Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, WI
4/5/2025
As the Trump administration continues to dismantle, disrupt, and defile democracy, the People grow angrier each day. Executive Order after Executive Order—111 as of this writing—tears into the fabric of the lives of every American, democrat, republican, or otherwise. And while some whose level of hatred for others supports the destruction of that which they supposedly hold dear, others are finally saying HANDS OFF!
Today, the nation as a whole took to the streets. According to news outlets, 1,300 - 1,400 Hands Off! rallies were happening around the country, bringing millions out to make their voices heard.
I estimate nearly 10,000 people attended the event in Madison. This size crowd has not surrounded the capitol building since the 2011 protests against Scott Walker, and it was heartening to see.
My question is, do the People have the desire and stamina to come out every time the call is made to rally and say, HANDS OFF?
Certainly, in 2011 and 2012, the people of Wisconsin showed the country what democracy looks like and sustained a presence at the Wisconsin State Capitol on a regular basis, drawing crowds in the thousands for many of the protests during that time.
As I have witnessed many times over my years of covering protests, marches, and rallies in Madison, the willingness to show up to save democracy wanes quickly. And it has been left to activists and organizers from primarily socialist organizations to keep fires burning.
The caveat, of course, is when it impacts the majority or is a clear injustice to someone from the not majority, then the masses rally and show up: Climate change, gun control, Roe, and George Floyd.
But, when it's Tony Robinson, support for transgender people, or less popular topics, those showing up are not typically the majority. The unconscious mindset tells people, This doesn't impact you directly, so it's not your problem.
Cynical? Yes, it is, I suppose. But it's what I have witnessed.
As heartening as today's event was, it left me wondering how much suffering needs to happen to the People, all the people, for protests like this to become the norm and not the exception!
Several groups on Facebook had events for today's protest:
- Hands Off! Rally (Madison Teal Team)
- Wisconsin's March Forward (Southwest Wisconsin Area Progressives (SWWAP))
- 50501 Madison April Rally (Crow Carrion and Lee Stedman)
Photographers' Rant: I have been covering marches, protests, and rallies in Madison since February 2011. Many of these have been at the Wisconsin State Capitol, where I and many photographers (representing media outlets, freelancers, and those documenting the goings on in their community) have stood to their work, without question or issues from those hosting the events. Until today!
The organizers, whose names I didn't get, were militant in their banning of documenters of the event from being on or near what they called the "stage," the area immediately around the speaker's podium. I witnessed one photographer who was threatened and told they would call security if they didn't leave the "stage." I couldn't believe what I was hearing and seeing happen at an event to save democracy from fascism.
Additionally, a person with a bullhorn was walking up and down the 100 block of State Street, telling people, "The march has not started yet. Please return to the capitol and wait for the march to begin." As I stood watching this happen, I could see confusion and disbelief on people's faces regarding the instructions being barked at them.
Instead of yelling at people to get in line, the people would have been better served with instructions on what was happening regarding the impending march, where it was going, and what would happen when it got there. I heard several people say they thought the event and march had ended as it stopped and started on its way to the Library Mall on the UW-Madison campus. Further, at Library Mall, there were competing speakers, each in close proximity to the other, again leaving people confused as to what was going on. Was this planned, or is it now an impromptu thing happening? Lastly, one of the speakers, upon finishing, told their group to turn and march back to the capitol, leaving the other group behind. So much for the unity and solidarity being espoused earlier.
I hope the organizers of the event debrief and learn from their mistakes today before they attempt to hold another protest of this size.
Note: I am not affiliated with any political organizations. I am an independent freelance photographer covering marches, protests, and rallies in Madison, Wisconsin, documenting the people's right to free speech and their right to organize.
