2011 Wisconsin protests

2011 Wisconsin protests
Part of 2011 United States public employee protests and the impact of the Arab Spring
Overhead view of hundreds of people wearing red for the teachers' unions, protesting against Walker's bill.
Thousands gather inside Madison Wisconsin's Capitol rotunda to protest Governor Walker's proposed bill.
DateFebruary 14, 2011 (2011-02-14) – June 16, 2011 (2011-06-16)
Location
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.

43°4′29.6″N 89°23′8.2″W / 43.074889°N 89.385611°W / 43.074889; -89.385611
Caused byOpposition to certain provisions in legislation (Budget Repair Bill) proposed by Governor Scott Walker to limit public employee collective bargaining and address a state budget shortfall.
MethodsProtests, sit-ins, demonstrations, recall elections, quorum-busting
StatusActive protests ended by late June 2011; several pending lawsuits
Concessionsnone; Budget Repair Bill passed; 2 Republican State Senators recalled from office (8/9/2011); 2 Democratic State Senators win recall elections on 8/16/11; Failed recall attempt of Governor Scott Walker.
Parties

Political organizations:

Unions:

Lead figures

Non-centralized leadership

Wisconsin Democratic Legislature figures:

Wisconsin Senate 14

Governor Scott Walker

Wisconsin Republican Legislature figures:

Number
Protesters: 100,000+[3]
Counter protesters:
Several thousand[4][5]
Casualties and losses

The 2011 Wisconsin protests were a series of demonstrations in the state of Wisconsin in the United States beginning in February involving as many as 100,000 protesters[3] opposing the 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, also called the "Wisconsin Budget Repair bill." The protests centered on the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, with satellite protests also occurring at other municipalities throughout the state.[8][9] Demonstrations took place at various college campuses, including the University of Wisconsin–Madison[10] and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.[11] After the collective bargaining bill was upheld by the Wisconsin Supreme Court on June 14,[12] the number of protesters declined to about 1,000 within a couple days.[13]

The protests were a major driving force for recall elections of state senators in 2011 and 2012, the failed recall of Governor Scott Walker in 2012 and a contentious Wisconsin Supreme Court election in 2011.

  1. ^ Smith, Ben (February 17, 2011). "DNC Playing Role in Wisconsin Protests". Politico. Archived from the original on February 28, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  2. ^ Terkel, Amanda (February 17, 2011). "DNC Expands Role in Labor Protests to Ohio, Indiana". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  3. ^ a b "Most Popular E-mail Newsletter". USA Today. February 27, 2011. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  4. ^ Kelleher, James (February 23, 2011). "Inside Capitol, Wisconsin protesters create a city". Reuters. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  5. ^ Condon, Patrick; Richmond, Todd (February 27, 2011). "In show of solidarity, protesters nationwide supporting Wis. workers fighting anti-union bill". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved March 4, 2011. [dead link‍]
  6. ^ AP modified (February 17, 2011). "9 Arrests on Day 3 of Wisconsin Protests". Myfoxtwincities.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  7. ^ AP staff reporter (February 17, 2011). "9 arrested in third day of labor protests in Madison". The Oshkosh Northwestern. Oshkosh, WI. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
  8. ^ "Milwaukee teachers protest budget-repair bill". www.jsonline.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  9. ^ "Northeastern Wisconsin residents join Wisconsin budget repair bill protests". Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  10. ^ "UW teachers, students protest Walker's budget fix". February 14, 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2017. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  11. ^ "UWM Students Rally Against Budget Proposal". Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  12. ^ "Supreme Court reinstates collective bargaining law". www.jsonline.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  13. ^ "Wisconsin Demoralized, Demobilized". Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2017.