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Three days of footage (Feb 15-17) from the Madison, WI protest against the SB11 budget repair bill.

You can see all the amazing emails I've been receiving from people all over the country here: mgwisni.posterous.com/

Mgwisniphoto@gmail.com Please keep sending me encouraging emails of support from wherever you are. I've been reading them to the protestors and Democratic Representatives. If I don't respond it's because I'm receiving a ton of emails and am waaaaay behind.

YouTube version here: youtube.com/watch?v=5TmSNPpzkWc

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  • Pam Peterson 9 months ago
    Fantastic video Matt! Thanks much for giving us a chance to see the awesomeness going on down there!! keep filming! =)
  • Babas Gung 9 months ago
    This is a great video. I also saw another great one that just came out today: youtube.com/watch?v=CHkIcBU3iFk (feel free to remove this comment--just sharing)
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  • Brendan Hsu 9 months ago
    This video is inspiring! Thanks Matt!
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  • Oryx 9 months ago
    LOVE this video! (and not just because I'm in it) ^^
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  • Brian Nelson Campbell plus 9 months ago
    I enjoyed watching this Matt. This video is another testament to your talent and skill when it comes to capturing the essence of a moment.


    ...And because it's me commenting I just have to say that you could totally tell this was shot on a camera with a CMOS sensor every time someone fired off a Speedlight ;-).
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    hahaha. Thanks Brian.
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  • pyeplant 9 months ago
    fantastic.
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  • Tan Neemee 9 months ago
    Awesome!!!
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  • Nathan Vergin 9 months ago
    Fantastic video Matt!! We're doing something amazing here in Madison and your video really helps show that and convey how much this means to all of us!! Keep it up!! I'm trying to share this with everyone I know and encouraging them to pass it on as well!
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Yeah, please pass on this video if you like it. It needs more publicity. People need to see why we're protesting.
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  • Evan Murdock 9 months ago
    Best I've seen yet at capturing what it feels like on the ground.
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  • Delia Unson 9 months ago
    Thanks, Matt! You definitely captured the energy of the protest. People need to know what and why we are protesting and how it is a peaceful and democratic process. Great video! I am passing it on! :-))
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  • Eli Miller 9 months ago
    who the hell is Arcade Fire I've never heard of them ;p

    Don't mess with Wisconsin!
  • Gaye Cocoman 9 months ago
    I never did either until I read on Monday that they won a Grammy (for Best New Artist, I think). Now at least I can say I know what they sound like. :-)
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  • Jordan Peterson plus 9 months ago
    Very inspiring. Tumbled and tweeted it. Thank you!
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Thanks guys, keep it going! 4,500 views today and counting.
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  • Nathan Vergin 9 months ago
    I emailed this to Ed Shultz... trying to get him to show it on The Ed Show! Will contact others in media as well. I would encourage others to do this as well.
  • Theresa Peterson 9 months ago
    Hurray!!! I was thinking the same thing definately!
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Thanks Nathan! I really appreciate it. The more people who see it, the better coverage we'll all receive.
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  • Jessica Farrell plus 9 months ago
    Great work! Thank you for covering the events in Madison and sharing this video!
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  • Anne Lopez 9 months ago
    Nicely done. Great use of Arcade Fire. Perfect.
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  • Sarah K. Moore 9 months ago
    What Anne, above, said!
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  • Inspiring video. The youth can save this country. They have lack of experience on their side to attempt the impossible and change the status quo.
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  • Colleen Henley 9 months ago
    Truly amazing. Sharing with everyone I possibly can.
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  • Lisa R 9 months ago
    awesome video! check out the one i also made!
    vimeo.com/20081119
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  • Mark Kauzlarich 9 months ago
    What do you use for steadying the camera? Zacuto Striker or likewise?
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Mark - During weddings I use a Steadicam Merlin. At the Capitol I've just been using my arms, hands, and whatever I can rest my camera on, but most are handheld clips.
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  • Scott Foval 9 months ago
    Kick ass Matt. Your footage and editing skills are kick ass. Way better than mine, and I was there for a lot of the same stuff you shot. Kudos, bro.

