Wisconsin State Capitol
Madison, WI
1/12/2019

From out of the shadows has emerged the white nationalists. They are a group of predominantly white males who have been empowered by, of all people, the president of the United States, Donald Trump. They’ve always been with us, festering under a thin veil complacency across the country, and across the world. Every now and then you would here of some distant rumblings, sightings of neo-nazi’s in some rural southern town no body has ever heard of. Yet they were waiting patiently for a sign from on high, giving them the OK to come out in the open because the people needed them to stop the spread of socialism and border invasions. In addition, they came to protect the rights of all Americans, especially the right to bear arms via the Second Amendment to the constitution. And here today at the Wisconsin State Capital, those patriots came to town to hold a “We The People” rally for our rights, freedom and lives.

As can be seen in the photos, their numbers, estimated to be less than 50, were paltry to say the least. The enthusiasm I observed from those in attendance was dull at best. Each speaker they had was simply another member from their choir, singing the same uninspired verse over and over again. There were no city or state officials there to support the white nationalists. There were no community leaders whatsoever to stand behind these men as they espoused talking points heard on FOX or some other media outlet for the far-right. It was simply a gang of men who wanted to show they could be out and about with there beloved AR 15 strapped across their chests, with barrels dangling between their legs in place of something else.

In response, the International Socialist Organization – Madison called together its members and those from other interested groups to decide whether a counter-protest was necessary, feasible and desired. It was decided they would organize and hold a counter-protest across the street from the white nationalist rally. An attempt at a show of power was met with a counter-protest from numerous groups, primarily from the Madison area.

The counter-protesters, conservatively, outnumbered the white nationalists 5 – 1. I would estimate there were 250 – 300 voices drowning out the speakers at the top of the capital steps. And as the rally progressed the counter-protestors took their collective voice from State Street to the Capital steps despite a police line separating the people from the nationalists.

In the end, the “We The People” rally scheduled to be held from 12:00 – 3:30 was over, not even making it to 1:30pm. And as the white nationalists disbanded, the counter-protest moved forward, pushing the police back further and further until they ultimately took the Capital steps back in the name of the people!