Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, March 23, over 300 people took it to the streets to demand an end to Trump and the billionaire class’s constant threats of dismantling the United States Postal Service (USPS). The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Pioneer Branch 2 hosted the rally with support from the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3 and the Wisconsin Rural Letter Carriers Association. The event was part of a larger national day of action which saw hundreds of other cities across the country participate.

The attack comes while the NALC and APWU are in contract negotiations with the USPS. For the first time since 1978, the membership of the NALC recently voted down a proposed contract, with 71% voting no.

The Postal Service continues to poorly manage the company and claim it is broke, yet it continues to spend record amounts on wages for abusive managers and in the installation of surveillance technology that further micromanages and represses its employees.

The Postal Reform Act of 2022 repealed the requirement to pre-fund retiree benefits and will go into effect this year, taking a $5.6 billion burden off the books.

At Milwaukee’s rally, Travis Albert, vice president of NALC Branch 2, said, “Hell no to the attacks on the Postal Service! Politicians are attempting to take away our right to paid grievance time. This would impact our only avenue for peaceful negotiations with management. You take that away and what will we be left with? And we here in Milwaukee we are building a mean, mean union!”

NALC Branch 2 Sergeant at Arms William Schroeder called employees to action, stating, “We need to take this energy back to the shop floor every single day – if all of us used this energy at union meetings, in the grievance procedure, and when management harasses us it would stop right now.”

The Postal Service is a trillion dollar company that provides an affordable service to every house in the country, and any attempt to dismantle or privatize it is an attack on all Americans. If there was no public Postal Service, the private sector would run rampant with high costs and less coverage to rural areas. Today however, the various Postal unions made it loud and clear that the U.S. mail is not for sale.

The turnover rate in the postal service is higher than ever before due to the poor working conditions and low wages, but that has not deterred postal workers from all over the country. Instead, these conditions have ignited a new wave of militant action against Postal Service management and anyone else who tries to dismantle the company.

A national reform movement is rapidly growing within the NALC as members across the country have become angry with working conditions and the incompetency of union national President Brian Renfroe. This has resulted in the rise of the Concerned Letter Carriers (CLC) and Build a Fighting NALC (BFN), which both demand an end to concessionary leadership. Thousands of members have participated in national organizing calls to replace the weak NALC leadership and in demanding a strong contract.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #Labor #NALC #APWU #CLC #FBN

Milwaukee, WI – On March 20, the jury in the federal civil trial of the Cole family against killer cop Joseph Mensah could not reach consensus. Mensah was a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin cop when he killed Alvin Cole and is now a detective for Waukesha County. The suit asserts that Mensah used excessive force with Cole, after shooting Cole multiple times at the Mayfair Mall’s parking lot while the latter was on his hands and knees on February 2, 2020.

The trial began on Monday, March 17 with current and former law enforcement officers, witnesses and Cole’s family members testifying. After hearing contradictory statements from Mensah and reviewing the footage, the jury spent many hours deliberating.

Before the jury walked back into the courtroom to communicate with the judge, two armed U.S. Marshals entered the courtroom and stood by the door. Once the jury declared that they could not reach a decision and Judge Adelman ruled for a new trial for September, Cole family attorney Nate Cade raised the issue of the marshals walking in, and Judge Adelman stated he did not know why they entered the courtroom. Many members of the audience also communicated issues with the U.S. Marshals walking in after the court was dismissed.

When asked about the hung jury, Cade said “We are more than ready to try it again.” Tracey Cole, the mother of Alvin Cole stated, “This makes us fight more.” If it wasn’t for the fighting families in Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression wouldn’t be the organization it is today. The family of Alvin Cole was the first family the Milwaukee Alliance worked with after its refounding in April of 2020. Long time member and original founder Brian Verdin declared “Milwaukee Alliance is all in for the families.”

The re-trial for this case will take place on September 8 at 9 a.m.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #InJusticeSystem #KillerCops #NAARPR

Milwaukee, WI – A March 7 protest outside the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Milwaukee brought out over 300 VA employees and supporters to protest attacks on the VA workforce by billionaires Trump and Musk. It was the largest protest at the site in memory.

Ten probationary employees at the Milwaukee VA have been fired without cause since Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” began its scorched earth campaign against unionized federal workers. Government memos suggest that over 80,000 VA employees could lose their jobs if Trump and Musk’s plans are not stopped.