    Scott
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  • Nancy Coffin 9 months ago
    Yay! for Wisconsin. This is a great video, and I'm really enjoying watching it here in New Jersey. You guys are really inspiring!
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  • Davis Statton 9 months ago
    I was sent here by the great Tbogg. Your video was thrilling. Wish I were there. I remember well how Reagan busted the air traffic controllers, but he had a pretext. This is a naked power grab. I'm sending your video to some of my college friends from the 60s. They'll get a kick out of it.
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Thanks Davis! I really appreciate it. We'll keep up the good fight.
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  • cassandra green 9 months ago
    matt, thank you so much for this....i posted it to all my friends....the anger about this situation was starting to become bigger than the beauty of the unity that your video shows...and seriously, it's put me back on the right track...it is amazing how media can be used as a tool to uplift, unite, and inspire....i'm ready to keep protesting....peacefully! thanks a lot......
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  • TJ spilman 9 months ago
    nice work....what type of camera was used in this video?
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  • Detroit Policy 9 months ago
    Great vid Matt-- Cheers from Detroit!! Keep up the great work helping us all to see what's happening there--

    Cheers!
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  • NICCOLO' UNGARO 9 months ago
    Cool Shared! Thancks
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  • Eli 9 months ago
    I see me and many of my friends and fellow students! :) Wonderful compilation video here. Really inspiring. Thanks for making and posting this!
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  • Red Dragon TV 9 months ago
    hi matt, I run an Independent Media broadcast. is the music on this video independent? I would love to use your video on red dragon tv. but can't if the song is not an independent artist (truly independent, meaning not on a label)
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  • Mister Bremer 9 months ago
    Nice work here. Good luck in WI!
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  • Jasmine Jackson 9 months ago
    I made a Vimeo account just to say you guys are amazing. Can't speak for anyone else, however you have at least one person in Baltimore, Maryland backing you guys up. Do NOT give in! Keep up the good work. You guys are AWESOME!! :)
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Red Dragon - The Arcade Fire is not a truly independent band unfortunately.

    Everyone - Thank you so much for supporting us in Wisconsin. We will keep fighting, peacefully.
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  • Susan Hildebrandt 9 months ago
    Thanks for the GREAT video, Matt! I'm headed up to Madison tomorrow and am SO excited to stand in solidarity w/ working people!
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  • Ben Fehlen 9 months ago
    Hey Matt! Born and raised just outside of Madison. Went to school and got an Education degree at UW Milwaukee. Living and teaching in Austin, TX. You're video is letting me feel like I'm there. Thank you so much. I'm sharing this with everyone I know. Keep up the good work. Please make more videos like this one!!
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  • Theresa Peterson 9 months ago
    Matt this is sooo inspiring to those of us Protesting this Bill! The shot of when the Firemen marched in, the music, the shot of all the hands raising up that huge flag, the shot of Abe Lincolns statue amidst the picket signs silouetted in the night fog (so cool!) , the little girl on someones shoulders, my heart is bursting with pride for my fellow Wisconsinites!! Thanks for making this & I am sharing it with everyone I can :)
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  • Ward Clark 9 months ago
    Be sure to download the high-def MP4 video - the quality is amazing. I watched the whole thing again!
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  • Shoogy Bee 9 months ago
    Brilliant job, Matt! Kudos!
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  • Gaye Cocoman 9 months ago
    More people than you can imagine believe this is fight worth fighting. They're trying to do the very same to our state employees here in Ohio. Thank you for your amazing video -- it brought me to tears.
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  • Jenny San Angel 9 months ago
    Many of us in Los Angeles are blown away by the heart and determination of the people of Wisconsin. "Inspiring" is an understatement. Thank you for showing the true face of educators, nurses, cops, firefighters, and public workers coming together for their rights not just as citizens of Wisconsin, but Americans.
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  • nick 9 months ago
    great vid!
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  • Paul Francis 9 months ago
    Seriously inspiring, young man. People like you are the future. Thank you for a peek into some amazing history in the making.
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Everyone - You are so inspiring to me. Please keep supporting us. I will try to pass on all of your words to our protestors.
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  • JD Raimer plus 9 months ago
    Beautifully shot and edited! I'm a cheesehead living in Los Angeles. Thank you for sharing with the wonderful Vimeo community.

    BTW - What camera and lens did you use!?
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  • Sierra Grace 9 months ago
    This is a wonderfully crafted video; such beautiful work! I am so moved by how well you have captured the last few days at the capitol -- so much so that I created this vimeo account to tell you :). Thank you so much for representing our efforts so beautifully!
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  • Stacy Barker 9 months ago
    I also just made an account so I could comment here! Great video! And I want to express my solidarity with you guys, from Charlotte, NC. :)

    I also wanted to share this pic I found today, showing solidarity from other places as well.

    farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5456977033_a2fbfd9061.jpg

    Egypt is with you guys too. :)

    One world. One pain. One fight.
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  • Barry Sherbeck plus 9 months ago
    Thanks Matt! Good images and music... Persistence and solidarity for fairness and the right to organize, advocate, and negotiate.
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  • Rachael Wicka 9 months ago
    Thanks Matt for sharing . I am so proud to say I am from Wisconsin! I left 17 years ago, but I stand in solidarity with you from New York with my fellow New Yorkers.

    Stacy - Amazing photo!

