Reply #22: MoveOn is saying 50,000 nationwide (outside of Madison)

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

Dear MoveOn member,

Wow. Just wow. Yesterday, 50,000 people took to the streets of every single capital in America to stand with Wisconsin and demand an end to the attacks on workers and to the cuts to vital services. We're done watching the middle class get squeezed while the rich refuse to pay their fair share.

Another 40,000 people followed along online, watching our live broadcasts and liveblog. And all of this was organized, primarily by volunteers, in only 4 days.

The American Dream Movement has arrived, inspired by the bravery of the students, teachers, firefighters and other protesters in Madison, Wisconsin.

They were out again in force yesterday, surrounding the Capitol in the biggest demonstration yet. This minute, those protesters are risking arrest as they peacefully refuse to leave the Capitol, which they've occupied for the last twelve days.

The reports from across the country were amazing—inspiring and energizing. 1,000 people in St. Paul in 5-degree weather. 3,100 in a downpour in Trenton. And in deep red America, 300 people on the steps of the Alabama Capitol, and 400 in Jefferson City, Missouri.

And the world noticed. While cable news gave the protests far less coverage than much smaller tea party events, there was an extraordinary amount of local news coverage—more than we've ever seen. And The New York Times, the Associated Press, CNN, Bloomberg, and The Washington Post all covered the protests. On Twitter, #WeAreWI was one of the top trending topics nationwide.

The photos from across the country are beautiful, and make it clear that people are fired up. That we'll continue to stand with the people of Wisconsin as they continue to fight for their rights. And that yesterday was only the beginning.

Thanks for all you do.
–Daniel, Lenore, Robin, Wes, and the rest of the team

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