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Jesse Jackson Tells 50,000 in Wisconsin: "This is a Martin Luther King Moment!"
MADISON, WI - "This is a Martin Luther King moment!”
So declared the Rev. Jesse Jackson, as he finished addressing a crowd of more than 40,000 at that had filled the grounds of Wisconsin’s state Capitol. A few minutes later , he would enter the Capitol and address a crowd estimated at 8,000, which filled what has been called America’s most beautiful government building to capacity.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, addresses protesters in the state Capitol rotunda in Madison, Wis., Friday, Feb. 18, 2011. Union members, students and others have been protesting the governor's bill to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, Michael P. King) The Capitol was never more beautiful than on Friday night.
Jackson, who spent most of Friday with the massive crowds that have filled downtown Madison since Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker announced a plan to end collective bargaining rights for the teachers, day-care providers, emergency technicians and all other state, county and municipal employees. He marveled, constantly, at what he was seeing.
“This is where it’s at. This is the epicenter of the struggle for America’s future,” he said, not as a grant pronouncement, but with a hint of amazement in his voice as he promised an elementary-school teacher who broke into tears when she saw that the veteran civil rights leader had come to join a struggle where crowds chant each night: “Labor rights are civil rights! Labor rights are human rights!”
"This is the first round of a longer battle to renew the integrity of our nation," he told the crowds.
Jackson appeared on a day when the crowds scored their second major success in the fight to prevent passage of Walker’s legislation by Republican legislators. On Thursday, when the measure was supposed to be passed, Democratic state senators left the state in order to deny a quorum for taking up the measure. On Friday, opposition from Assembly Democrats was so focused and intense – and so closely linked to the crowds outside—that Republican leaders of the chamber decided to adjourn until Tuesday.
The ability of a mass protest movement to force a change in plans by a governor who has been referred to by the state’s longest-serving legislator as a “dictator” has led many to make the connection between the struggle of the Wisconsin teachers, nurses and public employees from foresters to snow plow drivers and the great democracy protests that have been seen in recent weeks across the Middle East. One sign held aloft Friday, as temperatures turned February frigid in Madison read: “I didn’t think Cairo would be this cold.”
There is no question that the Wisconsinites have taken inspiration from international events. They say as much, mocking the governor as “Hosni Walker.”
But the real connection, the deeper connection, is to the civil rights era, when Wisconsin students and labor leaders were among the most ardent northern backers of the freedom struggle. Union halls in Wisconsin invariably post photos from when King visited, or when their members joined the March or Washington for Jobs and Freedom. And prominent Wisconsinites of a certain age, such as Ed Garvey, the future leader of the National Football Players Association and Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate, proudly recall “going south” as Freedom Riders.
Now, says Jackson, with Walker’s attempt to break the state’s public-employee and teachers unions. Jackson sees an attempt to bring some of the crudest structural characteristics of the south to northern states such as Wisconsin. “The right-to-work laws, the barriers to unions, these were put in place to prevent workers from coming together, to keep black and white divided, to make it impossible for everyone to rise together,” explained Jackson. “Now, after all these years, they are bringing them north.”
When Jackson finally mounted the state for a rally organized by the Wisconsin Education Association Council and allied teacher unions, he looked out across the massive crowds, in which many of those present carried hand-lettered signs that read: “Memphis 1968, Madison, 2011.”
Jackson, who was with King in Memphis, declared: "This is a Martin Luther King moment, this is a Gandhi moment."
Celebrating the non-violent character of the Madison marches -- which are entering their sixth day -- and similar rallies and events that have filled the streets of cities and towns across the state, Jackson concluded: "When we fight, we win. We fight in Montgomery, we win. We fight in Selma, we win ... We march in Madison, Wisconsin, we win."
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47 Comments so far
Show AllFrom the Middle East to the Midwest, hope lives. Wonderful, wonderful!
See US Uncut
http://www.usuncut.org/
February 26 a day of ACTION!
I believe Amy Goodman will be in WI on the 25th. Let's hope for some real coverage of the brave workers there! I hope on the 26th that a real mockery will be made of Wilson, the Koch Bros, Karl Rove & the GOP.
"El pueblo, unido, jamas sera vencido!!"
'Let's hope for some real coverage ...'
Yes. Even cynical me is stunned by lack of discussion about the demonstrations by, for instance, the NYTimes.
