Beloit Solidarity Zine Print Layout

8/7/2019 Beloit Solidarity Zine Print Layout

1/8

T h a n k s t o D a r r a h , D o r e e n , P h i l , a n d t h e l o v e l y h o u s e k e e p i n g s t a f f f o r b e i n g

w o n d e r f u l l y f r i e n d l y a n d c o o p e r a t i v e d u r i n g t h e S c i e n c e C e n t e r o c c u p a t i o n ,

T h a n k s t o N i c k S t e p h e n s f o r p h o t o s # 1 , 4 , 8 , 1 0 a n d 1 2 ( l e f t t o r i g h t , t o p d o w n ) ,

a n d t h a n k s t o e v e r y o n e w h o c a m e a n d o f f e r e d t h e i r u n i q u e s k i l l s a n d

p e r s p e c t i v e s f o r a s u c c e s s f u l w e e k !

For more information, [email protected]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCESh t t p : / / s o l i d a r i t y w i s c o n s i n . c o m /

h t t p : / / b l u e c h e d d a r . w o r d p r e s s . c o m /

h t t p : / / w w w . d e f e n d w i s c o n s i n . o r g /

h t t p : / / w i s e y e . c o m /

h t t p : / / w w w . w o r t - f m . o r g /

h t t p : / / w w w . w i s a f l c i o . o r g /

( a n d n o t t o m e n t i o n )

h t t p : / / w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / p a g e s / B e l o i t -

S o l i d a r i t y / 1 1 5 2 2 5 0 3 5 2 1 8 9 5 3

&

h t t p : / / b e l o i t c o l l e g e s o l i d a r i t y . w o r d p r e s s . c o m /

THIS IS WHAT

DEMOCRACY

LOOKS LIKEI S S U E # 1


2/8

ThefightthatbeganinFebruaryisnotanisolatedincident,

andScottWalker'spoliticalsystemisnottheonebadapple

among49otherperfectlybalancedcabinets.Governments

acrossthecountryandeventheworldarebroachingausterity

measureswhichstrippeopleoftheirlivelihoodandoffervery

littleoftheirpromisedeconomicrecovery.Askyourself,isthis

systemofcorporatewelfareandpublicdisempowermentthe

futurethatyouwantforyourstate?

Inadditiontocontinuingprotests,rallies,andoccupations,

manyofthestatewidemovementshaveshiftedtheireffortsto

urgepeopletoexertinfluencewiththeirvote.Ifthree

Republicansenatorsarerecalled,thesenatemajoritycanbe

flipped,andwhilerecalleffortsaremovingswimminglytheywill

notstandwithoutpublicunanimity.OnAprilfifth,electionswill

beheldfortheseatofsupremecourtjustice/Walkercronie

DavidProsser.

Itiscrucialnowmorethaneverthat

weuniteinaconcertedefforttoeffectthechangethatwewanttosee.

ThehundredsofthousandsinMadisoncannotbe

wrong.Thelaborers,thestudents,thefamilies,thepolice,

firefighters,andpoliticiansthatoccupiedtherotundain

solidaritytodemandsimpleprotectionsfromtheirstate

cannotbewrong.

WEWILLWIN.

Wecannotremainsilent.

Educateyourselfandjointhefight.


3/8

The Fight Ain't Over YetT h o u g h t h e p a s s a g e o f W a l k e r ' s B u d g e t R e p a i r B i l l

c a m e a s a s h o c k a n d s e t a n e w p r e c e d e n t f o r t h e a b i l i t y o f

s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t t o v i o l a t e t h e r i g h t s o f w o r k e r s , t e a c h e r s ,

s t u d e n t s , t h e s i c k , a n d t h e p o o r , t h e e v e n t s o f M a r c h 1 0 t h

d i d n o t s i g n i f y t h e e n d o f o u r s t a t e , n a t i o n , a n d w o r l d w i d e

e f f o r t s t o a m p l i f y t h e v o i c e o f t h e p e o p l e .

