Wisconsin Supporters Occupy Building At GOP Fundraiser
Thursday, March 17, 2011(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Chanting "This is what democracy looks like!"
hundreds of protestors -- fired up by the inspiring battles of workers in
Wisconsin -- broke through security lines and took over the atrium of the
downtown DC building where lobbyists were holding a fundraiser for Wisconsin GOP
leaders. The protestors quickly filled up the multi-story space and swarmed up
the sweeping staircase overlooking the atrium, dropping a large banner beneath a
statue reading “Respect workers rights!” As bemused office denizens -- and
no doubt fundraiser attendees -- peered out their windows, a sea of signs waved
and bobbed as exultant demonstrators shrilled whistles and cheered, their chants
echoing off the marble walls. "What's disgusting?" came the chant; "Union
busting!" roared back and rose in the hall, along with shouts of "Shame! Shame!"
As hundreds more picketed outside the now-locked building, Metro Council
President Jos Williams (at left) congratulated the protestors for "liberating
this building from the forces of greed and tyranny" and declared the atrium
"Freedom Central." “This reminds me of being home, seeing you all here; it’s
beautiful to see so much support,” said Joran from Madison, Wisconsin. “They
think they can come into our state and divide us - telling us that public workers are the enemy, but we know that we are all
together. An injury to one is an injury to all!" After occupying the space for
over an hour, the protestors left peacefully, chanting "We'll be back," and,
once they rejoined the demonstration outside, staged an impromptu takeover of
13th street, declaring "Whose streets? Our streets" and then marched on the
White House to deliver their message of solidarity with Wisconsin workers. Click here for
coverage on YouTube and click
here for a selection of photos on Flickr.
-
Chris Garlock; photos/video by Adam
Wright
PLUS
Click on
the links below for more coverage by local and national media:
- Talking
Points Memo: great video,
great quotes
- Salon.com:
includes a great video showing the occupation, Jos Williams
on a bullhorn and interviews with two Wisconsin high school
girls
- Utility
Workers Union of America : UWUA National
Secretary-Treasurer Gary Ruffner reports
- Fox
5 News
- ABC
News Blog (national)
- ABC News - WBAY,
Wisconsin
- The
Nation
- National
Journal
- Milwaukee-Wisconsin
Journal Sentinel
- Washington
Examiner