WASHINGTON — The protests that erupted last week in Wisconsin have attracted attention not only across the United States, but even as far away as Egypt. One of those out-of-state observers, Maine state Rep. Diane Russell (D), has decided that what is happening in Madison is so important — even to her own Northeastern state — that she has decided to pack up a vehicle and drive all the way out there with three of her friends to join the fight.

“I wanted to be there to show solidarity,” said Russell in an interview Sunday evening with The Huffington Post as she was driving through New Hampshire. “I’m coming because if the levees break in Madison, everyone gets flooded.”

Russell has been raising money through her website for the trip, which includes providing protesters with hot chocolate, coffee and hand-warmers — cold-weather necessities for standing outside for hours in Wisconsin. She said that she had raised more than $1,000 in total. She is also tweeting and posting updates about her trip.