The Dropkick Murphys ‘Literally Hate’ Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

Photo via Associated Press

A Facebook fan wants to know: why is a “union-busting” politician from Wisconsin using the music of a working-class-loving punk band from Boston to greet his supporters during a nationally televised event? The Dropkick Murphys—and their loyal following—aren’t too sure, but they want it to stop. Immediately.

Over the weekend, band members posted a Tweet and subsequent Facebook message telling Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to cease playing their song “Shipping Up to Boston” when making public appearances.

There was no beating around the bush or holding back when they addressed the news that Walker took the stage to the anthem (at around the three-hour, 22-minute mark) during the Iowa Freedom Summit:

Hate is a strong word, but the reason The Dropkick Murphys were so adamant that Walker, in particular, not use their song, is because of the values that the band stands for. That, and they previously warned other Wisconsinites who support Walker not to use their music back in 2012:

We just got word that Wisconsin State Rep. and Speaker of the State Assembly Jeff Fitzgerald used “Shipping Up To Boston” as his walk-on song yesterday at the Wisconsin GOP Convention in Green Bay. The stupidity and irony of this is laughable. A Wisconsin Republican U.S. Senate candidate – and crony of anti-Union Governor Scott Walker – using a Dropkick Murphys song as an intro is like a white supremacist coming out to gangsta rap! Fitzgerald: if you and your staff can’t even figure out your music you might wanna give up on the politics!!!!!

Walker is known as the Republican governor who introduced legislation in 2011, called Act 10, that essentially stripped public unions of their collective bargaining rights. The Dropkick Murphys didn’t like that, as made clear when they blasted Fitzgerald back in 2012, a year after the legislation was passed.

“We stand beside our Union and Labor brothers and sisters and their families in Wisconsin and all over the U.S.,” they wrote at the time.

After all, they did support Mayor Marty Walsh, a “union guy.”