
• Eau Claire: Phoenix Park, 6pm (Facebook event)
• Racine: Monument Square, 500 S Main Street, 6pm (Facebook info)
• Milwaukee: Milwauke County Courthouse, 901 North 9th Street (Wells Street Side), 6pm (Facebook event)
• Madison: State Capitol, 6pm
• Wausau: 400 Block Square, Downtown Wausau, 6pm
• Wautoma: World War II Memorial Building, 440 West Main Street, 7pm
• Mequon: Mequon City Hall, 11333 N Cedarburg Road, 6pm
• River Falls: Veteran's Park, 1 N Main Street, 6pm
• Appleton: Houdini Park, 100 W Laurence Street, 6pm (Facebook event)
• Oshkosh: Opera Square, 6:30pm (Facebook event)

 

Reclaim Wisconsin March

Join us in Madison on Saturday, March 10 for the Reclaim Wisconsin March. 

 

On Saturday March 10, Wisconsinites will return to the Capitol to mark the one year anniversary of the passage of Gov. Walker's union-busting bill.

The people of Wisconsin will never forget that on March 9, 2011, despite massive citizen protest, Gov. Walker and his legislative allies rammed through the rights-stripping bill in an illegal meeting in the dead of the night. 

Pre-rally festivities will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, with rally speakers taking the stage at 2:00 p.m. 

The people of Wisconsin are standing up to reclaim their democracy and reclaim the true Wisconsin.  By recalling Scott Walker we can return to a Wisconsin that is fair, a Wisconsin that honors justice and a Wisconsin that treats its workers with dignity and respect.

Click here to share the Face Book event for the Reclaim Wisconsin March.   If you haven’t already, take the Pledge to Reclaim Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites Speak out against Walker’s Agenda on Reclaim Wisconsin Tour

The Reclaim Wisconsin Tour has been criss-crossing the state giving citizens a chance to speak out on the local impact of Gov. Walker’s disastrous agenda.  Teachers, students, job less workers, community members in La Crosse, Wausau and Eau Claire are coming together to discuss local impact of Gov. Walker’s policies

In Eau Claire, a Mother whose daughter relies on FamilyCare and a lifelong Republican who voted for Gov. Walker took to the Reclaim Wisconsin Podium.  

 

“Eliminating collective bargaining rights is wrong, and it's not the way we do business here in Wisconsin,” said Jeff Huenink, who voted for Gov. Walker in 2010.   “The more I learn about Scott Walker, the sorrier I am that I voted for him. If I had known about his extreme agenda and the direction in which he was going to take Wisconsin, I never would have voted for him in the first place.”

 

Sue Carey’s 18 year-old daughter Katie has Down Syndrome and relies on FamilyCare. 

 

“There is no way to overstate the impact on a family when a child with a disability is not able to receive long-term family care. For many of the families I know who have been wait listed because of Scott Walker’s caps on FamilyCare, it will mean at least one of the parents will have to quit their job to stay home and care for their adult child--taking an economic, emotional, and humanitarian toll on every single person in that family,” explained Carey. “That's why I'm supporting the effort to recall Walker because the people who are getting hit hardest by his wrongheaded policies are the people who need help the most.” 

 

In Wausau, Reclaim Wisconsin Tour participants heard from an employee of Wausau Paper who was laid off after 27 years of service with the company, a local public school teacher who explained that Gov. Walker’s education cuts are compromising quality public education in Wisconsin, and a personal story of how BadgerCare cuts are making Wisconsinites sick. 

 

“Scott Walker has given my family a one-two punch: not only did I lose my job, but my wife, a public employee, lost a big chunk of her income due to his wrong-headed policies,” explained Chuck Stine, a recently permanently laid off employee of Wausau Paper. 

 

In La Crosse, community members heard from students, unemployed workers, teachers and fire fighters about how Walker’s policies are hurting the community and the state at large. 

 

David Ruscher, a job less worker from La Crosse, spoke about the struggle of living in the only state that has lost jobs for six months.

 

“Gov. Walker ran on a promise to create 250,000 new jobs for Wisconsin,” explained Ruscher.  “I have to ask Gov. Walker one simple question, where are the jobs?” 

The Reclaim Wisconsin Tour will be making stops in Green Bay, Racine, Milwaukee and Madison and will culminate in a Reclaim Wisconsin March at the Capitol on Saturday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m. 

Reclaim Wisconsin: Take the Pledge!

The Reclaim Wisconsin Tour has been criss-crossing the state in order to give citizens a chance to speak out on the local impact of Gov. Walker’s disastrous agenda.  At each and every stop rally-goers are signing the Pledge to Reclaim Wisconsin. 

