Wisconsin labor union members and their supporters are gathering on the Capitol Square in downtown Madison for the "Reclaim Wisconsin" rally to mark one year since Gov. Scott Walker's bill stripping collective bargaining rights from public employees was passed in the state legislature. Follow live tweets, aggregated reports, and discussion throughout the day and evening here.
The rally is the culmination of the "Reclaim Wisconsin Tour" organized by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, which opened on Wednesday, February 15 in La Crosse, and proceeded with rallies in Wausau, Eau Claire, Kaukana, Racine, and Milwaukee. Turning to Madison, the tour continued with a candlelight vigil at the Capitol on Friday evening, and concludes today with a demonstration.
Organizers are expecting tens of thousands of people to turn out for the rally, with activists from around the state converging to participate. Pre-rally festivities officially begin at 1 p.m., with speakers commencing at 2 p.m. The rally emcee is John "Sly" Sylverster from WTDY, and speakers include: Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO; state Sen. Jen Shilling; Mary Kay Henry, national president of the SEIU; Ed Ludwig, a first grade teacher from La Crosse; Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin; Lori Compas, Recall Scott Fitzgerald campaign organizer and state senate candidate; and, John Nichols of The Nation and The Capital Times. The Fire Fighters Local 311 will also be leading a post-rally pipes and drums march from the Capitol.
The primary political focus of the rally is the ongoing campaign to recall Gov. Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and four Republican state senators. "The people of Wisconsin are standing up to reclaim their democracy and reclaim the true Wisconsin," declare rally organizers. "By recalling Scott Walker we can return to a Wisconsin that is fair, a Wisconsin that honors justice and a Wisconsin that treats its workers with dignity and respect."
Ongoing coverage of the Wisconsin labor solidarity movement and the last thirteen months of protests against Gov. Walker is available here.
To add your own report about voting today to the stream, simply tweet using the hashtag #reclaimwi. We'll also have commenting enabled on the live-blog window below during the day.