Corporate Democrats are just as intent on stifling coverage as republicans, and aren't even pretending to stand up for the unions. The neo-liberal meme that says we have to balance the budget, everyone has to sacrifice, and raising taxes is off the table cannot be breached.
We are on our own--and it's a good thing.
Here Here!!
Please get musicians involved! This is not going to be a quick fix. Get the musicians mobilized!
Heres a reminder of the music and musicians against the Viet Nam war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3L6uyxBPFc
King was right - and this speech has never been more salient as are the the questions he asked - civil rights, human rights and the human spirit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b80Bsw0UG-U
Music is vital to any movement. Only last night I was thinking of some of the old labor songs and wishing that Bruce Springsteen would show up in Wisconsin. Thanks for your links. Here are some of my own.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwcKwGS7OSQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYiKdJoSsb8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAIM02kv0g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW99bjzYojo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f2J4ceCikI
Thank you Diana,
Not that many of us around that can appreciate and relate to the messages of Pete's songs."this machine stops fascism " is just great as is This land is your land written to counter the works of America the Beautiful....a bit of trivia I was unaware of. Thanks again!
'"this machine stops fascism " is just great '
Glad you liked it. I put up the link especially because of the inspiring photographs. The clothes may be out of fashion but the spirit is the same.
I must admit that as I followed the Egyptian demonstrations, I kept thinking, 'If only this would happen here...but it won't because of the fine-tuned propaganda that swallows up democrats just as much as republicans' It's so good to be wrong!
I'm glad Jesse is there, but I'm reminded of the French politician who said: "Find out where the mob is going so I can lead them." When the people arise they don't need "leaders."
Very well-said.
Anyone who wants to fight is welcome to join!
Jesse Jackson Sr is right on the mark. This struggle against those who would push their slimy agenda to divide all into "owners and servants" as David Erdal, British progressive businessman and evolutionary psychologist would put it must continue until we can bring this phony hierachal system down and give the power back to the people where it belongs.
Don't forget that Jesse Jackson was from the right wing of the civil rights movement. He's been milking events like Wisconsin for decades, showing up just in time to share the spotlight. His best work may have been reading "Green Eggs and Ham" on Saturday Night Live.
"United we stand. Divided we fall," my dad used to say. It's important that public sector workers make common cause with private sector workers. We need to stand together against a ruling class that is once again trying to divide and conquer.
The solution to taxpayer "have nots" is to take from those who have waaaaay too much, namely America's class of filthy rich!
I'm tired of the statement: This is a ____________ (Sputnik, Martin Luther King, Ghandi, senior i.e. Christina Aguilera, etc...) moment. Enough of the would-be scriptwriters trying to scoop history. Let's build a movement that gains momentum and changes history, but, perhaps, we've become so imaginatively empty all there is left to do is prematurely compare what's happening now to past glories---like we're writing the 24/7 Wiki-history text or something.
wake up it's happening...don't miss this round
Wisconsin folk everywhere should be proud of what is happening in Madison. Those people are bringing hope to millions of Americans. Let the spirit spread. It is a world wide movement of the people, by the people. Autocrats everywhere are taking notice, and beginning to fear.
We are proud and I am going to be there Tuesday! We're not letting Walker off the hook, I hope the Democrats continue to boycott to withhold the quorum. It will let the protests continue indefinitely. It is time now, I've had to watch this economy slide backward my whole working life, and it started with such joy a couple years after that Earth Day you described; that we'd be working our way into a cleaner, more just world. Our real work has yet to begin and the students and the teachers are ready!
The possibility of democracy from sea to shining sea and across the world.
Just look at who are the most rabid anti-union, anti-worker, anti-bargaining rights forces are, and the lines are clear. Fascists, Communists...and Republicans all need to suppress the people in order to hold power. This is nothing less than the struggle between democracy and totalitarianism.
On, Wisconsin!
Today Wisconsin...tomorrow ...washington; and that tomorrow is SOON !
Is this the same Jesse Jackson who cried when Obama was elected? Is he exposing the fraud now? Is Jackson criticizing Obama for his budget which is a complete betrayal of labor and the American working class? This is a MLK moment all right, certainly NOT an Obama moment.
In any event, it's easy to show up and try to steal the people's thunder when most of the hard work is being done by others.