“We are not the billionaires. We’re the people who’ve had to earn a paycheck our whole life,” said Pam Fendt, president of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council, “we know that the end goal of the administration is to cut and then privatize for their own self-enrichment. And we know that privatization doesn’t lead to lower costs or better service.”

“None of us are disposable, the VA’s mission could not be achieved without each and every one of us,” said Monica Luecking-David, a nurse at the Milwaukee VA and chapter president of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals Local 5000. “We will lose our VA to the private sector, and your veterans’ healthcare will be administered by insurance companies,” warned Luecking-David, who helped organize the rally.

The bi-partisan MISSION Act signed into law by Trump in 2018 paved the way for the privatization of VA healthcare. The law created a framework to outsource veteran’s healthcare to private companies under certain conditions, such as for long wait times for appointments. If not stopped, the huge staffing cuts sought by Trump and Musk would result in reduction in services and long wait times, forcing veterans to seek healthcare from private providers. The largest healthcare companies in the U.S lobbied vigorously in support of the MISSION Act because they stand to profit from lucrative government contracts to replace VA services.

Tens of thousands of government workers are already out of a job, and many more will be harmed if Trump’s schemes aren’t stopped. It is vital that all organized labor rally in the support of the federal workers’ unions.

“We all need to come together to fight this reduction in force, the same way we do with every other fight, with tireless dedication to a righteous cause,” nurse Monica Luecking-David said.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #Labor #Veterans #VA #FederalWorkers #Feature

Milwaukee, WI – Over 1200 people joined the 4th annual International Women’s Day celebration organized by the Milwaukee IWD Coalition, a broad coalition consisting of numerous grassroots organizations.

This year’s event began with a rally, followed by a brief march to the Milwaukee Turners, an historic building with a progressive socialist history that is located on Vel R. Phillips Avenue, named after a trailblazing civil rights leader from Milwaukee. At the Turners, the event transitioned to a panel discussion with various organizers, and a keynote address by Alondra García, a public school educator and immigrant rights activist.

The celebration began with a rally at Red Arrow Park, also known as Dontre Hamilton Park, and the event’s emcee, Kayla Patterson of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, reminded the crowd that “Dontre’s killing by Milwaukee PD in 2014 sparked a movement led by his mother, Maria Hamilton, and so many other mothers and sisters whose loved ones have been taken away by the police.”

Locating the significance of IWD within the mothers involved in the movement to end police crimes helped weave together the connections across the various movements represented today. Janan Najeeb, co-chair of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, spoke to the significance of Palestinian women, particularly the mothers, carrying forward the struggle for Palestinian liberation amidst an ongoing genocide.

Once the crowd entered the venue and settled in their seats, García kicked off the program with a keynote address reminding attendees that “there is power in numbers, and we are many. Our voices will not be silenced, and our presence is louder than ever. We will continue to take up the space and make noise.” She echoed Najeeb’s reminder at the rally that “they may be billionaires, but we number in the billions!” This revolutionary spirit to fight back against the current Trump regime and imperialism more broadly resonated throughout the streets and inside the Turners.

The panelists – Carly Klein of Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee; Julie Velazquez of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression; Rhen Lutz of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Local 5000; Fernanda Jimenez of Comité Sin Fronteras, and Christina Stradwick of the Milwaukee Antiwar Committee – provided perspectives informed by the struggles they’re involved in in order to drive home the point of uniting against a common enemy: imperialism.

The Trump regime is attacking all of our movements, and it will only be by coming together in a broad united front that we will be able to defeat it. Giving into despair or staying off the streets and issuing complaints online will not get us any closer to overthrowing monopoly capitalism. It will take the various movements represented today, coalescing into a broader, more militant movement to deal critical blows to our enemy. This IWD celebration served as a reminder that whether it be in Gaza, on the shopfloor, or in the streets in Milwaukee, the place for women is in the revolution!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay #RJAM #NAARPR #Feature

Milwaukee, WI – When Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball was asked why she chose to hold a town hall meeting for community members during first shift work hours, she chose to hammer home the point that community members were lucky there was a town hall happening at all. “Know that I am not obligated to have a town hall,” stated Sheriff Ball.

Ball has been responsible for the Milwaukee County Jail since fall 2022, and the sheriff assumed her position during the midst of a 14-month period in which six people died in the Jail. After years of organizing, the Milwaukee community successfully won a third party audit of the County Jail and a town hall with Sheriff Ball, but many left feeling that the Sheriff remains unresponsive to community demands.

