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undeterred

(34,658 posts)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:18 AM Dec 2012

From protesting to legislating: Two who marched at WI Capitol set to take office

DEE J. HALL | Wisconsin State Journal | dhall@madison.com | 608-252-6132

In 2011, Melissa Sargent was among the most diehard demonstrators at the Capitol. For 50 days straight, Sargent, often accompanied by some or all of her four children, protested the policies of Gov. Scott Walker and the new Republican majority in the Legislature, whose moves to gut collective bargaining for public employees sparked mass demonstrations.

When officials locked the Capitol, Sargent said she and the kids, including the baby, Trystan, marched outside in the cold. And when the Capitol police ordered her three older boys — Devin, Bailey and Keanan — to take down their protest sign declaring "Solidarity," they refused, earning a ticket that was later dismissed.

Come January, the 43-year-old small-business owner will occupy the Capitol in a radically different way. Sargent is the newly elected representative to Madison's 48th Assembly District, whose redrawn boundaries include the city's East and North sides.

She will be joined by another protester-turned-lawmaker, Katrina Shankland, 25, who will represent the 71st Assembly District including Stevens Point and Plover. Shankland also credits the protests that rocked the Capitol with catapulting her into politics. She left her job with a renewable energy company to work "90-plus hours a week" as an organizer for the Democratic Party collecting recall signatures against Walker. Shankland testified in the middle of the night at the Assembly Democrats' 61-hour marathon hearing to oppose Walker's efforts to strip bargaining rights from most government employees. "I actually became a protester right out of the gate," Shankland said. "I was there every weekend. (And) when Act 10 came down (on March 9, 2011), I was in the Capitol."

Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/from-protesting-to-legislating-two-who-marched-at-capitol-set/article_57b7883e-4fbf-11e2-a063-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz2GFnPy0GM

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Scuba

(53,475 posts)
1. We cannot thank these two women enough. But I'll try ...
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 08:38 AM
Dec 2012

THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
2. this proves that OWS no leader, is the exact WRONG way to protest. Leads to nothing.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 09:01 AM
Dec 2012

You have to have leaders who go on to being elected.

It is also why Ralph Nader did everything half assed when he could have been elected (had he actually wanted to do hard grunt work)

Some of the great 60s protesters learned that you have to be in it to do something

which is how America works.

Bravo to these two.

If OWS went to every single district that is red and got known and liked in the community and ran as democrats for the house, they could all occupy the house in 2014 and achieve an actual something longterm.
all it takes is work.

sybylla

(8,464 posts)
6. Actually, these ladies ran in very blue districts. But I like your idea all the same.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:50 AM
Dec 2012

We even debated here in WI if it was worth the effort to go sit in Madison versus going out into the neighborhoods to talk to voters.

In the end, I think abandoning the protests contributed somewhat to our loss in the recall of Walker. So long as there were protestors in Madison, every news station and newspaper covered it. As soon as that stopped, the MSM and the pukes convinced the uninformed voters that either there wasn't a problem any more or that we were the problem.

If you have the people, I think it's worth the effort to do both.

sybylla

(8,464 posts)
5. I worked with Katrina on the recall and watched her campaign with pride from a nearby district.
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:43 AM
Dec 2012

She won a 7-way primary on the Dem side and beat an Independent for the seat. This woman is going places.

Congrats Katrina and Melissa.

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