T h e f i g h t t h a t b e g a n i n F e b r u a r y , 2 0 1 1 w a s n o t a g a i n s t

S c o t t W a l k e r , w a s n o t a g a i n s t t h e B i l l , a n d w a s n o t a g a i n s t

" T h e R e p u b l i c a n s " o r t h e T e a P a r t y . R a t h e r , t h e f i g h t w e a r e

n o w e n g a g e d i n i s a b a t t l e f o r

t h e f u t u r e o f o u r s t a t e a n d

c o u n t r y . T h e p a s s a g e o f t h e B u d g e t R e p a i r B i l l d o e s n o t

s i g n a l a d e f e a t o r a n e n d i n a n y s e n s e , b u t m u s t b e v i e w e d

a s a b e g i n n i n g , a n d a s i g n t h a t o u r e f f o r t s h a v e b e e n s t i l l n o t

s t r o n g e n o u g h . C e r t a i n l y , o u r s i t u a t i o n w i l l g r o w w o r s e i f w e

d i l u t e t h e f o r c e t h a t s u s p e n d e d t h e p r o c e s s o f a n u n j u s t

g o v e r n m e n t f o r n e a r l y a m o n t h . T h e p e o p l e h a v e s u f f e r e d

o n e c o n c e s s i o n , b u t n o w i s t h e t i m e t o b r a n c h o u t a n d b a n d

t o g e t h e r t o e x t e n d t h e s t a t e w i d e a t m o s p h e r e o f l o v e a n d

c o m m u n i t y t h a t b l o o m e d s o b r i l l i a n t l y i n M a d i s o n .

CONTENTSp . 3 - 6 : " T h e B e l o i t O c c u p a t i o n : A n

E x p e r i m e n t i n B u i l d i n g

C o m m u n i t y a n d P o t e n t i a l i t i e s "

p . 7 - 1 0 : R e f l e c t i o n s f r o m B e l o i t S t u d e n t s a n d

O c c u p i e r s

p . 1 1 - 1 2 : S i m p l e A c t i o n s Y o u C a n T a k e t o F i g h t

t h e B u d g e t B i l l

p . 1 3 - 1 4 : T h e F i g h t A i n ' t O v e r Y e t


4/8

TheBeloitOccupation:AnExperimentinBuilding

CommunityandPotentialities

Spaceisfundamentalinanyformofcommunallife;spaceisfundamentalin

anyexerciseofpower.

-Foucault

Forfourfulldays,fromthelateeveningofMonday,February28th,toFriday,

March4,theatriumoftheScienceCenteratBeloitCollegeinsouthern

Wisconsinremainedcontinuouslyoccupiedbydozensofstudents.Onthe

surfacelevel,thisoccupationwasamanifestationofresistancetoGovernor

Walker'sbillwhichstrippedpublicsectorworkersoftheirpublicbargaining

rights,andotherausteritymeasureswhichdemonstratethecrisisoffinancial

capital,puttingthestrugglesinWisconsinincontexttowhatishappeningon

aglobalscale.Onadeeperlevelhowever,thoseoccupyingtheScience

Centersoughttobuildcommunity,empowerstudentorganizing,andredefine

theboundariesofpublicspaceontheirownterms.

Duringthelastweekof

Februaryandthefirstweeksof

March,severalBeloitCollege

studentshadparticipatedinthe

occupationofMadison'scapitol

building.Theyhadbeengreatly

inspiredbythespiritof

community,thenon-hierarchical

organizationofsomeofthe

aspectsofthespace,andthe

reclamationofthepublic

buildingformulti-faceteduse.

UponreturningtoBeloit,agroupofabouttenstudentsdecidedtocallfora

massall-campusmeetingtoorganizesomewayinwhichtheseinspirations

couldbebroughttotheirowncommunityandtosustainlonger-term

resistancetoWalker'sbill.OnMonday,February28th,over100students

showedupatthemeeting,representingadiversecross-sectionofthe

campuscommunity.Atthismeeting,severalstudentsexpressedinterests

rangingfromorganizingvoterdrives,buildingforageneralstrike,and

boycottingKochbrothercompaniesthatBeloitCollegedoesbusinesswith.

ThemeetingformedthegroupBeloitSolidarity,aloosecoalitioninwhich

individualsthatcouldpursuetheirownwaysofresistingWalker'sagenda.