After the deaths of Brieon Green and Cilivea Thyrion in the jail, many community members began demanding increased transparency about the conditions that led to their deaths and the circumstances of their deaths.

In February, the Milwaukee County supervisors passed a resolution requesting that footage of deaths related to the Sheriff’s Department be released to families within 48 hours and the public in 15 days. The sheriff has refused to comply because she says it would compromise the integrity of investigations. When Brian Verdin, a veteran organizer with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, brought up that the previous Sheriff Clarke had released footage without a problem, she dismissed this outright. Despite the success of a similar policy at the city level, the sheriff remained adamant that she would not be open to providing more transparency to the people of Milwaukee.

Milwaukeeans also posed questions to the sheriff about measures to increase accountability. Many were concerned about the sheriff’s office practice of hiring officers on the Brady list. These are officers with known credibility and conduct issues. Sheriff Ball responded that her office does not investigate why officers were placed on the list. The sheriff also dodged questions about who is monitoring the overcrowding of the jail and plans to reduce overcrowding in the jail.

The jail has been under a years-long consent decree from the Department of Justice to address health services and overcrowding, but overcrowding remains a significant problem. The only response that the sheriff had to questions about accountability and oversight was to announce a new Sheriff Community Advisory Board. However, Ball could not provide any specific powers this board would have to make policy, budget, or personnel changes. Without these powers, the advisory board would struggle to provide the kind of accountability the community has been demanding.

While the March town hall may have been disappointing, the community members in attendance did not seem beaten down. Community organizations like Prison Action Milwaukee, Milwaukee Turners, and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression were present for the town hall, and remain committed to winning transparency and accountability for Milwaukeeans.

The sheriff did commit to holding another town hall after work hours for first shift workers but cautioned that it would not be anytime soon. Combined with the announcement of the advisory board, it does appear Sheriff Ball feels the pressure and the need to offer more accountability and transparency to her constituents. No doubt, community organizations will continue to fight to make these a reality.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #InJusticeSystem

Milwaukee, WI – On Monday, February 10, The Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) held a rally at the “The Calling,” commonly referred to as the Sunburst Sculpture, in downtown Milwaukee. The rally was organized to protest Trump’s recent comments on Gaza, which threatened to “empty Gaza of Palestinians” and turn Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Trump’s comments have received major pushback internationally. On a frigid evening in Milwaukee, over 60 people stood defiantly, waving Palestine flags, chanting and hearing moving speeches re-affirming that Palestine belongs to no one but Palestinians.

The emcee for the event, MAC organizer Eva Dickenson, opened up the rally with some news that dropped mere hours before the protest. Due to Israel’s ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement, the Palestinian resistance said they will delay the next round of prisoner releases scheduled for Saturday, if Israel continues to refuse to abide by the ceasefire. Though each speaker invited up had a different perspective to share, they were all united in this spirit of continued resistance and struggle inspired by the Palestinian people.

Said Kayla Kuo, also with MAC, “While Trump’s comments have evoked outrage in the U.S., we also want to draw attention to the West Bank. Israel has been increasingly escalating their attacks, in frequency and in intensity, in the occupied West Bank since the ceasefire in Gaza last month.” Kuo reminded the crowd that though Trump’s comments gained the most traction in U.S. news, we must also educate ourselves and each other on the U.S.-funded Israeli aggression in the West Bank.

Rachel Buff of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine expanded on the illegal nature of Trump’s comments, saying that Trump’s recently proposed plan for Gaza is “in violation of about every single international human rights law that there is,” as the crowd booed Trump’s ideas. Buff continued, “Let’s talk about Article 147 of the Geneva Convention, which prevents forced displacement and dispossession. Let’s talk about the UN General Assembly’s Resolution 194 in 1948, saying that Palestinians have the legal right to return.”

As the crowd listened to speeches and chanted in between, many cars passing by honked to show their support. Ihsan Atta, representing US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), remarked that it is due to the consistent efforts of people such as those in attendance that night, that awareness about Palestine has grown so significantly in Milwaukee over the last year and a half.

Catie Petralia of Freedom Road Socialist Organization elaborated further, stating, “Their resistance to colonialism is a sign that the tides are changing, the American people are waking up, and we will not stand for this any longer. The people stand united against capitalism and oppression!”

Upon assuming office, Trump began attacking oppressed people across the board, domestically and internationally. In a statement read out by the emcee, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression made connections between Palestine and the domestic threats we face at home.

