Upwards of 100,000 people turned out for Saturday's rally at Madison's capitol, when Wisconsin welcomed home the fourteen Democratic state senators who fled to Illinois three weeks ago in opposition to Governor Scott Walker's drive to gut bargaining rights, crush unions, and impose shock-doctrine economics on the state.
"You have made a movement," Milwaukee senator Lena Taylor told the roaring crowd.
Earlier in the day, 50 tractors circled the square.
"This is grassroots," a group of farmers in the lead tractor shouted during the Saturday morning parade.
A herd of costume-clad "cows" holding letters that spelled out "S-O-L-I-D-A-R-I-T-Y" went by.
A big John Deere pulled a sign that said "Pull Together: Support Working Families."
Beautiful, vintage machines painted bright red, green, and orange were flying the American and Wisconsin flags and honking, "This is what democracy looks like."
A giant biodiesel machine rolled past with a sign that said, "How's the war economy working for you?"
And of course there were the manure spreaders with cutouts of Walker and his bill.
The farmers joined Walker's other public enemies: teachers, firefighters, police officers, local officials, social workers, nurses, and other public servants who lost their right to bargain and will see steep wage and benefit cuts under the new Walker regime.
The state supreme court election on April 5 and recall efforts now under way for the governor and eight Republican state senators are the next steps in this building movement.
"This is only the beginning," Senator Chris Larson said at a press conference. "Now the fight will turn to the budget, and people are moving to the streets and turning in their recall signs for clipboards."
"We have awakened a sleeping giant," Senator Spencer Coggs agreed. By sticking with Walker, he said, "the Republicans are walking the plank."
Senator Kathleen Vinehout said she had received an overwhelming volume of positive mail from her constituents in the Northwestern section of the state. When asked about a general strike, she said she thinks there is more of a future in a boycott of Scott Walker's supporters.
"I thought about that, but I'm hearing people talk about a financial strike," she said. "The people we are up against care about money. They're very greedy. I think what would be more effective is for each person in Wisconsin to say, when I buy something I'm making my vote known."
If you liked this article by Ruth Conniff, the political editor of The Progressive, check out her story "Rule-Breaking Republicans Lock the Doors and Ram Union Busting Bill Through Assembly."
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