A film about the 2011 Wisconsin Uprising

When newly elected Tea Party governor Scott Walker sought to impose an anti-union and austerity agenda in 2011, Wisconsinites fought back, in the tens of thousands, occupying the statehouse and filling the capitol square for nearly two weeks.

Divided We Fall  traces the genesis of one of the largest sustained protests in US history – recapturing the joy, creativity, and determination of activists from diverse walks of life as well as revealing some pitfalls faced by contemporary social movements.

“Informative, complex, and inspiring… poignantly illustrates the challenges of doing democracy, of mobilizing for a just cause, and of coalition-building.”  — Professor Robert Benford, University of South Florida

Long-time editor of the Madison-based Progressive magazine, Matt Rothschild, called the Wisconsin Uprising “the single most exhilarating political experience in my life.” He was not alone. It’s hard now to describe the spirit of the protests – the positive energy and good will and camaraderie. Defeat seemed impossible…

Our film combines original in-depth interviews with dramatic citizen-produced video and photos from a wide variety of sources to create a compelling narrative of resistance to the attack on collective bargaining for public workers – the first item in the austerity agenda advanced by Governor Scott Walker’s administration.

Our interviewees include graduate teaching assistants at the center of the movement as well as labor leaders, scholars and pundits such as the late Marty Beil (executive director, AFSCME Council 24), the late Frank Emspak (Workers Independent News), Professor Katherine Cramer (author, The Politics of Resentment) and Matthew Rothschild, long-time editor of the Progressive magazine.

This important documentary provides some of the best history available about these events… a powerful cinematic narrative… Professor David Nack, University of Wisconsin School for Workers

Divided We Fall gets beneath the surface of the mass protests, chants, and rallies to shed light on what really happened in Madison in 2011.