Thetensionsbetweenliberalandmoreradicalanalyzeswereapparentat

thismeeting,andinmanysubsequentlargegatheringsduringthe

occupation.Therefore,BeloitSolidaritycametogetherandmaintaineda

pluralityofvisionsaswellasadvocatedadiversityoftactics.

Attheveryleast,youcanlearnalotabouttheminutepoliticaldetailsofthe

WisconsinBudgetBillStruggleandgatherwithothersinaspiritof

solidarity,andatthebestyoucanlendavalianthelpinghandinvarious

protestactivitiestomakeadifferenceforworker'srightsandpeople's

qualityoflifeinWisconsin.

DistributePamphlets:ThereareseveralinformativepamphletsthatyoucanaccessandprintoutfromtheInternetthatyoucandistributeoutto

people,orsimplyleaveatapubliclyfrequentedtable,spreadingawareness

ofthevariouspoliticalissuessurroundingthestruggleagainsthebudget

bill.Bygoogling"IWWGeneralStrikePamphlet",forexample,youcan

swiftlyaccessawell-designedandradicalpamphletcourtesyofthe

IndustrialWorkersoftheWorldthatexplainshowtheWisconsinBudgetBill

willhurtworker'srightsandadvocatesforaGeneralStrike.Ifyou'reso

inclined,youcaneventrytomakeapamphletofyourown.

Boycott:ThereareseveralcorporateentitiesandconglomeratesthatareeitherprivatelyorpubliclysupportbothGovernorWalkerandtheprovisions

oftheWisconsinBudgetRepairBill:byexercisingoureconomicpowerand

boycottingtheProductsofthesecompanies,wecanexertpressureonboth

theeconomic'captainsofindustry'andthepoliticalfigurestheysupport.

ThemostprominentofthesecorporateentitiesisKochIndustries,a

conglomeratethatisnotonlythechiefsupporterofAmericansfor

Prosperity,theTeaPartyMovement,andGovernerWalkerandhisbudget

billitself,butalsooneoftheTopTenPollutersintheUnitedStatesof

America.TheysellOilproductsunderthesubsidiarycompaniesKoch

PipelinesandFlintHillResources,FiberProductsunderInvista,Fertilizer

andCattleProductsunderKochFertilizerLLCandTheMatadorCattle

Company,andlotsandlotsofPaperProductsunderthelabelGeoriga-

Pacific(Brawny,DixieCups,QuiltedNorthern,etc.).Boycottingthe

productsofKochIndustriesandtheirsubsidiariesasimpleandeffective

meansofdirectaction.

AndLastbutnotleast...

SpreadtheWord:debate,discussion,anddiscoursearethethreealliterative"D"sofDemocracyandDirectAction:don'tbeafraidtovoice

youropinionsontheinjusticeandpower-playingthatliesbehindthefiscal

rhetoricoftheWisconsinBudgetRepairBill,reachouttootherpeopleyou

knownandurgethemtotakeaction,andsupportpublicforumsforthe

discussionandexchangeofinformationonthissignificantstruggle,suchas

thishereZine.Speakoutandwriteout,andyou'llmakeadifference.At

least,that'swhatI'mhopingthisarticleofminewilldo.


5/8

Simple Actions You Can Take to

Fight the Budget Bill

C o l e m a n G a i l l o r e t t o

T h e W i s c o n s i n S t a t e B u d g e t B i l l i s o n e o f t h e i m p o r t a n t p o l i t i c a l s t r u g g l e s

o f t h i s d e c a d e . I f t h e b i l l b e c o m e s l a w , i t w i l l a f f e c t t h e l i v e l i h o o d s o f m i l l i o n

o f h a r d - w o r k i n g W i s c o n s i n i t e s , r e s t r i c t e d u c a t i o n o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s t u d e n t s

a n d e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t e a c h e r s , c r i p p l e p e o p l e ' s a b i l i t i e s t o p a y

f o r M e d i c a l C a r e , a n d h a n d o v e r a l o t o f p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s t o s o m e r a t h e r

u n s c r u p u l o u s c o r p o r a t e e n t i t i e s . T h e m o m e n t t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h i s c a u s e

b e c a m e c l e a r t o m e , a n d I s a w h o w t h e s u p p o r t e r s o f t h e b u d g e t b i l l w e r e

w i l l i n g t o p l a y e x t r e m e l y d i r t y , I r e a l i z e d I h a d t o d o s o m e t h i n g t o h e l p ,

s o m e t h i n g I c o u l d l o o k b a c k o n y e a r s f r o m n o w a n d b e p r o u d o f . I ' m s u r e

t h a t s e n t i m e n t i s s h a r e d b y l o t s o f p e o p l e o t h e r t h a n m e , p e o p l e w h o w a n t

t o m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e .

