Madison, WI
6/14/2025
The “Kick Out The Clowns & No Kings” march and rally in Madison, WI, could be viewed as a tale of values that are sadly at odds with themselves.
First, you have the majority who oppose Trump and his ilk. They are disgusted with the dismantling of democracy and the attempt to instill a fascist dictatorship. Sprinkled among this group are those who feel strongly about Israel’s mishandling of Gaza and the genocide they are inflicting on the Palestinian people, some even carried signs with the bulk of the marchers from Library Mall to the Capitol, but most are unwilling to vocalize their disgust or position.
Then you have a contingent of people who are willing to take the additional steps and call bullshit on the Democrats unwilling to stand up and speakout against the US and Israel for their complicity in the descruction of Gaza and the thousands of deaths. This contingent, the Palestinian Solidarity Contingent, bookended the march from campus to the square. Their numbers were smaller, but their voices were just as loud and as clear. The description of the event simply said:
“We are hoping for a large Palestinian solidarity contingent marching together and speaking out against the continued destruction of Gaza, the blockade on humanitarian aid, and the increased violence in the West Bank.”
The contingent was made up of predominantly socialists (democratic and revolutionary). A member of the ‘Revolutionary Socialists of Madison’ said:
“[I]t’s very important for revolutionary socialists in places like Madison, WI, and other predominantly white cities, to participate, to find those desperate to protest. With the lack of an organized multi-racial left, people want to be in the streets, want to protest in some way. There’s no magic way to find people without going where they are and where they’re actually looking for politics. Socialists can and must be a visible pole of attraction whenever possible.
“Outside of methodically attending picket lines, without engaging in liberal protests, the left talks to itself, engages in charity work, or tails NGOs. No one protested the kidnapping of Greta Thuneburg, came out to openly oppose ICE, in solidarity with other cities, or even went to the Capitol in protest of the Israel/US bombing of Iran.”
“It is incumbent upon revolutionary socialists to go to the few places others may know to protest. Everybody starts somewhere, as anarchists or liberals. Very few are born revolutionaries; revolutionaries develop among themselves, but only once they’ve found each other, which generally occurs when they are in the streets together. People change in struggle.”
The contingent gathered at the Forward Statue at the top of State Street, the primary place where most people coming and going from the march would be walking. In addition, the group organized and marched around the Capitol square, increasing its visibility and furthering the message that what is happening in Gaza, and now Iran, will not be tolerated and must be stopped immediately.
The Palestinian Solidarity Contingent was supported by Mennonite Action Madison, Madison Rafah Sister City Project, Jewish Voice for Peace, CODEPink, the Interfaith Peace Working Group, and other faith and peace groups.