Yeah, I'm not looking forward to the Jesse Jackson side-show. That's certain. I want the focus on the numerous, non-household names there to frontline for the 99.99%; he's just a self-serving distraction as far as I'm concerned.
Jesse Jackson is not a man alone. He is associated with the elders of an entire movement that addresses human rights, education, civil rights, coalition building, political articulation, media access, and an entire spectrum of sub-concerns related in turn to each of those.
Yeah, opportunistic Establishment hacks and attention-whores like Jackson jumping on the bandwagon are at best a distraction and a sideshow. It's just his way of trying to remain relevant.
I don't see that his presence does any significant harm, though.
Like in Cairo, those with name recognition didn't join until the movement was clearly solid, as is this one in Madison. If they can lend voice, clarify message, great. That may be helpful, particularly since the media likes name dropping and people may pay more attention because of the echo. Sad though that the message usually gets diluted, lost, and usurped eventually by hams and media masters. Then we may be left with a hallow shell of a message. Not if we stay vital and decentralized, outspoken, resistant, in small, and big ways, doing what we can. What is the message? It's one that needs a story, a reason, a purpose. Fairness? Well, it's up to us. Isn't it?
The Democratic Party is attempting to hijack the Wisconsin public employees protests. These protests happened in spite of the Democratic Party not because of it. The Democrats have sold out to business interests. The old Democratic guard should be unwelcome in Wisconsin. Ed of The Ed Show, was shameless in his attempt to hijack the protests for the old guard and the old issues. The issue is union busting, not race, not gay's, not religion. Ed muddied the waters as he attempted to hijack the event for the DNC. Hubris!
Reality: This protest was fundamentally based upon information learned on the internet. Here's how it works: over time the issues are discussed, a vision takes shape and majority of participants adopt the vision,. Then when the vision is challenged, word is spread and visioneers take to the street and protest. It is DECENTRALIZED and SPONTANEOUS. No where is there any CENTRALIZED leadership from the DNC. The DNC is old school and centralized. It cannot lead in a time of challenge and chaos because centralized leadership is behind the curve, not in front of it. Centralized leadership is 20th century and will lead to failure. Today leadership and decisionmaking is DECENTRALIZED because of the internet. DECENTRALIZED decision making is open, nimble, and far more capable of handling chaos successfully than is centralized leadership. The use of everyone's talent is in the game, not just the talent of a few leaders; therefore, ideas and good solutions are far more likely to form and be implemented in a timely manner.
I call on the Democratic leadership to leave the people of Wisconsin alone. They are more capable than you to resolve this issue successfully. Go away and go back to your base, the business community.
Ed, wrap your fat ass in a flag and shut up.
Agree 100 percent. The Democratic party should be hooted out of Madison along with their fellow corporate whores in the GOP.
Great post and right on! Especially your introductory paragraph!
What you are describing is in fact the role of the Democratic Party, to misdirect and dis-empower the left. They have been doing this for a long, long time.
See "The Democrats: a Critical History" by Lance Selfa
I'm re-posting this by 2A since it is so good:
Posted by Two Americas
2011-02-18 20:55
There is a very profound and critical difference between the two parties, and we need to be very aware of that difference.
The Republicans ruthlessly and relentlessly advance the agenda of the owners. The Democrats ruthlessly and relentlessly prevent any opposition to that [agenda] from forming.
Big difference.
The Republicans punch us in the gut. The Democrats pin our arms behind us so we can't fight back.
Big difference.
The Republicans tell us they are out to get us and make an all-out frontal assault on us. The Democrats tell us they are our friends and then stab us in the back.
Big difference.
I had given up all hope for democracy in the U.S. but the people of Wisconson have given me new hope. This could be the spark that sets off a new fight to take our democracy from the rich and the corporations.
Fight on Wisconson.
A martin Luther moment? with wimpy Dems in hiding and now Docs illegally handing out sick excuses to the spoiled union protesters in the crowds in Madison. He would be so proud.
Another supporter of the million and billionaires. And a clever way of insulting people through name calling. What a gutsy man you must be, dave_m.
Beekeeper, there's no accounting of the morons who are so clueless they still say really dumb things even after being here and reading a few of the news articles. I thought that the problem was uninformed, but one cannot inform a person with a completely closed mind.
Thank God the folks in Wisconsin are fighting back!