Click here to sign the Pledge to Reclaim Wisconsin.   Wisconsinites are pledging to vote to recall Scott Walker and support a candidate who believes in democracy, shared prosperity and investing in the people.  Sign the pledge today and forward this e-mail to three friends! 

At the Reclaim Wisconsin Stop in La Crosse, we heard from Mary Serwe, a 21 year old student, who told the crowd that her friends are leaving Wisconsin because of the lack of quality jobs.

“Cutting over $1 billion dollars for education is not the way forward.  We need a Governor who supports education.  The next generation depends on it.”

Bill Brockmiller, an AFSCME member and President-elect of the Western Wisconsin Labor Council explained how Gov. Walker tricked the electorate last November and came into office under a veil of dishonesty and deceit.

“Gov. Walker didn’t run for Governor on cuts to youth programs, cuts to BadgerCare or attacking unions.  I believe if he had campaigned on the actions he was going to take that he would not have been elected Governor.  We have defective merchandise in Wisconsin and we need to return it by recalling.”

Jeff Murphy, President of Fire Fighter's Local 127, explained that Gov. Walker’s union-busting bill is impacted police and fire fighters in Wisconsin.

“What we are seeing is less fire fighters in the city of La Crosse than we had a year ago.  Young fire fighters and police are going to other states.”

Scott Walker’s divisive and reckless agenda has torn Wisconsin apart.  These stories highlight the need to recall Scott Walker and reclaim our Wisconsin.  Click here to sign the pledge today. 

For a Reclaim Wisconsin Tour Flyer with a complete list of times and dates click here.  Tonight, the Reclaim Wisconsin Tour will be stopping in Wausau and tomorrow in Eau Claire.  The tour culminates with a Reclaim Wisconsin March in Madison on Saturday, March 10 at 1:00 p.m.  Click here to share the Face Book invite for the Reclaim Wisconsin March.

Please mark your calendars and spread the word about the Reclaim Wisconsin Tour and the Reclaim Wisconsin March!

Reclaim Wisconsin Tour & March

 

Reclaim Wisconsin Tour Dates & Locations

• Wed. Feb. 15:     La Crosse - Copeland Park - 1130 Copeland Park Drive, 5:30pm
• Wed. Feb. 22:     Wausau, Wausau Labor Temple - 318 S. 3rd Ave 5:30pm
• Thurs. Feb. 23:   Eau Claire Phoenix Park Pavilion, Riverfront Terrace, 5:30pm
• Mon. Feb. 27:     Kaukauna UA Local 400 - 2700 Northridge Drive, 5:30pm
• Mon. March 5:    Racine Monument Square - Main & 5th Street,5:30pm
• Wed. March 7:    Milwaukee Serb Hall - 5101 West Oklahoma Avenue, 7:00pm
• Fri. March 9:       Madison Capitol - Candlelight Vigil 6:00pm
• Sat. March 10:    Madison Capitol "Reclaim Wisconsin March at the Capitol" – Rally 1:00pm

The "Reclaim Wisconsin Tour" Coming to a Town Near You!

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and community partners are fueling up The Recall Express and hitting the road to talk with Wisconsinites across the state about the local effect of Gov. Walker’s disastrous agenda.

The “Reclaim Wisconsin Tour” will discuss the impact of Gov. Walker’s policies on working people including the loss of family-sustaining jobs, the loss of employment protections and benefits, the continual transfer of wealth to Wisconsin’s 1% and the hammering of quality public services and education.  The Tour will be making stops in Milwaukee, La Crosse, Wausau, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Racine and Madison (see schedule below for dates). 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:  The “Reclaim Wisconsin” Tour will culminate with statewide candlelight vigils on March 9 and a “Reclaim Wisconsin March” in Madison on Saturday, March 10.  These events will mark the one year anniversary of when Gov. Walker and Senate Republicans rammed through the collective bargaining bill illegally in the dead of night. 

Reclaim Wisconsin Tour Schedule (Updated)
•    Wednesday, February 15 @ 5:30 p.m.:  La Crosse, Copeland Park, 1130 Copeland Park Drive
•    Wednesday, February 22 @ 5:30 p.m.:  Wausau, Wausau Labor Temple, 318 S. 3rd Street
•    Thursday, February 23 @ 5:30 p.m.:  Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls, Phoenix Park
•    Monday, February 27 @ 5:30 p.m.:  Green Bay, UA Local 400, 2700 Northridge Drive, Kaukauna
•    Monday, March 5 @ 5:30 p.m.:  Racine, Monument Square, Main & 5th
•    Wednesday, March 7 @ 7:00 p.m.:  Milwaukee, Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave
•    Friday, March 9 @ 6:00 p.m.:  Madison, Capitol
•    Saturday, March 10:  Reclaim Wisconsin March at the Capitol