Wisconsin is one Tea Party Patriot Patriarch's signature away from the CCVV (Closed Circuit Vaginal Viewing) law, furthering our descent into the pinched policies of repression. As reported in the Huffington Post, Scott "The Probe" Walker has already stated that he will endorse the bill: "I don't have any problem with ultrasound. I think most people think ultrasounds are just fine." Does he personally not have a problem with medically unnecessary transvaginal probes, or feels they are okay simply because "most people don't disapprove?" And by "most people," precisely to whom does he refer? Most men? Most women? Most Republicans? On what does he base such limitless wisdom?
The Overpass Light Brigade took to the grounds of the State Capitol last night to hold a message about the issue. Though we had only put out the call for the operation yesterday morning, a lot of folks showed up. We set up in the street right in front of the capitol and were met with a frenzy of photographers. We answered a lot of questions put forward by curious passersby. "What does the message mean?" "Is that really happening?" "Why are they doing this?" "How do you make those cool letters?" "What is the Overpass Light Brigade?"
The Capitol Police, those very same folks who so steadfastly protect the State from such insouciance as people sitting in silence in the galleries with
tape on their mouths, came out and began asking questions. They asked us to move out of the street. We pleasantly complied. They asked us what "demagogues" meant. We told them. The asked us who we were. We told them as well. They asked for our names. We didn't tell them that. I have learned that you only tell police what you want them to know, until you have no other choice, and even then, you better know what they can, and cannot, demand of you.
So, there we are. Expressing our outrage through the medium of lighted signs in the sociopolitical darkness. I spoke with bright young women out for fun on a Friday night who hadn't a clue that their rights were being stripped away under the impressive glow of the capitol dome. We heard from a number of different ridiculous jocks out scanning the streets of the warm June college-town night who yelled various iterations of "Yeah, baby! I LOVE VAGINAS!" We talked about the issues with a lot of folks, and we talked amongst ourselves about the nature of such gestures and the importance of continuity and community.
When it feels like nothing will save us, we simply keep struggling. One friend, after hearing me explain yet again the basics of the issue to a clueless passerby, exclaimed, "Shit, does it take 1,000 of us in the State to inform 4 million about something as mainstream as this!!!?" I know how he feels. What does it take to get people involved? To get them to vote? To get them to engage? To become citizens in deed beyond word?
We don't know, but we're trying. We stood on the podium earlier yesterday evening with our activist brothers and sisters from the Solidarity Sing Along and Occupy Madison. We were all receiving awards: This Is What Democracy Likes Like. The Power of the People Don't Stop, and Whose House? Our House!
Those award titles pretty much says it. We are not in a position at this point to change policy. Wisconsin lost that battle a year ago. However, we're not going away, and we won't succumb to the paralysis of despair. Our heads are high, keyboards active, guitar strings taught, cameras ready and we go into an uncertain future full of the power of creative play. We are the mosquitos in their rooms while they try to sleep, the coyotes slinking at the edge of their chemical lawns. We are night messages that blur at vision's blindside when the lights are off. We are the roots growing underground, Roundup resistant, calling out the demagogues for what they are.