Bill Lueders
Friday 2/11
Gov. Scott Walker announces his plan to extract benefit concessions and eliminate collective bargaining for most public employees as part of his "budget repair bill."
Monday 2/14
About 1,000 UW-Madison students march up State Street with Valentines for Walker in the "I [heart] UW. Gov. Walker, don't break my heart" rally.
Tuesday 2/15
Protesters attend a noon rally at the Capitol. State officials estimate the crowd at 10,000 outside, 3,000 inside.
800 East High School students march up East Washington Avenue to the Capitol.
The Legislature's Joint Finance committee holds a public hearing on the bill; thousands line up to testify. A Capitol sleep-in begins as those waiting to testify camp out.
Wednesday 2/16
An estimated 20,000 protesters attend noon rally.
Madison schools are closed as more than half of teachers call in sick, not to reopen until Feb. 22.
The budget repair bill passes out of committee and heads to the Senate.
Thursday 2/17
All 14 Senate Democrats flee across the state line to Illinois to deny quorum, blocking a Senate vote.
Capitol Square rallies draw an estimated 25,000 protesters.
Assembly Republicans convene a floor session before the scheduled start time, preventing Dems from introducing amendments. After Dems protest, the GOP returns bill to amendable stage and adjourns until next Tuesday.
Friday 2/18
An estimated 40,000 people attend Capitol Square rallies. Speakers include AFL-CIO national president Richard Trumka and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
Saturday 2/19
Police estimate 68,000 people attend Capitol Square rallies. Pro-Walker protesters are variously estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000, with the rest pro-union. Joe the Plumber, Herman Cain and Andrew Breitbart speak at pro-Walker demonstration. WEAC president Mary Bell speaks at union rally. Madison police commend all attendees for a peaceful gathering.
Sunday 2/20
Bad weather moves smaller protests into the Capitol. Rep. Tammy Baldwin appears in the Rotunda to voice her support.
Monday 2/21
A prescheduled state worker furlough day and the federal Presidents Day holiday swell ranks of protest despite ice and snow. Speakers include Wisconsin AFL-CIO president Phil Neuenfeldt and United Steelworkers International president Leo Gerard.
5,000 protesters attend an evening rally at Monona Terrace with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Wayne Kramer of the MC5.
Tuesday 2/22
Gov. Scott Walker conducts a decidedly nonconciliatory "fireside chat" in which he intensifies his efforts to stir up resentment against public workers.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz signs an open letter to Gov. Walker, along with 160 other local officials from around the state, telling him that collective bargaining works. By press time, more than 300 officials have signed.
Wednesday 2/23
Madison's WTDY radio boots right-wing commentator Glenn Beck from its airwaves, after a 26-month run, for his putdowns of Wisconsin protesters, with talk host John Sylvester calling Beck a "deceitful demagogue."
