Protesters March Against Walker's Budget Bill

updated 6:30 p.m.

More than 100 protesters, including many Oak Creek teachers and other public employees, gathered near the Oak Creek Public Library late Monday afternoon to show their opposition to Gov. Scott Walker's budget bill.

People began gathering about 4 p.m. along Howell Avenue, just west of the library and north of Puetz Road. By 5 p.m., the crowd had grown to stretch two blocks as people braved cold temperatures and strong wind.

They marched on the sidewalk between City Hall and the Oak Creek Community Center, holding signs and chanting "Kill the bill" and "Hey, hey, ho, ho, union busting's got to go."

Oak Creek resident Kathleen Slamka organized the effort for those who have not been able to travel to Madison to participate in demonstrations at the state Capitol.

"It’s union busting 101," said Slamka, a union worker and former Delphi employee, about Walker's bill. "We have good schools, we’ve always valued our schools, and this is a real attack on education. It's an attack on public workers, it's an attack on the middle class, it's an attack on everything we love about Wisconsin."

Another protester, who declined to give her name, said the group wanted to show support for state Sen. Chris Larson, one of the 14 Democratic senators who have left the state to prevent a vote on Walker's budget proposal.

Larson's district includes Oak Creek. Rallies have been scheduled throughout this week in other parts of Larson's district, including Milwaukee's east side, downtown and Bay View.

Similar protests have happened across the state, as public employees protest Walker's plan to effectively eliminate collective bargaining for most public union workers.

Proponents of the bill, , argue the bill is necessary to solve the state's budget woes and fix the deficit. A lone Walker supporter stood about a block away on Monday, displaying a campaign sign for the traffic on Howell Avenue.

As of Monday night, the two sides remained in gridlock with no end in sight. Walker said he is unwilling to compromise with Democrats and union leaders, while the 14 senators refused to return to the state.