Around 1,500 labor solidarity marchers made their way up Madison's West Washington Street to the state Capitol Sunday to mark International Workers' Day.
The annual May Day protest originated to commemorate workers' rights, but collective bargaining rights, immigration rights, the environment and other issues converged at the rally.
Local attorney and activist Ben Manski opened the rally at Brittingham Park with a moment of silence to honor longtime Madison activist Ben Masel, who died Saturday.
Other local activists followed, speaking about the history of the Haymarket Riots, immigration issues and recent solidarity during the past months' labor showdown at the Capitol.
"We've shown great strength and creativity in resisting the union busting Budget Repair Bill," said Progressive Dane organizer T.J. Mertz. "Going back to where we were before isn't good enough."
The Madison International Socialist Organization's Daniel Suarez spoke against the Arizona-style immigration bill reportedly in the works under Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Hartford).
"The Pridemore immigration bill... seeks to criminalize all people with brown skin and who happen to be bilingual,. Suarez said.
Damon Terrell urged unity between the various movements.
"We need to make one struggle because there's just one attack, and it's on all of us," Terrell said.
The Brittingham crowd marched up West Washington chanting "Sí se puede!" and "Workers united will never be divided," up to the Capitol, where speeches continued in both Spanish and English.
Members of immigrant workers' union, Union de Trabajadores Inmigrantes, spoke against legislation that would end the food stamp aid to documented immigrants and increase tuition for undocumented students to international rates, and against Rep. Pridemore's bill.
"When I saw all the flags at the parade today, they were different colors," said one UTI youth member. "Then I saw the shadows and they were all the same."
The Madison Area Peace Coalition's Will Williams continued the message of unity.
"It's time for us to realize that we must be one. Your issue is my issue," said Williams. "We cannot remain separated on different causes, because the same people that create problems for you create problems for me and for people all over the world."