S o m e t i m e s , t h o u g h , i t ' s h a r d t o f i g u r e o u t w h a t w a y s y o u c a n h e l p t h e

c a u s e b e s i d e s r i d i n g o v e r t o M a d i s o n a n d t h e S t a t e C a p i t a l B u i l d i n g

P r o t e s t s ( t h o u g h t h a t ' s a l w a y s a c o o l t h i n g t o d o ) . S o f o r p e o p l e ' s

e d i f i c a t i o n a n d i n a s p i r i t o f m u t u a l a i d , h e r e ' s s o m e s i m p l e , d a y - t o - d a y o r

w e e k l y a c t i o n s y o u y o u r s e l f a s a n i n d i v i d u a l c a n t a k e w i t h o u t a h a s s l e t o

' p u s h b a c k ' a g a i n s t t h e P o w e r s t h a t B e t h a t a r e b a c k i n g t h i s b u d g e t b i l l :

Write Letters to Your Local Representatives : T h i s a c t i o n i s e f f e c t i v e f o r a b o u t t h e s a m e r e a s o n t h a t y o u a l w a y s w r i t e y o u r M o t h e r ' s

D a y P o e m s o u t o n p a p e r : e v e n i n t h e e r a o f l o t s a n d l o t s o f e m a i l i n g , t h e

w e i g h t a n d g r a v i t a s o f a s h e e t o f p a p e r c a n ' t b e s h r u g g e d o f f l i g h t l y . I f y o u r

l o c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i s a n o p p o n e n t o f t h e b i l l , t h e n w r i t e t o t h a n k t h e m f o r

t h e h a r d w o r k t h e y ' r e d o i n g : i f t h e y ' r e a r e f o r t h e b i l l / u n d e c i d e d , t h e n

p o l i t e l y e x p l a i n w h y y o u f e e l t h e m e a s u r e s o f t h e b i l l a r e a B a d T h i n g , a n d

a s k t h e m t o m a k e t h e r i g h t d e c i s i o n . E m a i l s a r e o k a y t o o , b u t a r e m o r e

e a s i l y i g n o r e d , u n l e s s y o u . . .

Sign a Petition

: T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l p e t i t i o n s f l o a t i n g a b o u t t h e I n t e r n e t

o r c a r r i e d o n t h e c l i p b o a r d s o f h a r d - w o r k i n g a c t i v i s t s : s o m e a r e f o r

i n i t i a t i v e s t o r e c a l l W a l k e r a n d F r i e n d s , o t h e r s a r e m o r e g e n e r a l l y a g a i n s t

t h e b i l l , e t c . F i n d o n e w h o s e m e s s a g e y o u a g r e e w i t h a n d s i g n i t .

Go to a Local Protest/Solidarity Meeting

: B y p e r u s i n g a

n e w s p a p e r o r r u n n i n g s o m e d e d i c a t e d G o o g l e S e a r c h e s , i t ' s n o t t o o h a r d

t o f i n d p r o t e s t e v e n t s g o i n g o n i n y o u r h o m e t o w n , o r f i n d g r o u p s t h a t a r e

m e e t i n g o n a w e e k l y b a s i s : o u r o w n B e l o i t S o l i d a r i t y G r o u p c u r r e n t l y m e e t s

o n M o n d a y a t @ 1 0 : 1 5 , a n d h a s a e m a i l l i s t - s e r v e g o i n g

< b e l o i t s o l i d a r i t y @ g m a i l . c o m > .

