Publisher's Synopsis
Signs of Our Time is an unusual book. It is basically a photo book with a smattering of historical information about the remarkable Wisconsin Uprising of 2011. This book is totally biased since the Uprising was all in protest of the 2010 election and the impending policy changes promised by Republican Scott Walker as the new Governor. He planned to begin dismantling the once proud state of Wisconsin, including removing Union rights, as a first order of business. Most of my signs were conceived and presented in or near the State Capitol by me, personally. Many displays were placed by a hallway down from the office of the Governor. I am in most of the pictures, since I was holding them, and yes, I was there most weekdays for about 8 years, not counting some time taken off for a couple bouts of pneumonia. I was an adjunct of the Solidarity Singalong, which met and sang songs of protest for 2043 consecutive days, from 2011 to 2019. However, I made signs, since my singing is basically awful.During all this time, there essentially were NO signs or displays exhibited by right wingers, although there were occasional verbal jousts and loud shouts now and then. There was also NO damage done to this hallowed building and during the actual physical occupation, squads of protester volunteered to help clean the place. I remember the enormous crowds of 100,000 people and how the marching around the Capitol Square singing, shouting, and reading each other's signs seemed more like a fun picnic than a protest. This is how to hold a protest, with dignity and respect. Thus, "Throw Words, Not Rocks." We eventually outlasted Scott Walker who was defeated by Democrat Tony Evers in the 2018 election. Return to normalcy? Not quite. That's still a work in progress. This book is also intended to be a memorial for all those who were partakers of the Uprising as I have discovered that much has already been forgotten. What we did was well worth remembering. Subsequently, to bolster a change for a sensible approach to solving the problems facing us in the coming years, anyone is free to copy and utilize the info/slogans/whatever on my signs and displays as long as they are used to help defeat the miserable anti-people, authoritarian, senseless and petty brand of today's soulless Republican party that hitched its star to obviously seriously ethically and morally challenged men. Never forget; All the Canaries Are Dying.
