The overriding theme echoed by the protesters and speakers in Madison is the protection of worker’s rights in both the public and private sectors.
Jeff Skiles, the co-pilot who helped crash land the airliner in the Hudson in January of 2009, was one of the speakers. The crowd cheered when he said, “we didn’t abandon those passengers to save themselves; we all worked together to save everybody. That’s a lesson that people in this Capitol building need to learn.”
Skiles continued, “this budget bill will strip Wisconsin public workers of the protections and rights enjoyed by other Americans. This bill will regulate public workers to second-class status in America. Are we going to let that happen?”
In unison, the crowd chanted “No!”
Skiles concluded his speech by stating, “Let’s not forget how this budget crisis came about, and let’s not let this governor and this Republican legislature shift the blame for what’s wrong with America from corporate profiteers and instead demonize our teachers, our nurses and our public-sector employees.”