For years people --i.e. Republicans, have fought hard to eliminate all government except the military. From Reagan's dire warning that “the nine (ten) most terrifying words in the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you" to Grover Nordquist threat to "drown government in a bathtub," we have witnessed huge tax cuts for the rich, corporations that don't pay taxes, taxpayer bailouts of Wall Street, unfunded wars and banker caused recession. Naturally the public coffers are empty and yet the average Joe and Jane are being asked to take wage cuts, lose benefits, see vital services eliminated and so on. What a revolting situation. Folks don’t want class war in this country but you just can’t stand there and watch your world collapse while the rich stay in their gated communities and travel the world on their yachts . On Wisconsin…
After 9/11 the elites recognized that the whole world was ready to do battle with them.
This is why they called on their henchmen in Washing-town to circle their wagons together. Consolidation, centralization, concentration. Easier targets now for the people and their torches/pitchforks.
Don't let the Democratic party hijack this moment. They're as much a part of the problem as the GOP. Where were these "pro-union" Democrats when they controlled the government and had the chance to pass the Employee Free Choice Act? Nowhere.
No self-respecting American revolution would put the spineless, bought-out, corporate-compromised Democratic party at its head. You want a revolution, run both parties out of Madison.
First and foremost I support the workers of Wisconsin that are being attacked by lies and bad government. Every time the GOP is at the wheel the bus crashes.
What we really need is a country wide two day worker holiday. They do this in Europe and the transportation folks do their thing. Sit out for two days and have a peaceful worker protest. For two or three days everything comes to a halt except Medical and Public Safety Personnel. No phones are answered to public transportation stopped and just lay back and enjoy. If the politcos don't get the message do it again a few months later.
I am so grateful that Jesse Jackson is in Wisconsin and was there when Dr. King was alive. If he was alive today this country would have never gotten to this point. History will show that we are all paying for the untimely and awful murders of Dr. King and the Kennedy Brothers. Their loose resonates throughout this country in the negative.
Dr. King I am sure is smiling from Heaven and America will be a better place.
Do not give up the fight for your rights and we are a long way from the 15th round.
Peace.
Tyranny is ugly no matter where it lands.
Teach your kids how to talk down to elites. Take them out to restaurants, and have them talk across the tables to the elites. Ask your kids to explain to the elites how labor rights are really production rights, the rights of the people to own/control production, and effectively the whole society. Your kids will agree.
Americans should be proud.
I am proud of you, Americans!
kudos, and thank you to the brave, and patriotic senators that left the state, and stood up to the bullying tactics, of our radical GOP governor and senate.
Please stay away until the corporate shills have given up on their union busting We the union members, of Wisconsin and the nation, have your back and always will. Solidarity for ever!
Wisconsin Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says a bill taking away collective bargaining rights from public employees is not negotiable and will pass as is.
Wisconsin’s Fitzgerald and Walker- the two ‘Scotts’ join the likes of John Boehner,Eric Cantor et al to step out and show the face of the new ruling Congressional class.Defiant and locked into bringing, as Thom Hartman, points out, a noble, well-educated, and wealthy (male) elite, to make the policies,rules for and to run our society; (political power in the hands of average working people is dangerous and destabilizing to America.)
This is just the beginning of a well planned behind the scenes siege to eliminate middles class working America and ensure the shrinking of the government for the eventual complete governance by the wealthy.
The dissenters in Egypt told the US this is their fight not yours. The tens of thousands in Madison , are showing democracy only works when the people claim it as their own.- keep the political opposition party out of it. Power to the people- keep ‘banging those pots and pans’- shout out to the two Scotts your bill WILL NOT PASS!
A republican supporter of Walker was interviewed last night on Odonnell's show . Odonnell said the protesters were willing to make concessions to help balance the budget that Walker wanted which made the demonstration not about money and the deficit any longer. but about busting unions. The republican said it was still about money. After all the unions get workers a fair wage, fair time off, fair health benefits, fair work safety, ect. These things all cost money for the government. Republicans want government workers to be subject to unfair labor practices like so many are in the private sector. That is why so many Americans are without health insurance and do not get a living wage for their work. This is a republican war on government workers.
Do not be mislead by Jesse Jackson. He makes a living from Corporate America.
He is protecting the interests of Obama along with Al Sharpton and Opra.