Capitol protests swell to 60,000

[cal04]

Updated 3 p.m.: Capitol protests swell to 60,000
http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_a04c8bcc-3c6a-11e0-b251-001cc4c002e0.html

Madison police estimate 60,000 people have packed the Capitol today, as supporters of Republican efforts to scrap the union rights of state workers added their voices to the debate for the first time and GOP leaders insisted again there was no room for compromise.

Supporters of Gov. Scott Walker and his effort to ease Wisconsin's budget woes gathered on the east side of the Capitol, surrounded by a much larger group of pro-labor demonstrators who since Tuesday have filled the Capitol with chanting, drum-beats and anti-Walker slogans. Walker has proposed requiring government workers to contribute more to their health care and pension costs and largely eliminating their collective bargaining rights.

(snip)
Sen. Tim Cullen, a Democrat from Janesville, refused to say where he was Saturday but said he didn't expect the Senate to meet again until Tuesday. Cullen said he was watching Saturday's rallies on television with some friends.


Police: 70,000 descend on Wis. Capitol for protest
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=14063173

Police say nearly 70,000 people have converged on the Wisconsin Capitol to join in protests over a Republican bill that would strip public workers of most of their collective bargaining rights.

According to the Madison Police Department, 60,000 people gathered outside the building with another 8,000 inside on Saturday - easily the largest crowd yet as the protest stretched through its fifth day. The demonstration was far more intense on Saturday, though, as hundreds of tea party supporters staged a counter rally outside the Capitol.

[Oceansaway]

1. K&R...n/t

[liberal N proud]

2. More Union members who were afraid to take Friday off

385,000 workers belong to a union was in Wisconsin
http://www.bls.gov/ro5/unionwi.htm

[HereSince1628]

3. Passed MANY people as we left after 5 hours this morning

The Union march at 11 had all the streets on the Capitol ring filled with people...however many that may take I'd be guessing but would say not less than 15k at that time.

The tea-partiers had the SE porch of the capitol and were outnumbered by something like 20-30 to one. I'm guessing that they had less than 2000 people present.

Both groups had access to the inside of the building so counts at that time would be counting both.

I saw somewhere over 40 different labor unions representation supporting the public unions' protests

There was also a firefighter there from SEATTLE!!!!!!

[cal04]

4. thank you from all of us who can't be there

and for your posts on what's going on
:hug: :hi:

this was just tweeted
amazing how loud chants of 'THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE' are. Rock-concert level noise amplified only by stone walls.

[HereSince1628]

5. KILL THE BILL was chanted loud enough to drown out the tparty

It was inspiring.

Young, middle class, old. Native American, Blacks, Hispanic immigrants, people identified as Catholics, it was really the entire swath of Wisconsin.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. I'll be damned. Good on them!!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Report: Wis. Dem State Senators Leave State To Block Budget Quorum

TPM reports the above.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/02/report-wis-dem-state-senators-leave-state-to-block-budget-quorum.php

Here is a twitter comment about the Dems:

Good news! Fugitive Dems who fled to Illinois from Wisconsin are eligible to run for mayor of Chicago!