Fourteen Wisconsin Democrats were given a heroes’ welcome upon returning to the state after three weeks of exile and protest.
The senators, dubbed the “Fab 14,” were met with open arms by the tens of thousands that gathered in Wisconsin’s Capitol Square. Chants of “Thank you! Thank you!” erupted from the growing crowd as the senators arrived, according to reports.
After having protested for weeks, the senators failed in their fight to protect public sector workers after Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill to strip these employees of nearly all of their collective bargaining rights.
“We’re on a high,” said Dave Hansen, a Green Bay Democrat. “We lost the battle, but we’re going to win the war. I think we’ve got the momentum on our side. Every poll I’ve seen, the people believe in what we’re doing. It’s about standing up for democracy.”
Scott Fitzgerald, the Republican state senator that orchestrated the bills passing, said a heroes’ welcome is that last thing the Democrats deserved.
“To the senate Democrats,” Fitzgerald siad, “when you smile for the cameras today and pretend you’re heroes, I hope you look at that beautiful Capitol building you insulted and are embarrassed.”