U p o n a r r i v i n g a t t h e S c i e n c e C e n t e r , t h e s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ' s f l a g s h i p n e w

b u i l d i n g , t h e s t u d e n t s s e t t o w o r k r e o r g a n i z i n g a n d d e c o r a t i n g t h e a t r i u m . A

l a r g e b a n n e r w a s d r o p p e d f r o m t h e s e c o n d f l o o r , a n d a f o o d a n d t e a t a b l e s

w e r e s e t u p . A p r o j e c t o r w a s b r o u g h t t o s t r e a m t w e e t s f r o m M a d i s o n a n d

m o v i e s . U n t i l 3 a m , t h e s t u d e n t s t h e n c o n t i n u e d t h e i r m e e t i n g t o d e c i d e t h e

d i r e c t i o n t h e s p a c e w o u l d t a k e o v e r t h e n e x t f e w d a y s . T h e m e e t i n g s w e r e

c o n d u c t e d u s i n g t h e c o n s e n s u s p r o c e s s , a n d f a c i l i t a t o r s r o t a t e d f o r e a c h

n e w t o p i c o f d i s c u s s i o n . G u i d e l i n e s , a p r e s s r e l e a s e , a n d a c a l e n d e r o f

e v e n t s ( w h i c h i n c l u d e d i n f o r m a t i o n s e s s i o n s , c o m m u n i t y d i n n e r s , y o g a , a

h o o t e n a n n y , a n d p r i s o n e r l e t t e r w r i t i n g ) w e r e a l l o r g a n i z e d . A m i s s i o n

s t a t e m e n t w a s d r a f t e d w h i c h r e a d :

W e a r e h e r e t o r a i s e a w a r e n e s s , b u i l d c o m m u n i t y ,

a n d e n c o u r a g e d i a l o g u e s a b o u t t h e o n g o i n g

s t r u g g l e s a n d p e a c e f u l d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , b o t h

l o c a l l y a n d g l o b a l l y , t o f i g h t f o r b a s i c h u m a n

r i g h t s . W e s t a n d i n s o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h o s e t a k i n g

c o l l e c t i v e a c t i o n t o b e t t e r t h e i r w o r k i n g c o n d i t i o n s

o n t h e i r o w n t e r m s , i n c l u d i n g t h e r i g h t o f

W i s c o n s i n p u b l i c e m p l o y e e s , a n d t h e r i g h t s o f

e v e r y c i t i z e n t o p e a c e a b l y a n d d i r e c t l y e n g a g e

t h e i r g o v e r n m e n t .

A t a r o u n d 2 : 3 0 a m , c a m p u s s e c u r i t y a p p r o a c h e d t h e s t u d e n t s a n d a s k e d

t h e m t o l e a v e , a s a l l a c a d e m i c b u i l d i n g s c l o s e b e t w e e n 2 a m a n d 7 a m . A f t e r

a b r i e f d i s c u s s i o n , t h e s t u d e n t s a g r e e d t o t e m p o r a r i l y m o v e t o t h e J a v a J o i n t

( t h e c o f f e e s h o p o n c a m p u s ) a n d t h e n r e t u r n t o t h e S c i e n c e C e n t e r a t 7 a m

w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n t o s t a y n o m a t t e r t h e c o n s e q u e n c e . T h o u g h t h e o c c u p a t i o n

w a s c e r t a i n l y n o t s a n c t i o n e d b y t h e s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , B e l o i t S o l i d a r i t y

a g r e e d t h a t t h e o c c u p a t i o n w a s n o t a p r o t e s t a g a i n s t B e l o i t C o l l e g e , b u t

r a t h e r a n e x p e r i m e n t i n b u i l d i n g c o m m u n i t y a n d s e r v i n g a s a f o c a l p o i n t f o r

a c t i o n . H o w e v e r , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e c o m p r o m i s e m a d e t h e f i r s t n i g h t ,

t h e o c c u p a t i o n w a s c o n d u c t e d a l m o s t e n t i r e l y o n t h e s t u d e n t s ' t e r m s . E m a i l s

w e r e s e n t o u t t o t h e C o l l e g e ' s p r e s i d e n t , t h e h e a d o f s e c u r i t y , a n d a l l f a c u l t y

a n d s t a f f w h o w o r k e d i n t h e S c i e n c e C e n t e r , e x p l a i n i n g w h a t t h e o c c u p a t i o n

w a s a b o u t a n d i n v i t i n g a l l t h o s e i n t e r e s t e d i n p a r t i c i p a t i n g ( t h o u g h r e q u e s t s

f o r p e r m i s s i o n t o u t i l i z e t h e b u i l d i n g w a s n o t i c e a b l y a b s e n t f r o m a n y o f t h i s

c o r r e s p o n d e n c e . )


