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May Day La Follettes
From May Day 2026. The visible faces have (hopefully) all been replaced by public domain (by date) La Follette faces sourced below. This is hilarious. It is also metaphorical because La Follette is a hero to this bunch. Most importantly, McCarthy is as real in Wisconsin as anywhere and the evolution of the surveillance state has serious implications for public displays of unsanctioned politics. I endeavor to feature comrades not add to some corporate-government permanent-record.
The last Madison (WI) May Day I attended was c. 2011. That event was about 1/4 the size of the 2026 event. The speakers were great but it felt like a relic. I feel the same nostalgia singing "Solidarity Forever" with the venerable gray beards. The earlier event featured unions and immigrants rights groups. The more recent event had a strong Socialist Alternative Trotskyist presence. They were influential in declaring a public school holiday. The increase in crowd size was absolutely influenced by kids (and teachers) running around on a spring day off. My favorite part was when a column of VOCES del la Frontera marched down state street to join the rally at the capitol. There was much cheering and si se puedes as the rally doubled in size. There was also an Asian faith leader decked out in fanciery and the final speaker was a Black liberation preacher who lit up the crowd. Intrigued by the reds, it seems, were the lonely Democratic canvasser with a clipboard, earnest Planned Parenthood fund raisers, capitol cops and the trucked up trumpist with flags and stereo in the loading zone.
I can't say if the increased size of this rally means much for the movement in general. Certainly SA has inspired a national movement and the CPUSA, 4th International, and ACP reps were nowhere to be seen. I don't remember Socialist Alternative reps at the only Olympia (WA) May Day I attended but that was many years ago when Kshama Sawant was seeding a movement that blossoms today.
Looking at the photos of La Follette (or reading biographies of Debs) reveals how long it takes to build the third party momentum it takes to run national candidates. Right now the SA is on the upswing and should be preparing for the pitfalls observed by SPA and the Progressives once they got their foot in the door.
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sources (by date):
"Carte-de-visite bust portrait of Robert Marion La Follette, Sr., college yearbook photo" 1879; LOC digital ID: cph.3a00711.
C.M. Bell "La Folette [i.e. La Follette] Hon. R.M." c.1885-90; LOC: LC-B5-28067 [P&P].
John R. Berryman, ed. "Robert La Follette circa 1898, Wisconsin Congressman and Governor, and United States Senator" History of the Bench and bar of Wisconsin, vol. 2, 1 January 1898.
"Gov. LaFollette of Wisconsin addressing Chautauqua assembly, Decatur, Ill." c.1905; LOC digital ID: cph.3b22394.
"Belle Case LaFollette, three-quarter length portrait, seated, with son, Robert M. LaFollette, Jr. Abstract/medium: 1 photographic print." 1908; LOC digital ID: LC-USZ62-41734.
"Robert M. La Follette, Sr." 20 July 1908; LOC digital ID: cph.3b16031.
"LAFOLLETTE, ROBERT M. REP. FROM WISCONSIN 1885-1891; GOVERNOR, 1901-1906; SENATOR, 1906-1925" Harris & Ewing photograph collection, 1912; LOC: 2016863756.
"LaFOLLETTE, ROBERT. SENATOR" Harris & Ewing photograph collection, btw.1905-25; LOC digital ID: hec-14955.
"Sen. La Follette & family." 25 February 1924; LOC ditigal ID: LC-DIG-npcc-10626.
"Robert M. La Follette, Sr., three-quarter length portrait, standing before microphone, making oratorical gestures; right arm upraised, facing right" National Photo Company, c.1924.
Robert La Follette, Sr., three-quarter length, facing front, standing at microphone, with clenched fists" National photo Company, c.1924.
All other photos lifted from:
Alice Honeywell "La Follette and His Legacy" Madison: UW-Board of Regents, 1984.
"Argyle Wisconsin: Boyhood Home of Bob La Follette" Historic Argyle INC, 2017.
"Robert M. La Follette Sr." Great American Biography Constitutional Law Reporter.
"Papers of Robert M. La Follette" Publishing Projects Catalog Index National Historical Publications & Records Commission, 7 June 2021.