Photos: Protesters rally at Capitol as Senate debates right-to-work bill
Pro-union protesters rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday as the Senate took up a bill that would make Wisconsin the 25th right-to-work state in the nation.
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A crowd protests outside the Senate during an extraordinary session on the right-to-work bill at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Protesters sit in the Senate gallery during debate on a controversial right-to-work bill at the Capitol on Wednesday. Bill opponents objected to the abrupt ending of a committee hearing Tuesday that prevented people from testifying.
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A protester is removed from the Senate gallery after breaking silence during debate on a right-to-work bill at the Capitol on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin State Patrol officers remove a protester from the Senate gallery during the debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the Capitol on Wednesday.
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A crowd protests outside the Senate during an extraordinary session on the right-to-work bill at the State Capitol on Wednesday.
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From left, Jordan Oren of Janesville with Local 464, Travis Dominy of Janesville with Local 139, Ricky Morris of Janesville with Local 464, and Alex Spurley of Arena with Local 464 wait inside the Capitol as the Senate debates the right-to-work bill.
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Democratic state senators, including Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, left, and Wisconsin Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point, right, watch and listen to a disruption in the gallery by protesters during debate of a right-to-work bill at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin Assistant Majority Leader Paul Farrow, R-Pewaukee, and Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, smile during a side conversation during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, far right, leans back to direct a remark to Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, far left, during debate on the right-to-work bill Wednesday.
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A crowd protests inside the Wisconsin State Capitol after a rally was held in opposition to the right-to-work bill outside the Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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A crowd protests inside the Wisconsin State Capitol after a rally was held in opposition of the right-to-work bill outside the Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Wayne Hasel, of Fort Atkinson with Local 95 UAW, displays the sign of solidarity during a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Operating Engineers Local 139 take a group photo on the steps of the Capitol after a rally against the right-to-work bill was held outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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A crowd protests inside the Wisconsin State Capitol after a rally was held in opposition of the right-to-work bill outside the Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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A crowd gathers during a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Protesters move inside after a rally against the right-to-work bill was held outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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A crowd gathers during a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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A crowd gathers during a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Andy Christoffersen, of Madison with Ironworkers Local 383, attends a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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A crowd gathers during a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Protesters gather for a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Joanne Schilling holds a sign in honor of her father, John, who was a union worker, with Ken Lonnquist, at left, during a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Dale Borreson, with Local 2191 of La Crosse, attends a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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(From left) Chris Trapp and Melissa Emerson-Froebe, both of Milwaukee with Iron Workers Local 8, attend a rally against the right-to-work bill outside the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Amber Arnold -- State Journal
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Opponents of a Right to Work bill gather to protest outside of the State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. M.P. KING -- State Journal
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Buzz Soderman of Pardeeville protests the right-to-work bill outside the state Capitol before the Senate began debating it inside.
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Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, left, and Wisconsin Rep. Paul Tittl, R-Manitowoc, casually debate a Right to Work bill while watching an outdoor protest from the Assembly chamber at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. M.P. KING -- State Journal
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Opponents of a Right to Work bill gather to protest outside of the State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. M.P. KING -- State Journal
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Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, watches a protest regarding a Right to Work bill from above in the Assembly chamber at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. M.P. KING -- State Journal
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Marty Szekeres of Mount Horeb, with Sheet Metal Workers Local 18, holds a union flag while protesting a Right to Work bill outside the State Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. M.P. KING -- State Journal
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Kevin Butterbaugh of Carpenters Local 314 in Madison looks out over the State Capitol rotunda as opponents of a Right to Work bill gather for a protest in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. M.P. KING -- State Journal
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Wisconsin Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin Sen. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
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Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, listens during a conversation with Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, center, and Assistant Majority Leader Paul Farrow, R-Pewaukee as members of the Senate debate and on right-to-work legislation at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. John Hart -- State Journal
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Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, center, converses with Democratic colleagues, Sen. Jon Erpenback, D-Middleton, and Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, during a break in deliberations on right-to-work legislation at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. John Hart -- State Journal
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Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon shows the effects of a long day of deliberations as members of the Wisconsin state Senate debate proposed right-to-work legislation at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. At left is Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls. John Hart -- State Journal
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State Sen. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, argues against right-to-work legislation during debate Wednesday in the Senate chamber.Â
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As members of the Wisconsin state Senate continue to debate on right-to-work legislation, spectators in the gallery show the effects of the lengthy deliberations at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. John Hart -- State Journal
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Wisconsin Senate Chief Clerk Jeff Renk retrieves the broken gavel of Senate President Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, after she attempted to quiet gallery spectators during a debate on right-to-work legislation at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. John Hart -- State Journal
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A group of remaining protesters sing "We Shall Overcome" after the state Senate approved right-to-work legislation in the Senate chamber of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. John Hart -- State Journal
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Wisconsin Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
Lena Taylor
Milwaukee Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor says Walker doesn't believe African-Americans "want his attention, presence or communication. And what kind of leadership is that?"
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Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, speaks during debate of a right-to-work bill on the Senate floor at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.
Democratic senators say Wisconsin doesn't want the measure. The Republican Senate Majority Leader calls it one of the most important jobs bill of the session.
Scott Walker defended the Legislature’s fast-tracking of a right-to-work bill, saying it is being given more of a hearing than many other proposals.
