MoveOn Calls for Facebook actions in support of WI protests

[Jackpine Radical]

Madison is electric right now.

Tens of thousands of middle-class Wisconsinites—teachers, nurses, firefighters—are demonstrating at the capitol today. They're trying to stop the new, tea-party governor from ramming through one of the worst union-busting bills in recent history. He's using the pretext of a budget crisis, but it's one he created by giving tax breaks to business owners.1

Yesterday afternoon, 14 Democratic state senators walked out of the chamber in defiance to stop the vote on the bill. They're in Illinois now, speaking to the press from undisclosed locations to evade capture.2

Today protesters from all over Wisconsin are holding the biggest rally yet, with tens of thousands of people expected to come. But the national media is not giving the story the coverage it deserves, and without more attention, the Republicans may push the bill through.
We need to show that millions of Americans are standing with the protesters and help draw the nation's eyes to Madison today. If you can't make it to the capitol today, you can still show your support by changing your Facebook status to a message of solidarity. MoveOn members across the country will be spreading the word to their friends and family about what's happening in Madison by changing their status today—can you join them?

"Today I stand with the teachers, nurses, and all public employees of Wisconsin who are fighting for their rights. If you do too, change this to your status for the rest of the day."

For Wisconsin's schools and kids, the stakes today couldn't be higher. Kim Hoffman, a middle school music teacher, spoke for hundreds of great teachers across the state when she said: "I love teaching, but I'd have to start looking for another job, period."3

Gov. Walker's budget represents one of the boldest assaults on workers and the middle class in memory, and it comes at the worst possible time for Wisconsin's weakened middle class.
Today is the critical moment. With the bill temporarily stalled after Democratic Senators fled the state to deny the Republicans the ability to vote on the bill, there is a chance to kill the bill for good.4 Organizers expect their largest crowd yet, but they need to know that we have their back.

Can you help draw national attention to Wisconsin by changing your status on Facebook for the rest of the day?

Thanks for all you do.