MADISON, Wis. — Liberal filmmaker Michael Moore urged Wisconsin residents Saturday to fight against Republican efforts to strip most public workers of their collective bargaining rights, telling thousands of protesters that “Madison is only the beginning.”
The crowd roared in approval as Moore implored demonstrators to keep up their struggle against Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s legislation, saying they have galvanized the nation against the wealthy elite and comparing their fight to Egypt’s revolt. He thanked the 14 state Democratic senators who fled Wisconsin to block a vote on the bill, saying they will go down in history books.
“We’re going to do this together. Don’t give up. Please don’t give up,” Moore told the protesters, who have swarmed the Capitol every day for close to three weeks.
Police said there were “tens of thousands” of protesters but didn’t give a specific count. The vast majority of the crowd was pro-union, and no one was arrested or cited. Rallies drew huge crowds the previous two Saturdays: about 70,000 on Feb. 19, and an even larger crowd Feb. 26.
Walker has said the legislation is needed to help ease a state deficit projected to hit $3.6 billion by mid-2013, though opponents see it as an effort to weaken unions.
Negotiations between Democrats and Republicans broke down Thursday, though communication lines remain open, Sen. Tim Cullen said Saturday. Cullen, one of the Democrats who fled the state, said it is difficult for either side to compromise because Democrats don’t want to lose support from their base and Walker doesn’t want to appear weak by backing down.
