Hundreds of people gathered at the Capitol in Madison and marched down State Street on Wednesday as part of a national day of protest following President Donald Trump’s first few weeks in office.
Wisconsin protestors decried the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration, trans rights and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. There were also calls to remove billionaire Elon Musk from his new government role.
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Rita Teniente, a nurse from Madison, came out to represent the immigrant community.
“Immigrants, who are my family and friends, who are feeling unsafe to leave their house,” Teniente told WPR.
She said her parents immigrated to Wisconsin in the 1960s, and she was born here.
“I don’t think I would have the life that I have now if they didn’t come here,” Teniente said. “I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams.”
“We’re not criminals,” she added. “My family and my friends that have immigrated here belong here. We feel that we belong here, that we are part of American cloth and that we deserve the same rights.”
20-year-old student Logan Greendeer spoke at the capitol. It was his first time speaking at a political event. He encouraged attendees to protest peacefully.
“We show it with our mouths and not our hands,” he said.
For his part, Greendeer said he didn’t like the deportations he’s heard about.
“I also don’t like the rights that are being stripped away from people,” Greendeer said. “It’s regression, and I do not stand for that. Not at all.”
Jesse Musgrov of Verona held a sign that said, “The only minorities destroying this country are the billionaires.”
“I want to show people that are at risk, that are worried about losing their status, about getting deported, that there are people that are supporting them,” Musgrov said.
He said he’s worried Trump’s first few weeks in office have the hallmarks of fascism.
“Especially the things Elon Musk is doing and the amount of control that he has,” Musgrov said.
He attended the protest with his wife and baby daughter.
“She’s a girl, and women’s rights are being taken away,” Musgrov said. “That’s actually one of the reasons we’re so afraid.”
He said he was surprised by the event’s turnout. Posts online before the protest anticipated low attendance.
“It’s massive,” Musgrov said. “It makes me feel better … like we’re not alone.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect hundreds, not thousands, of people protested Wednesday.
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