Othman Atta from the Islamic Society of Milwaukee told the crowd, “Palestinians are not going to give up Gaza, Palestinians are not going to leave Gaza. Gaza belongs to Palestinians, Palestine belongs to Palestinians, the West Bank belongs to Palestinians, and Palestinians will never kneel to anyone!”

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #MAC #USPCN

Green Bay, WI – On Saturday, February 8, nearly 100 people braved the winter cold and marched through downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin in a powerful demonstration against ICE’s escalating attacks on immigrant communities nationwide.

The protest was organized in opposition to Trump’s executive orders and the surge in ICE activity since his inauguration. One protester’s sign captured the spirit of the march, “The word criminal does not define who we are. If you want to label us, label us as loyal neighbors, dedicated workers, and caring community members.”

As the crowd marched through the snow, chants of “Aqui estamos y no nos vamos!” (We are here and we are not leaving!) reverberated with defiance and hope through the streets of Green Bay. The march was spearheaded by a local DACA recipient, who despite her fears, chose to stand up and organize her community to fight back. “Fear is real,” she shared with the crowd, “but so is our power. When we come together, we are stronger than any force that tries to divide us.”

This march was co-sponsored by local organizations Hate Free Outagamie (HFO), a group fighting for LGBTQ liberation, and Green Bay Anti-war Committee (GBAC), a group fighting against U.S. imperialism and war.

Mary Bogen, chair of HFO, addressed the crowd before the march, stating, “This is not about ‘law and order,’ this is about control. It's about keeping working people, especially Black and brown immigrants, queer folks, trans folks and their loved ones living in fear, so corporations and the ultra-rich can continue to exploit them.”

As the march concluded, protesters chanted “From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go!” Then Daniel Castillo of GBAC spoke of the anti-war movement’s unity with the immigrant rights movement, “Our movement understands that the struggle for peace isn't separate from the fight for justice at home. Every dollar spent on foreign military operations is a dollar stolen from our schools, our healthcare, and our communities.”

This protest is part of a growing wave of resistance sweeping the nation, coinciding with Legalization for All’s national week of action. As we continue to see people from the queer rights movements, the anti-war movement, the trade union movement and the immigrant rights movement unite to fight back against Trump’s attacks, we look forward to seeing what more the movement in the Fox Valley has in store.

#GreenBayWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #HFO #GBAC #Trump

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, February 9, the Immigrant Rights work team of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) led a crowd of close to 500 participants in a march through Milwaukee’s South Side, which is home to a significant immigrant population.

This march was part of the Legalization for All’s national week of action, and there was overwhelming support from participants and community members who saw or drove by the march.

Alondra Garcia, an elementary school teacher, kicked things off with recounting her experience being reprimanded by her school’s principal for supporting undocumented students and mixed status families. Julissa Velazques, outreach chair of the MAARPR, explained the connections between the struggles for immigrant rights and against police crimes, stated, “Throughout this country, our immigrant brothers and sisters are being brutalized by ICE in similar ways that our Black, brown and poor siblings are being brutalized by the police here in Milwaukee.”

The crowd marched towards a statue of César Chávez, issuing chants calling for legalization for all, an end to deportation, and solidarity. At the statue, César Hernández of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement brought highlighted the importance of immigrant rights for organized labor. The need for unions capable of fighting for immigrant workers on the shop floor will be crucial in the years to come.

Speaking on behalf of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Kayla Patterson stated, “We, as revolutionaries, work in every mass movement because the masses are the makers of history. For every attack Trump and his cabinet launch at us, we’ll strike back tenfold in the streets.” Patterson continued, “FRSO spearheaded the massive marches on the RNC and DNC, and we are building the broadest movement possible that will continue to fight this racist agenda and will bring imperialism to its knees!”

The march returned to the Mitchell Park Domes for closing remarks. Sara Onitsuka, chair of the Milwaukee Antiwar Committee, stated, “What are often viewed as issues of domestic racism and xenophobia, actually stems from the effects of the U.S. war machine and the U.S. government’s agenda abroad.”

Speaking from their family’s experience, Onitsuka recounted how during WWII, “the U.S. found an opportunity to stoke racism against Japanese Americans in order to later occupy Japan and install dozens of military facilities.”

This march is the beginning of a broader fight in Milwaukee. The people spoke out today and showed that the people of Milwaukee are here to fight back against Trump’s policies. Immigrants are welcome in Milwaukee, and the movement is building the necessary momentum to defend them.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #NAARPR #MAARPR #FRSO #MAC #Feature

Blandon, an avid supporter of Donald Trump, issued the suspension after a series of events which included Garcia mentioning to parents of her students that she would be sending their children home with immigrant rights resources. He claimed that Garcia’s message was “political” and that she violated other rules, but his crackdown reveals his own reactionary politics and is a politically motivated attack.

