Are the Wisconsin state legislators who ran away to hide in Illinois being cowards?

Their party is not relevent to the context of the question so I will not mention it.
As you know, in order to avoid debate or a vote on the various issues that affect public employee unions, a group of Wisconsin state senators took off and are hiding in Illinois. I presume that this is to escape the jurisdiction of the Wisconsin state police.

I am sure they think they are being clever and “making a statement”.

I think they are cowards.

What if a cop or (as I more closely identify with) a soldier, ran away and hid instead of doing their duty?

There is only one word that I can think of to describe that sort of default of responsibility-cowardice.

Indeed, I say again that they are cowards, plain and simple.

What else could they be?