2011 Wisconsin protests

2011 Wisconsin protests
Joe Rowley · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Conflict	2011 Wisconsin protests
Date	February 14, 2011 - June 16, 2011
Place	Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison, Wisconsin

2011 Wisconsin protests. The 2011 Wisconsin protests were a series of demonstrations and labor union-led protests against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's Budget Repair Bill, which aimed to limit the collective bargaining rights of public sector employees, including American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) members, National Education Association (NEA) members, and other trade unions. The protests drew support from various organizations, including the Democratic National Committee, AFL-CIO, and Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Key figures, such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders, also expressed their support for the protesters.

Background

The 2011 Wisconsin protests were set against the backdrop of the Great Recession, which had a significant impact on the United States economy, including the economies of states like Wisconsin, California, and New York. The Republican Party had gained control of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate in the 2010 United States elections, with Scott Walker becoming the Governor of Wisconsin. Walker's administration, including Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin Rebecca Kleefisch, aimed to address the state's budget deficit through measures such as the Budget Repair Bill. The bill was met with opposition from Democratic Party members, including Tom Barrett, Russ Feingold, and Herb Kohl, as well as from various labor unions, such as the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).

Causes of the protests

The primary cause of the protests was the introduction of the Budget Repair Bill, which aimed to limit the collective bargaining rights of public sector employees, including those represented by the Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The bill was supported by Republican Party members, including Paul Ryan, Reince Priebus, and Sean Duffy, but was met with opposition from Democratic Party members, such as Tammy Baldwin, Gwen Moore, and Ron Kind. The protests also drew support from various organizations, including the National Organization for Women (NOW), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the Sierra Club. Key figures, such as Michael Moore, Rachel Maddow, and Ed Schultz, also expressed their support for the protesters, who were inspired by the Arab Spring protests in countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya.

Protests and opposition

The protests began on February 14, 2011, with a rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, which was attended by thousands of people, including members of the University of Wisconsin–Madison community, such as University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor Carolyn Martin. The protests were led by various labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, the SEIU, and the AFSCME, as well as by organizations like the Wisconsin AFL-CIO and the South Central Federation of Labor (SCFL). The protesters were supported by various Democratic Party members, including Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, as well as by key figures like Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Jesse Jackson. The protests also drew international attention, with support from organizations like the Canadian Labour Congress and the European Trade Union Confederation.

Legislative response and outcomes

The Wisconsin State Legislature passed the Budget Repair Bill on March 10, 2011, despite opposition from Democratic Party members, who had attempted to block the bill through various means, including a filibuster led by Wisconsin State Senator Mark Miller. The bill was signed into law by Scott Walker on March 11, 2011, and was met with continued opposition from protesters, who organized a series of recall elections against Republican Party members, including Wisconsin State Senator Dan Kapanke and Wisconsin State Senator Randy Hopper. The recall elections were supported by various organizations, including the Democratic National Committee and the AFL-CIO, and resulted in the recall of two Republican Party members, Wisconsin State Senator Dan Kapanke and Wisconsin State Senator Randy Hopper.

Impact and aftermath

The 2011 Wisconsin protests had a significant impact on the United States, with similar protests occurring in other states, such as Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. The protests also drew attention to the issue of collective bargaining rights, with organizations like the AFL-CIO and the SEIU launching campaigns to protect the rights of public sector employees. The protests also had an impact on the 2012 United States presidential election, with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney both addressing the issue of collective bargaining rights during their campaigns. Key figures, such as Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, and Al Franken, also continued to support the protesters, who were inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement and the Idle No More movement. The protests are also studied by scholars at institutions like Harvard University, University of California, Berkeley, and University of Wisconsin–Madison, who examine the role of social movements in shaping United States politics and United States labor law. Category:2011 protests