It should be noted that Milwaukee Public Schools passed a Safe Haven resolution in 2017, which says that all MPS sites are “a Safe Haven for undocumented students and families. The resolution outlines the steps the district will take to assure students and families that any actions that might be taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on school grounds will be opposed by all legal means available.”

Garcia said that the suspension is only one aspect of a multi-pronged effort by the school’s administration to retaliate against her and create an environment that is hostile for her fellow workers and the children the school.

“The work environment is very divisive. It’s administration vs. teachers. [Blandon] has begun to specifically target me since this first attack. After having had my first disciplinary hearing, I received another letter for having supposedly fundraised without his permission,” Garcia said. “I had asked parents if they could and would be able to support with voluntary donations, as in items to use for a classroom project that would positively benefit the houseless community. That is what led to having another disciplinary letter in my file and today’s suspension without pay.”

The rally, held on the day of Garcia’s suspension, featured a number of speakers from different organizations, including the preeminent immigrant rights group in Wisconsin, Voces de la Frontera. City Council Member Juan Miguel Martinez and State Representative Ryan Clancy also made comments condemning the actions of Principal Blandon. All speakers made it clear that this attack from the school’s top administrator is obviously not an isolated incident.

Garcia is herself familiar with the challenges of being an undocumented immigrant, something she was not afraid nor shy to share with those in attendance at the rally. Despite the one-day suspension, which was unpaid and accompanied by a statement in her personnel file, Garcia remains committed to advocating for the rights of her students and the immigrant community of Milwaukee more broadly.

“It’s important to fight to protect the students we serve because they depend on us to advocate for them. Accountability comes with action, otherwise they are just words, and we know words do not mean anything to create true justice,” Garcia said.

Garcia continued, “We demand that the ‘leader’ at Allen-Field Elementary be held accountable for his words and actions that are outright harmful to the community he serves and is supposed to protect from ICE. We demand justice for all educators being targeted and disciplined for simply providing the necessary resources our families so desperately need in these times of worry and danger. We demand justice for our students, our families, our educators, our community and myself.”

More meetings are being coordinated in relation to this attack on Garcia. Supporters are calling for Blandon to lose his job. This is only the beginning of what is sure to blossom into a larger campaign in the broader struggle of fighting for immigrant rights under a second Trump administration.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #Trump

Madison, WI – On January 18, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM) stood at the forefront of the fight for reproductive freedom, participating in two powerful marches held simultaneously in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These events were part of the People’s March National Day of Action, which drew thousands to the streets, united in their support of women’s and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, workers’ rights, global solidarity, and immigrant rights.

In Milwaukee, protesters filled the streets with chants and signs, calling for unrestricted access to abortion and an end to political interference in personal health decisions. Similarly, 75 miles to the west in Madison, marchers braved the cold to make their voices heard at the state capitol. Both events highlighted the growing outrage with the policies of the Trump administration, which many fear will intensify repression and further erode reproductive rights.

RJAM’s speakers at both events underscored the need for grassroots action, emphasizing that politicians regardless of party, cannot be trusted to protect abortion access.

“Both parties have let us down. That’s why our fight isn’t about relying on politicians – it’s about building a movement that puts power back in the hands of the people,” said Carly Klein, a founding member of Reproductive Justice Action- Milwaukee, to a crowd of 300 in Milwaukee.

“We are prepared to fight, not just for the next four years, but for as long as it takes. Because this isn’t just about one administration. It’s about building a society rooted in justice, sustainability and liberation for all of us,” stated Blake Jones, to the crowd of the hundreds of people who flooded the capitol building in Madison.

The marches were a resounding call to action, for attendees to mobilize further than just voting or attending protests. As threats to abortion access grow under the current political climate, RJAM and their allies are doubling down on their commitment to grassroots organizing, ensuring that the movement for reproductive rights remains strong and resilient in the face of mounting challenges.

The events in Milwaukee and Madison were a testament to the power of collective action, with hundreds of voices uniting to demand a future where reproductive freedom is non-negotiable.

