When Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker proposed repealing collective bargaining for public workers in 2011, or as he put it, “dropped the bomb,” he knew there would be a backlash. Even Walker though had to be surprised at the ferocity and intensity of the protests his Act 10 unleashed. What started as a Teaching Assistants Association Valentine’s Day ode to the University of Wisconsin quickly mushroomed to crowds of thousands, then tens of thousands, then a hundred thousand. Protestors occupied the Wisconsin State Capitol for two weeks.
Ultimately, though, the protests failed to achieve their desired result. Act 10 became law and Governor Walker not only won a 2012 recall election but won reelection in 2014 as well. What went wrong? That’s the central question of the new documentary, “Divided We Fall,” which had its World Premiere at the Wisconsin Film Festival on Sunday April 2nd. Joining 8 O’Clock Buzz host Brian Standing on the phone is director, film maker, Katherine Acosta.
