MADISON, Wis (WSAU-Wheeler News) Wisconsin dairy farms might be scrambling for help Thursday, as many of their workers are expected to attend a rally in Madison.
Immigrants make up more than 40-percent of the hired help on the state’s dairy farms — and thousands of Hispanics will be at the State Capitol for an event called “A Day Without Latinos.” John Holevoet of the Dairy Business Association says at least some farms will have skeleton crews to milk the cows.
The Milwaukee immigrant rights’ group Voces de la Frontera is spear-heading Thursday’s rally to demonstrate the impact that immigrant workers have in Wisconsin — and to protest legislation such as a ban on new locally-issued I-Ds, which advocates say would limit their ability to vote. The group’s director, Christine Neumann-Ortiz, says she has sought support from farms and other businesses for the rally.