Madison, Wisconsin, is electric right now.
Tens of thousands of middle-class Americans—teachers, nurses, firefighters—are demonstrating at the capitol today. They're trying to stop the new, tea-party governor from ramming through one of the worst union-busting bills in recent history. He's using the pretext of a budget crisis, but it's one he created by giving tax breaks to business owners.1
Yesterday afternoon, 14 Democratic state senators walked out of the chamber in defiance to stop the vote on the bill. They're in Illinois now, speaking to the press from undisclosed locations to evade capture.2
Today protesters from all over Wisconsin are holding the biggest rally yet, with tens of thousands of people expected to come. But the national media is not giving the story the coverage it deserves, and without more attention, the Republicans may push the bill through.
We need to show that millions of Americans are standing with the protesters and help draw the nation's eyes to Madison today. Can you take a moment right now to change your Facebook status to this:
"Today I stand with the teachers, nurses, and all public employees of Wisconsin who are fighting for their rights. If you do too, change this to your status for the rest of the day."
Click here to go to your Facebook profile and change your status.
For Wisconsin's schools and kids, the stakes today couldn't be higher. Kim Hoffman, a middle school music teacher, spoke for hundreds of great teachers across the state when she said: "I love teaching, but [if these cuts go through] I'd have to start looking for another job, period."3
Gov. Walker's budget represents one of the boldest assaults on workers and the middle class in memory, and it comes at the worst possible time for Wisconsin's weakened middle class.
Today is the critical moment. With the bill temporarily stalled after Democratic Senators fled the state to deny the Republicans the ability to vote on the bill, there is a chance to kill the bill for good.4 Organizers expect their largest crowd yet, but they need to know that we have their back.
Can you help draw national attention to Wisconsin by changing your status on Facebook for the rest of the day?
Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Laura, Lenore, Duncan, and the rest of the team P.S.—If you don't have Facebook, that's fine—to spread the word, just forward this email along to five (or more!) friends, and ask them to do the same.
Sources:
1. "Wisconsin Gov. Walker Ginned Up Budget Shortfall To Undercut Worker Rights," Talking Points Memo, February 17, 2011.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
2. "Lawmakers Flee Wisconsin Capitol, State Police Pursue; Protests Swell to 30,000," AlterNet, February 18, 2011.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
3. "Angry Demonstrations in Wisconsin as Cuts Loom," The New York Times, February 18, 2011.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/
4. "Lawmakers Flee Wisconsin Capitol, State Police Pursue; Protests Swell to 30,000," AlterNet, February 18, 2011.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=
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