one-day diary of a protester

Let me start off by saying I am not a politically charged person.  I often do not know what is going on in local, state, country, and world government.  I'm not proud nor ashamed of this.  It is just who I am.

Yesterday my school was canceled due to the number of teachers they perceived would be calling in sick.  With the day off I travelled to Madison with some co-workers to protest Governor Walker's budget repair bill.  Here was our day...

 Walk to the Capitol.

 First view upon walking into the Capitol.

Lower level.

 Our source of information.  Hard to see and hear in a packed place, but it was great to actually see the politicians we were fighting for/against.

 Whenever the firefighters walked through the Capitol they got tons of applause.  Really cool to see the support!

 The G-E-T group I travelled with.  Rachel, Pam, Bob, and Jo.

 Whole group!

 Our band director's son.  He's a UW-Madison student supporting his mom!

 There was not a shortage of humorous, but effective signs.

 Pretty self-explanatory.

 This guy was in a candy necklace skirt/outfit.  His sign says "Even I look less ridiculous than Scott Walker."

 5 P.M. rally on the Capitol steps.  Inside was just as packed if not even more.

 Firefighters from across the state in their dress blues.  They marched down the street in front of the Capitol and then inside.  It was quite a sight to see so many!

We sure belong to a beautiful state.  Now if only it would stay that way...

My two favorite moments - a large group unfurled a U.S. flag and started a mass sing-a-long of "The Star-Spangled Banner."  Such a powerful moment.  The second was a bouquet of Valentine balloons rising through the middle of the Capitol building.  They started rising quickly and a roar of applause erupted.  Why?  Tied to the balloons was a sign that read "Power to the People." 

I'm so happy to have been there to support something that will not only affect me, but hundreds of thousands of people across the state.  We're staying hopeful.