    Cheers to the firefighters too! They are truly heroic.
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  • Laurene Lafontaine 9 months ago
    Thank you Matt for the very inspiring video! Thank you to all the protesters for giving the rest of us the courage to stand up to a political machine hell bent on taking away American workers rights! Your powerful witness has made my day! Thank you!
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  • Tim Tynan 9 months ago
    Thanks Matt. Help our local news producers and writers and upload your important footage to archive.org
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  • Karl Bort 9 months ago
    Fantastic video Matt. I hope that all of us in Ohio going through the same thing can show the same unity and passion that you guys are.
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  • N Everitt 9 months ago
    Amazing video Matt! Found it on FB & shared. Thank you for sharing this with the world.
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  • Three Tuxedos Films 9 months ago
    Fantastic video and message, Matt! I've shared on both FB and Twitter. It is up to our great youth in America to restore balance and true democracy.
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  • Lauren K 9 months ago
    AMAZING video!! I'm a first year teacher in Ohio and I came across your video today - I posted it on Facebook and it's gotten such an amazing response. I hope Ohio can unite the same way you have in WI! Stay strong and continue to voice your beliefs! I hope to see a huge turnout of supporters this Tuesday at Ohio's statehouse. Thank you again for representing your efforts in such a beautiful way!
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  • debi Oberlin 9 months ago
    This is beautiful!!!
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  • c bass 9 months ago
    Where is the footage of the real live honest to goodness taxpayers? All I see is over compensated, over indulged teachers and a bunch of kids still living off of mommy and daddy's money. Put down the signs and the drums and get back to the classroom.
  • Tim Eaton 9 months ago
    re "All I see is ...."
    respectfully, au contraire, WI this is where the rubber hits the road. The Kochmeisters conspire to impose Corpo-kleptocracy via their Repugnantcon toadies while the sheeple are lulled and guiled by Faux Noize bloviators. No more shock doctrine.
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  • Matt Fiedler 9 months ago
    You could not have picked a better song to accompany the video. Gives you goosebumps, especially after being there for the past few days.
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  • Hellmut Lotz 9 months ago
    Awesome! This is very exciting and I shared the video on Facebook. Thanks for all your work.

    Perhaps, I can bring one small matter to your attention. If you call it "Repair the Budget Protests" then you are using Scott Walker's frame.

    He wants it to be about balancing the budget. You and I know that this is about civil rights.

    Does that make sense?
  • Tim Eaton 9 months ago
    >>>then you are using Scott Walker's frame.
    Spot on.
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  • John Suberlak 9 months ago
    awesome
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  • Tim Eaton 9 months ago
    bradblog.com/?p=8361
    Maddow argues GOP attack on Wisconsin public sector unions about nothing more than winning elections in the entire country. Forever..
  • John Everett 9 months ago
    Labor is the last defense of the People. Maddow is spot on.
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  • John Everett 9 months ago
    awesome vid. I never heard this song before, but I will always have good memories whenever I hear it from now on!
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  • mike rock 9 months ago
    Such a great video Matt! (& excellent choice on the Arcade Fire track, of course) Thank you for making this. Paul Francis had it right (see comment above.) Keep up the great work! [relocated Madison native, member of both SAG & AFTRA (afl-cio unions) former WORT 89.9 fm programmer]
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  • Mark Kaufman 9 months ago
    Shit. This. Made. Me. Cry.
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  • Some Chick 9 months ago
    Awesome! Where can I find the lyrics?
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  • Wood Sugars plus 9 months ago
    Fantastic Matt! Great way to spread the word.
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  • Sarrah Oliver 9 months ago
    Hey I'm a Hartford Union teacher and I've never been so proud and so humbled. Your support, your visual expression here is amazing. A+
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  • Kate Bronfenbrenner 9 months ago
    Thank you for this. This is the first footage that really captured both the spirit and power of what is happening in Wisconsin and in Ohio. Keep up the great work the movement needs talent like yours.
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  • Christian Müller 9 months ago
    All the best wishes to you from Europe! Keep it up!

