Wisconsin Badgers Flood the Streets in Massive Protest
By Jordan Meyers, June 3, 2025
MADISON, WI — The streets of downtown Madison were awash in a sea of red and white Monday afternoon as thousands of University of Wisconsin students, faculty, alumni, and supporters – affectionately dubbed the “Wisconsin Badgers” – staged a massive protest in response to a controversial education reform bill proposed by the state legislature.
The bill, which critics say threatens to defund several key public university programs while expanding funding for private education initiatives, ignited outrage across the UW community. The protest, initially organized by a coalition of student groups and faculty unions, quickly evolved into one of the largest demonstrations the city has seen in over a decade.
By midday, crowds had filled State Street and packed the Capitol Square. Chants of “Save Our Schools!” and “We Are the Badgers!” rang out across the city. Marchers carried hand-painted signs with slogans like “Education Is a Right, Not a Privilege,” and “Don’t Muzzle the Badgers.” A massive papier-mâché badger—towering nearly 12 feet high—was pulled on a cart through the heart of the protest, drawing cheers from the crowd.
A Grassroots Uprising
The protest had its roots in what many students called a “quiet betrayal.” Last week, state lawmakers introduced a sweeping education bill that would redirect $150 million in public university funding toward private charter schools and online learning initiatives. The bill also included language that would cap tenure protections and eliminate several departments, including the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and the Department of Environmental Sciences at UW-Madison.
“It’s a gut punch,” said Sarah Molina, a third-year biology major and one of the organizers of the protest. “They’re not just cutting programs. They’re cutting opportunities, dreams, futures. We didn’t come to UW to watch it be dismantled.”
Faculty members were equally vocal. Dr. Harold Jensen, a political science professor who has taught at the university for 27 years, addressed the crowd from the steps of Bascom Hall. “This is not reform; it is a calculated assault on public education, on research, and on the core mission of this institution,” he said. “We will not be silenced.”
Support From All Corners
The protest was notable for its unity. From undergraduate students to tenured professors, from custodial staff to local business owners, support for the movement crossed traditional boundaries.
Even Bucky Badger, the university’s beloved mascot, made an appearance. Dressed in his iconic red and white striped sweater, Bucky led a march around the Capitol, flanked by members of the university’s marching band. A spontaneous rendition of “On, Wisconsin!” rippled through the crowd.
Local alumni groups from Milwaukee, Green Bay, and even Chicago sent delegations in solidarity. “UW gave me everything,” said 1984 graduate Maria Choi, who drove from Minneapolis to attend the protest. “It’s where I found my voice, my purpose. I had to be here.”
Businesses along State Street joined in by offering free food and water to demonstrators, hanging banners in their windows that read, “Badgers United” and “We Stand with UW.”
Political Tensions Escalate
Governor Mitchell Langston, a proponent of the education bill, has remained largely silent in the face of the protests, releasing only a brief statement Monday evening saying the legislation is “designed to make education more efficient, competitive, and accessible.” Protesters, however, view the bill as an attack on academic freedom and the integrity of public education.
State Senator Lynn Barrett, a Democrat from Dane County, condemned the bill in a fiery speech delivered at the protest. “This is a moment for courage,” she said. “This is about more than one campus. It’s about the very idea of public education in America.”
Despite the size of the protest, it remained peaceful. Madison police reported no major incidents and praised both organizers and attendees for their cooperation. Officers were present primarily to direct traffic and ensure safety.
What’s Next?
Organizers have vowed to continue the pressure. Plans are already underway for a sit-in at the Capitol later this week, and a “teach-in” is scheduled for Saturday, where faculty members will hold open-air lectures on the university’s central mall.
“We’re not going away,” said Molina. “This is just the beginning. We’re Badgers. We dig in.”
As night fell over Madison, the crowd slowly dispersed, but the message was clear: the University of Wisconsin community is ready to defend its values—together, loudly, and without apology.
The Badgers are out, and they’re not backing down.
Be the first to comment