Pro-Pizza (Evidence of a Global Community)

Most of you have probably heard about the giant protests taking place in Madison, Wisconsin, against Governor Walker's bill to strip collective bargaining rights from nearly all public sector employees. They're closing out what I believe is their 8th day of protests, and by the time you read this, have probably settled down to partake of some solidarity pizza.

Madison, WI protesters: image via

Yes, you read that right. Solidarity pizza. Apparently, last Tuesday, 2/15/11, the folks at Ian's Pizza - an establishment that's just a block away from the capitol building, decided to take their end-of-night pizzas - the ones that are left over and would have otherwise been thrown away - to the protesters camping out at the capitol building. The next morning, they received a call from California, from someone who said they'd heard what they'd done and they wondered if they could buy a pizza to be delivered that night. Ian's agreed, and before they knew it, orders started rolling in from around the country and around the globe, from people who wanted to support the protesters with the purchase of a pizza. Orders have come in from nearly every state in the country and from countries including Morocco, France, Denmark, Egypt, Brazil, Singapore, Australia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, the Netherlands, and even Antarctica (!!!).

Image via

Ian's says they've been working "all hands on deck," to get the pizzas made and delivered and that other pizza places in Madison near the capitol have also been handling requests for Solidarity Pizzas. When asked for a statement regarding their position on the issue, they replied that they are "pro pizza." ^_^

I love this story, not because I support public sector employees' rights (though I do), but because it illustrates to me how people can be compassionate and empathetic regardless of where they are and who they are. That someone in Egypt, who arguably has quite a lot to deal with right now, what with the recent revolution and the government-building that's going on over there, would take the time to make an international call and spend the money to send pizzas to strangers in a show of support - well, that's a beautiful thing.

As my favorite late-night talk show host and author, Craig Ferguson might say, this is a terrific example of "the triumph of intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism." It happens.

Ian's on State - in case you wanted to send a Solidarity Pizza.