6/8

Overthenextfewdays,studentsand

severalfacultymaintainedacontinuous

presenceinthespace.Duringtheday,the

numbersfellbetween5and10studentsin

theatriumbutatnightoratbiggerevents

thenumberofparticipantswasbetween30

and50.Aninformationboothwassetup

duringthedaytopassoutinformationabout

thebillandotherliteraturerangingfrom

organizingageneralstriketoaride-share

forcoordinatingtripsuptoMadison.On

Wednesday,ayogaclasswasheldinwhich

around20peoplerolledouttheirmatson

theflooroftheatriumandlaterthatnight,

fouracousticguitarspromptedasing-along

thatlasthours.OnThursday,DonCollins,

anorganizerwiththesteel-workersunionin

Beloit,cametospeakaboutthehistoryof

unionsandcurrentorganizingagainstthe

bill.Thoseoccupyingthebuildingsoughtto

makethespaceaccessibletoresidentsof

Beloitwhowerenotstudents,asthecollege

islargelyseenasoff-limitsandalienated

fromtherestofthetown.Thespaceitselfprovidedonemediumfordoing

so,assemi-publicspacewithonespecificpurposewasredefinedtobecome

amulti-faceted,vibrant,communityinwhichparticipantschallenged

themselvesandeachother.

However,someofthelimitationsoftheoccupationincludedtiming,asthe

oncomingSpringbreakmeantthattheScienceCentercouldnotbeheld

indefinitely.Thescheduleofmid-termexamsandpapersalsolimited

participationbecausesomesympatheticstudentsweresimplytoobusyto

takepart.Anothercritiqueoftheoccupationwasthatparticipantswere

overwhelminglywhitestudentsandtherewasanoticeableabsenceofmany

studentsofcolor.Eventhougheffortsweremadefromthestart(inviting

largeactivistgroupsofcoloroncampustobothparticipateinthelarge

planningmeetingandfacilitation),topreventthis,thefactthatitoccurred

mustbediscussedforfutureinitiatives.Additionally,therewerethosethat

attemptedtotaketheoccupationinamoreradicaldirection,withaless

diplomatictonetowardsthecollege'sadministration.Intheendhowever,the

occupationwasasteptowardsbuildingstudentpowerautonomousfrom

campusadministrators,anditwasindeedradicalforastudentbodythat

typicallythinksandactswellinsidetheparadigmshandedtothem.

WhatIlovemostishow,eventhough

they'respecificallyprotected,

copsandfirefightersarestill

unitedwithalltheotherunion

workersinthestruggle.

Ihavebeensharingoureffortswithmyfamilyin

TN+NC,andtheyhavebeen

forwardingittootherswhohave

beenforwardingittoothers.Our

effortsarenationallyknownand

supported,andhaveinspired

otherstoactsimilarly.Let'skeep

upthemomentum!

"Isleptoutside!"

WeawokeinthecapitolonSaturdaytothetearfulgratitudeofa

Milwaukeeelementaryschoolteacherwho

shookallofourhandsandthankedusfor

representingtheteachersthatneededto

bewiththeirstudents.Staystrong,and

knowthateveryactionismeaningful!


7/8

INSPIRATIONFOR

ACTION:Anonymous Thoughts and Stories of Beloit Students

My Fatherw a s a t e a c h e r ' s u n i o n p r e s i d e n t i n S t . P a u l f o r 4 y e a r s .

D u r i n g h i s t i m e a s p r e s i d e n t s I l e a r n e d t h e v a l u e o f u n i o n

o r g a n i z i n g a n d i t s i m p o r t a n c e a s a v e h i c l e o f d e m o c r a c y a n d

r i g h t s i n t h e w o r k p a c e . T h i s p a s t w e e k m a k e s m e l o v e t h i s

s c h o o l s o m u c h m o r e - W I N F I G H T W I N

When I was outside the capitol,a w o m a n t o l d u s a b o u t h o w t h e p o l i c e w o u l d n ' t l e t h e r

b r i n g a b a g o f s u p p l i e s s u c h a s c l e a n u n d e r w e a r , s o c k s

t o o t h b r u s h e s , e t c . i n t o t o t h e c a p i t o l . S h e m a n a g e d t o t h r o w i t

i n t o a n e m e r g e n c y e x i t d o o r w h e n n o o n e w a s l o o k i n g . I t w a s

a w e s o m e .

