Michael Moore labelled a 'communist' as he rallies protesters in Wisconsin... and likens their plight to Egypt



Claims wealthy have 'stolen souls' of working class

Donald Trump says his views echo Fidel Castro

A multi-millionaire liberal film-maker has compared the Wisconsin protests to Egypt’s revolt and told residents they are galvanising America against the wealthy elite.

Michael Moore, 56, urged protesters this weekend to fight Republican efforts to trim trade union powers and said to thousands of them: ‘Madison is only the beginning’.

His speech comes after he was criticised by business magnate Donald Trump, who said his views make him sound more like a ‘communist' than a liberal.



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Getting involved: Multi-millionaire liberal film-maker Michael Moore, 56, compared the Wisconsin protests to Egypt's revolt and thanked residents for their efforts

Mr Moore also said the 14 state Democratic senators who fled Wisconsin to block a vote on Governor Scott Walker's bill will go down in history.

The Oscar-winner, who directed Fahrenheit 9/11, believes the wealthy have taken the money of the working class and then their ‘souls’ by cutting down bargaining rights.

Mr Moore, whose nickname is the 'The Big Man', is known for his outspoken views on various subjects - including politicians, business corporations and arms ownership.

‘We're going to do this together. Don't give up. Please don't give up,’ he told protesters. ‘All of America thanks you, Wisconsin.'

He added: 'We all crave our country back. Our democracy back. Our good name back. The United States of America. Not the Corporate States of America.

'How do we get this? We do it with a little bit of Egypt here, a little bit of Madison there.'



Criticism: Businessman Donald Trump, left, said Mr Moore, known as 'The Big Man', is sounding like a Fidel Castro-style 'communist' with his comments

Wisconsin protests have now been going on for almost three weeks, with the majority of people who gather at the state Capitol every day backing the unions.

Mr Walker says his legislation will help ease a projected state deficit of $3.6billion, but opponents see it mainly as an effort to weaken unions.

Negotiations between Democrats and Republicans are tense with neither backing down, but Mr Walker said he wants to fulfil a pledge to create 250,000 new jobs.

Michigan-born Mr Moore said he drove by car to Madison rather than using a private jet, and doubts claims that Wisconsin and America are ‘broke’.

Donald Trump compared his comments about a ‘criminal class of millionaires and billionaires stealing homes and jobs’ last week to the views of Cuba’s Fidel Castro.

Mr Moore said: 'We all crave our country back. Our democracy back. Our good name back. The United States of America. Not the Corporate States of America'

‘This is beyond liberal, this is, I guess you have to use the C-word, which is the communist word,’ he told Fox News last Thursday.



‘This is like in other words: "Everybody's cash is everybody's cash". It's sort of interesting. Castro in the good old days used to say the exact same thing, right?’

Wisconsin Rapids teacher Renee Peplinski, 42, said at the protests that education staff have major concerns about losing collective bargaining rights.

‘Every teacher I know is depressed. Every minute of the day there's this black cloud.’



Mr Walker said the deficit could hit $137million by July and $3.6billion by 2013, and told state employee unions on Friday that 1,500 staff should expect lay-off notices for April.





Watch the video of Michael Moore's speech to protesters



