Wisconsin Protesters Erect 'Walkerville' Tent City To Protest Scott Walker's Budget Cuts – TAA

WASHINGTON — In February and March, thousands of protesters flooded the Wisconsin Capitol, sleeping in the building overnight and filling the dome with their chants to bring attention to Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) attempt to strip public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Now, some of those same individuals are taking the fight to the grounds around the Capitol, erecting a tent city to pay witness to the legislature’s budget negotiations.

“It’s pretty tough for these politicians to ignore us when we’re right there,” said Peter Rickman, a University of Wisconsin-Madison law student and Teaching Assistants’ Association member who is helping to organize the event. “It is a galvanizing, symbolic action of working folks standing up and saying enough is enough.”

Rickman told The Huffington Post there were around 100 tents set up Saturday night around the Capitol in downtown Madison. The tent city is being called “Walkerville,” reminiscent of the “Hooverville” shanty towns set up by homeless Americans during the Great Depression.

Organizers have a permit to stay there until June 20. The intent, however, is to remain as long as as the budget negotiations are going on inside the Capitol.