On February 12, over 125 people braved cold weather to pack Mother Fool’s Coffee House and speak out as a part of Mad Poets Revolt! The event was in solidarity with an international day of Poetry Against the War and featured almost 3 hours of poetry, music and comedy from over 30 performers. This reading was one of hundreds of poetry events across the United States and around the globe on that day.

Along with the poetry and music, Mad Poets Revolt! featured special guest speakers Ellen Kort, Wisconsin’s Poet Laureate; Matthew Rothschild, editor of the Progressive; and local activist and Vietnam War veteran Will Williams.

The evening had a carnival atmosphere, starting with an impromptu picket against the war outside of Mother Fool’s. The audience continued the direct action by sending packets of rice to the President encouraging him to feed the people of Iraq instead of bombing them. Also available was information on contacting people’s various representatives as well as forms for parents to opt their children out of sharing personal information with military recruiters.

Through generous donations from the audience we raised $245. This money will be split between Madison Area Peace Coalition and Voices in the Wilderness to fund their activities in support of peace.

This website features photos, audio and local press on the event as well as links to the national poetry against the war movement. Complete audio and video of the event is available and also will be submitted to a documentary project about the international Poets Against the War movement.

To learn more about the groups involved please visit:

Premiere Generation Ink.	www.pgink.com
Mad Poetry	www.madpoetry.org
Poets Against the War	www.poetsagainstthewar.org
Madison Area Peace Coalition	www.madpeace.org
Voices in the Wilderness	www.nonviolence.org/vitw

Look forward to more Mad Poets Revolt! events in the coming months, or until W. stands down!