I'm reallypassionate

aboutT h e d i a l o g u e o f r i g h t s ,

l e g i s l a t i o n , a n d

r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . T h i s

b i l l g o t m e p a r t i c u l a r l y

o u t r a g e d , a s i t i s

t u r n e d a g a i n s t t h o s e

w h o a r e a l r e a d y

s t r u g g l i n g t o b e h e a r d .

T h i s c a n n o t b e a

p r e c e d e n t !

I t w a s f r o m t h e s t r o n g a f f i n i t i e s b u i l t o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f t h e w e e k , t h a t t h e

s u c c e s s o f t h e o c c u p a t i o n w a s m o s t a p p a r e n t . A n e w a r e n a o f s t r u g g l e w a s

o p e n e d a t B e l o i t C o l l e g e , a n d t h e n u m b e r o f t h o s e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n a c t i v e

o r g a n i z i n g i n c r e a s e d t e n f o l d . T h e s p a c e w a s u s e d a s a p l a c e w h e r e d e e p e r

c o n n e c t i o n s c o u l d b e m a d e , a n d p e o p l e c h a l l e n g e d t o s e e t h e w i d e r

s y s t e m i c c o n t e x t t h a t s h a p e s t h e c u r r e n t s t r u g g l e t o d e f e a t t h i s b i l l . T h o u g h

t h e o c c u p a t i o n e n d e d F r i d a y n i g h t a t t h e s t a r t o f S p r i n g B r e a k , ( n o t e n o u g h

s t u d e n t s w o u l d b e l e f t o v e r t h e f o l l o w i n g w e e k t o m a i n t a i n t h e s p a c e ) , t h e

e n e r g y t h a t i t f o s t e r e d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o m a n i f e s t i t s e l f i n n e w a n d c r e a t i v e

w a y s i n t h e c o m i n g w e e k s . T h e B e l o i t o c c u p a t i o n , w h i c h p r o v e d s u c c e s s f u l

i n b u i l d i n g b o t h c o m m u n a l s p a c e a n d e m p o w e r m e n t , w a s n o t a n e n d i n a n d

o f i t s e l f , b u t r a t h e r i t w a s a s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r n e w a f f i n i t i e s a n d p o t e n t i a l i t i e s .

- J e f f P i c k e r t


8/8

mytoesbecomingmorenumbfromcoldwitheachstep,I

feltasthoughIwasrising,reachingtowardaprecipiceof

unimaginableheightthatIcouldntquitesee,andasI

turnedandsawthousandsofpeoplespreadbeforeme,I

couldseethesparksconnectingeveryone,thewayin

whichweweremanybutalso,atthesametime,one

gloriousbeingthatroseupfromeverycornerofthestate

andnationandproclaimedinonevoice,thisiswhat

democracylookslike;andtome,atthatmoment,looking

downuponthousandsofsignsandheadsheldhighwith

passionandrage,Icouldseeclearlytheshapemystate

made,theshapemycountryhadtaken,thepicturewe

weretryingtouphold,andI,forthefirsttime,knewwhatit

wasliketobeproudofwhereIcamefrom,soIdidnot

move,butsimplystoodandheldmybreath,afraidthatifI

emptiedmychestthefeelingwouldfollowtheairandI

wouldbeleftagainwithoutanysenseofbelonging,and

thesepeoplewouldjustbecomepeopletryingtobeapart

ofsomething,wantingtobeapartofhistory,alltogether

butstillseparate,notquitesurehowtotakethenextstep,

andthenIletoutmybreathandheldupmysignand

joinedinthechantingthatfloodedtheairaroundmeand

closedmyeyessoIcouldfeelthebreathingofthebody

thatwasWisconsin,insideofme,outsideofme,between

andinallofus,thatwehadfinallyfound.

-AnnaHolmquist.

AsIclimbedthesteps,

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