Divided We Fall

Filmmaker Katherine Acosta presents an oral history of the historic 17-day occupation of the Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison by pro-labor forces in February 2011, during Governor Scott Walker's faceoff with unions over a bill banning collective bargaining. What began as filibuster effort orchestrated by teachers unions spontaneously became a sit-in protest that drew supporters from around the country. The participant interviewees in Divided We Fall present this as a formidable and effective display of non-violent resistance. But a mighty asterisk must be inserted, since the bill in fact passed, and Walker was hailed as a hero of the conservative right (none of whom are interviewed). Here, the unionists complain that leadership sold them out and refused the "nuclear option" of a full teachers' strike, while others voice concern that the more outlandish "performance art" demonstrations reinforced negative stereotypes of a Madison infested by college campus ultra-leftist loons. Still, even though this was a campaign that ostensibly failed, the film makes a strong case that lessons in successful activism can be drawn from the drama. Extras include an extended interview with author Katherine Cramer (The Politics of Resentment). Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)