BREAKING: Wisconsin Police Have Joined Protest Inside State Capitol
Written by Jenn Breckenridge
Topics: Direct Action
From inside the Wisconsin State Capitol, RAN ally Ryan Harvey reports:“Hundreds of cops have just marched into the Wisconsin state capitol building to protest the anti-Union bill, to massive applause. They now join up to 600 people who are inside.”
Ryan reported on his Facebook page earlier today:
“Police have just announced to the crowds inside the occupied State Capitol of Wisconsin: ‘We have been ordered by the legislature to kick you all out at 4:00 today. But we know what’s right from wrong. We will not be kicking anyone out, in fact, we will be sleeping here with you!’ Unreal.”
You can find more updates from Ryan Harvey on Twitter @ryanharveysongs and his blog Even If Your Voice Shakes.UPDATE: This video says it all. It makes me proud of my neighbors. “Let me tell you Mr. Walker, this is not your house, this is all our house.”
UPDATE 2-27: I’ve got to say a huge thank you to Ryan Harvey for the incredible on-the-spotreporting from inside the Wisconsin state capitol. Keep ‘em coming Ryan!
In this next video, Ryan interviews Brian Austin of the Madison Professional Police Officers Association, who is featured in the video above.
Not only are police officers on the side of labor inside the capitol, so is the chief of police. Bill Glauber reported this evening from The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
“The people who are in the building will be allowed to stay,” Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs said Sunday night. “There will be no arrests unless people violate the law.”Tubbs…announced the decision to let the protesters stay after he saw how they moved aside while work crews went about cleaning the Capitol, including mopping and polishing floors.“People are very cooperative,” the police chief said. “I appreciate that.”
As this long night comes to a end, I leave you with this final piece of good news from Ryan’s Twitter feed:
“Huge news! Republican senator dale shultz has announced that he is switching sides and opposing the bill!!! 2 more to go!”
Rock on Wisconsin. Remind the politicians who have forgotten, and the corporations in denial, and any folks out there who aren’t sure their voice really counts, that the true power of these United States is with The People.
And it’s time to get used to the idea.
If the Egyptian people can bring down a dictator after 30 years of police state rule, why can’t state employee unions bring down this Governor or at least start a Governor recall effort. This is the United States of America, re-learn how to do it yourself.
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