Firestorm Cafe & Books stands in solidarity with Wisconsin public sector workers and their struggle against the state’s draconian attempt to strip them of collective bargaining rights. We have been inspired by the actions of teachers on unofficial strike, students who have walked out of class in their support and the thousands of workers who have seized the Capitol rotunda in Madison.

Witnessing demonstrators occupy the halls of power is truly a beautiful and welcome reminder that resistance is not just the work of movements abroad, but also here in North America. We hope Wisconsin’s workers, having spoken truth to power, will take some of that power back into their communities, where it rightly belongs, on their return home.

Wisconsin, we wish you the best in struggle but we believe that, no matter what happens in Madison, you have already set victory into motion. You have discovered, and shown us, that the power of a union lies in our hearts, our hands and our minds and not in the dictates of any law or government official.

We fully support the South Central Federation of Labor’s call for a state-wide general strike as part of organized labor’s mission to preserve the voices of workers. On Saturday, February 26th, we will join with local workers and activists at noon in Pack Square to share our vision of a society of liberated individuals and democratic workplaces.