By
pedal, foot or automobile, activists from around Wisconsin went to Chicago this
past weekend to protest the NATO Summit. Many sconnies wore “solidarity”
t-shirts, or carried posters of Bucky Badger holding a sign that read “No to
Nato,” making them easy to spot even among a crowd of 1,000s. “That’s exactly
why I wore it,” says Mary Jo Fesenmaier, a teacher from Lake Geneva.
Thi
Li and CJ Terrell, who nixed sleeves in order to show off their solidarity
tattoos, were among a small group who rode their bikes from Madison. They left
May 13 and rested at two campsites, as well as the All People’s Church in
Milwaukee, before arriving in Chicago on May 18.
Long-time
activist Kathy Kelly led a group on a 170-mile walk from Madison to Chicago. They
left on May 1 and stopped at 25 cities to hold small speaking events and, of
course, give their feet a well deserved break. Of course, the majority opted
for an easier way: A bus carted 45 activists from the Madison area and arrived
shortly before Sunday’s big march.
Regardless
of how they got there, Wisconsin activists kept true to the state’s history of
being very politically involved. Throughout Sunday’s march, Milwaukee resident
Brian Verdin carried the state flag so that it could be seen waving high and
proud among the sea of colorful banners.
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