Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, WI
4/15/2025
It's tax day 2025, and after an all-day mutual aid sit-in inside the Wisconsin State Capitol building, a small group gathered outside at the Forward statue to share stories and perspectives on how capitalism is killing us.
The event description stated:
After the Capitol closes at 6, we will have speakers outside on the State St. steps around 6:30 talking about the negative impacts that large-scale Capitalism has had on our lives or about local resources and mutual aid. We tentatively have speakers from the Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement, Freedom Inc., UW Center for Cooperatives, Madison Tenant Power, and more.
[A] local artist painting a live mural on a plywood canvas outside the Capitol. Our theme of “We are infinite” is meant to reflect both our distinctiveness as individuals and our strength as a community while honoring those we have lost to the gears of Capitalism.
Speakers talked about friends they had lost to suicide as a result of difficulty with making ends meet. Others talked about the threat police pose to those in need physically, mentally, and socioeconomically. A recent victim was Kevin Price, who was shot by police in Fitchburg on August 12, 2024, and died three days later. One speaker referenced the murder of Tony Robinson ten years ago and asked, What has changed?
The speaker from Madison Tenant Power described how many members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, both democrat and republican, are landlords and are writing and voting on bills and laws that benefit them as landlords, when they are supposed to be working for the people, their constituents, to keep predatory property owners at bey, not helping them become more wealthy while screwing those of us who rent.
Several speakers talked about the benefits of cooperatives and how many were thriving in and around Madison.
Lastly, a wonderful speaker discussed the need for everyone to help everyone else, to give back and support one another, even if they don't like the politics of the other person, that we are stronger together.
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.