    Kind regards,
    G.
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  • roxie anderson 9 months ago
    I love this video so much I want to marry it!! Thank you for capturing the spirit of peaceful assembly and the spirit of Wisconsin!! I shared your video on Facebook! Keep up the good fight! :)

    Cheesehead watching from California,
    Roxie
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  • Robert Lundahl plus 9 months ago
    Keep it up bro. SOLIDARITY FROM SOLANA BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  • GottaLaff 9 months ago
    I posted this at thepoliticalcarnival.net/2011/02/19/must-see-video-three-days-in-wisconsin/

    plus, I've tweeted relentlessly about it (I have a large following). It is absolutely tear-jerking great. Thank you!!
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  • Pam LaPier 9 months ago
    Thank you. It' so good to see Americans finally waking up from the long sleep they've been in.
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  • sid kramer 9 months ago
    Matt, what an inspiring video! Thank you from an Oklahoman who is with you all in spirit.
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  • Paul Petschek 9 months ago
    Makes one really proud!
    Way to go Wisconsin!!!
    Way to go Matt!!!
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Thank you everyone for your kind and uplifting words. I read some of your comments at the protest today to my fellow Capitol rotunda protestors. Another succesful, peaceful, respectful day of protesting. We will succeed.
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  • S Mahoney 9 months ago
    Your video is wonderful. I was almost in tears, and that is no easy feat. LOVE TO ALL PROTESTORS FROM PORTLAND OREGON!

    I wish I could be there with you all.
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  • S Mahoney 9 months ago
    PLEASE upload this ASAP to Youtube.
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  • Cheryl Hudspeth 9 months ago
    Super! We are getting fired up for the fight here in Kansas. Your video will add to our inspiration. Plus the music is stuck in my head-good choice.
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  • Wukong Zero 9 months ago
    Sweet! Getting fired up here in OH....similar fight starting up in our state. I've been on twitter of and on all day....Ahhh I think your video will be the last images I allow in before sleep....perhaps some optimistic dreams. Beautiful job capturing a vibe!
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  • Margaret Wells 9 months ago
    I joined just to say fantastic job Matt! We are supporting the protest from Pennsylvania. Go Wisconsin! With you in solidarity!
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  • har yahr 9 months ago
    Great work Matt. Thanks for sharing with the world. Great success to you--film on!
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  • Jim F 9 months ago
    Wow, that is a great video!

    current.com/entertainment/music/93008976_wisconsin-budget-repair-bill-protest.htm

    Someone posted it to this site.
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  • Cascia Films plus 9 months ago
    Very well-done and inspiring piece. Great music choice
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  • Nick Catalano 9 months ago
    5D? What lenses were you using?
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  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    Nick - Sigma 14mm 2.8
    Canon 24-70mm 2.8
    Canon 70-200mm 2.8 non-is

    For those of you who are about to fight the same fight, use us as an example. Be peaceful. Use your voices, not your firsts. Be there every day in force. Do not back down.
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  • Elizabeth Soto 9 months ago
    Great Video Matt! Huffington post has linked to it finally, here is the link: huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/19/madison-protests_n_825616.html#93_protest-tribute-video-set-to-arcade-fire-song

    Please make sure you get Tom Morello on video and share. Thanks and standing in Solidarity.
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  • Toni Webb 9 months ago
    Watching this every morning for inspiration in Ohio!
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  • Collin Hawkins 9 months ago
    Matt, my name is Collin, I live in Shaoguan China. I'm from Wisconsin. My parents are retired and disabled. The only reason I can be here is because they have a decent pension from their years working in the UW System (my mom was a secretary, my dad a janitor). I've been devastated by what's happening, and even more so that I cannot be there now. I stayed up all last night frantically checking facebook, emailing people, writing letters and articles. I feel isolated and lonely in this place where no one knows what a union is, nor has any idea what is happening in Wisconsin.

    This video has helped me tremendously. I'm not using hyperbole here when I say that you've made me feel it. I feel the energy coming from Madison, and it makes me feel a little less isolated. I guess that's the point of art.

    Thank you so much for making this. Know that while a lot of your friends and rando Huffpo readers will think it's "cool" or "inspiring", for me it's been a link to home and a godsend!
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  • David 9 months ago
    What we are seeing is the dismantling on an organized effort of the middle class it started with Bush and it is continuing. Don't think the democrats are not in on this although they are making a visible effort to condemn this, but in reality they are playing good cop bad cop. The global elites want a poor class and rich class then begins the elimination of the population.. Go read the "Georgia Guidestones" Google it, it reveals they eventually want the population of this earth to be 500,000,000.. whether than will ever happen is unknown.. The NWO though will succeed in changing the whole political structure on this earth to that of a dictatorial power, this cannot be done without bringing down the rights and wealth of american people. This is why 9/11 happened and where this is all going. The UN will rule the world soon. Sadly nothing will impede this.. It is foretold to happen. I just wish people would take note to look behind at all the real reasons why this is happening if they would they would really know what is happening.

    PS: Love the camera quality..
  • Matt Wisniewski plus 9 months ago
    I'm leaving this up because I believe in freedom of speech, but let me just say you are doing as much damage to the middle class by saying absolutely outrageous and completely factless things as the Tea Partiers. When people like you say they are behind us and then spew complete falsehoods, it does NOT help our cause in the least.

    P.S. Thank you, the 5d Mark 2 does amazing things!
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