Madison, WI – In his latest attempt at smashing unions, derailing public education and further punishing the working class for the economic crisis, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker called together an ‘Extraordinary Session,’ June 14, so that right-wing legislators can ram through his proposed two-year budget. The new budget will slash funding for public education, make large cuts to social services and local governments and pave the way for more privatization.

The budget was prepared to include the notorious anti-collective bargaining components that protesters brought to a halt last spring. With unusual speed, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a court-issued injunction that prevented the law from going in to law – just before the Extraordinary Session began. Lawyers have other grounds to challenge the law, which may keep it tied up for some time.

Threatened with layoffs, cuts, losing their unions, paying increased costs for health care and pensions, provisions such as private school voucher systems and requiring local areas to use private contractors for some public works projects, protesters are again flooding the streets of Madison in protest. The people of Wisconsin know this budget must be stopped.

While protests are ongoing, including a ‘Walkerville’ tent city outside the Capitol that anyone may join, the next large protest will be at noon on June 16 on Capitol Square. Another rally will be held at 5:30 p.m. the same day by the State Street entrance.

#MadisonWI #BudgetCuts #CollectiveBargaining #GovernorScottWalker #Wisconsin #WisconsinProtest #Walkerville

Milwaukee, WI – Hundreds rallied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), March 14, as protests continue against Governor Scott Walker's anti-union, anti-people attacks. The rally was the third mass action taken at the university in recent weeks and included speeches by student, community and union leaders.

Joel Ramirez, a former UWM student and member of Youth Empowered in the Struggle, riled up the crowd when he said, “Wall Street lives lavishly and recklessly while we the people are left to pay the bill.” Ramirez went on to stress the need for African Americans and Latinos to stay united in the struggle and to oppose the oncoming attack on immigrants, which will include attempts to deny in-state tuition for undocumented students.

State Senator Chris Larson, one of the 14 state senators who fled the state to try to halt the passing of the infamous Budget Repair Bill, made a surprise visit to the rally. “It's been a difficult time and I had to sleep on an inflatable mattress, but I stayed motivated thinking of all you who were sleeping on the marble floors of our Capitol.”

UWM United organized the rally and intends to play a role in defeating the Budget Repair Bill and defending the University of Wisconsin system from budget cuts and privatization.

#MilwaukeeWI #StudentMovement #EducationRights #UniversityOfWisconsinMilwaukee #CollectiveBargaining #GovernorScottWalker #Wisconsin #publicSectorUnions #WisconsinProtest #YouthEmpoweredInTheStruggle #UWMUnited

Madison, WI – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) led a student contingent in the March 12 Madison, Wisconsin rally of 150,000. SDS chapters from Wisconsin, Illinois and Maryland marched in support of workers. Milwaukee students showed solidarity with their teachers and other campus workers, joining their buses to Madison and holding a giant banner demanding “No cuts to education!”

Governor Scott Walker's union busting and budget measures will be devastating to public education in Wisconsin as he plans to slash $1 billion in state funding from public schools. Students at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM) are planning to bring the energy back from Madison on Monday, March 14, with the third walkout at UWM this semester, demanding a stop to tuition hikes, budget cuts, privatization and union busting.

#MadisonWI #CapitalismAndEconomy #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #WisconsinProtest

Madison, WI – More than 50 tractors, some with manure spreaders, joined the massive March 12 protest at the Wisconsin state capitol here. The Farmer Labor Tractorcade was organized by the Wisconsin Farmers Union and Family Farm Defenders.

The Tractorcade and the participation of rural Wisconsinites in the protest is another sign of the broad, profound anger with Governor Walker’s attacks.

#MadisonWI #CollectiveBargaining #GovernorScottWalker #WisconsinProtest

The protest includes farmers on tractors.

Kim Defranco, of the Committee to Stop FBI repression stated, “This is an inspiring day for workers across the country.” Defranco also said that the leaflet she was passing out, blasting Glenn Beck’s attacks on the Wisconsin labor movement and on Fight Back! News, was getting a warm response from marchers.

Fight Back New Service will be carry reports from the protest throughout the day.

#MadisonWI #WisconsinProtest