#MadisonWI #WI #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #RJAM #PeoplesMarch #LGBTQ #Trump

Milwaukee, WI – A crowd of nearly 700 people gathered at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee on Sunday night, January 19, in response to the news of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine (WCJP) called for an indoor rally to commemorate all the martyrs of these past 470 days and to revitalize the Palestinian solidarity movement in Milwaukee following the ceasefire agreement and release of Palestinian hostages.

The ceasefire was welcomed by those in attendance, with several speakers connecting the significance of the pressure mounted within the U.S. with the efforts of the Palestinian resistance. The agreement will provide a much needed respite to the people in Gaza and many hostages will be freed.

“The ceasefire is only the first step,” stated Janan Najeeb, co-chair of the WCJP. Najeeb continued, “We also recognize that there are many challenges ahead. One thing is certain, we, along with the people of Gaza, refuse to return to what October 6, 2023 looked like for the people of Gaza.”

Local Palestinian and Jewish poets recited their works to commemorate the tens of thousands of lives lost since October 7. A seven-year-old child also offered remarks as screens next to the stage played a video on loop that listed the names of all the Palestinian children who have been murdered in the past 15 months. The evening concluded with Mostafa Zaibaq, who grew up in Gaza, singing the Palestinian national anthem.

“We must recognize this as an achievement. The brave people of Palestine stood up and faced down the IOF, which is fueled by the supposedly wealthiest county in the world, and the Palestinian people are still standing tall!” exclaimed Alan Chavoya of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

There is much more work to be done both in Palestine and the U.S. as the Palestinian people liberate themselves. Palestine will be free, and this ceasefire agreement is a step in that direction.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #Ceasefire #WCJP

Milwaukee, WI – On January 15, Milwaukee Alderwoman Laressa Taylor held a press conference to condemn the proposal for an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in the city’s 9th District.

More than 200 local people, many from Milwaukee’s Black and brown communities, gathered in front of the proposed detention facility site, demonstrating their willingness to fight back against the facility and demanding that their voices are heard.

The press conference began with Alderwoman Taylor explaining the proposed modifications to the building, including adding a sally port and a chain link fence with privacy slats.

Nearly all the speakers denounced the lack of community input and consent, especially by those most directly affected in District 9. Additionally, speakers highlighted the importance of keeping families together and demanded public input and accountability over this process.

Anita Johnson, resident of District 9 and board member of the African American Roundtable (AART) – also located in District 9 – explained, “We don’t split families up. We don’t want ICE in this state. Period.”

Commenting on the press conference, a member of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (MAARPR) explained their rejection of the proposed ICE facility, stating, “The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (MAARPR) stands for community control of the police. We believe that people should have control whether ICE facilities and Department of Homeland security facilities can be put in our backyard. There's been no community input on moving this facility to district 9 and no community input whether Milwaukee wants to continue to have any ICE facility in our backyard. It is time the city reevaluates their relationship with ICE. We demand a sanctuary city now!”

The press conference ended with an impromptu chant: “No I-C-E in M-K-E!”

After the press conference, community members and organizations stuck around to socialize with one another. A member of the Milwaukee Students for Democratic Society (SDS) handed out flyers for the 24th Annual MLK Rally and March, which would include discussions linking immigration with issues like police crimes.

Voces de la Frontera, a local immigrant rights organization, discussed how they would fit organizing against this facility into their larger fight. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, a grass roots neighborhood group, explained how the zoning exception given to the facility showed the importance of changing zoning laws. There were clear signs that organizers from all over Milwaukee plan to incorporate the fight against the facility into their work.

Based on the January 15 press conference, it’s clear that the city of Milwaukee will continue to stand up and fight back. We will continue to organize for community control of the police, including Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). And we will continue to stand with immigrant rights!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #ICE #DHS #VocesDeLaFrontera #NAARPR

The vigil marked the second anniversary of Thyrion’s death, held just days away from what would have been her 22nd birthday. It served as both a memorial and a call for continued action to prevent further deaths in the jail.

Kerrie Hirte, Cilivea Thyrion’s mother, opened the event with a heartfelt message, stating, “There are more people who are still suffering. And that’s why we came here today – to bring peace and to pray for those still suffering and for those who haven’t suffered yet.”

Since Cilivea Thyrion’s passing, the Milwaukee County Jail has witnessed six more in-custody deaths, emphasizing the ongoing systemic failures in the jail’s management. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office has faced heavy criticism for its lack of transparency regarding both the jail’s operations and the investigations into these deaths, a concern spotlighted by the recent release of a third-party audit.

Aurelia Ceja, speaking on behalf of the Milwaukee Alliance, emphasized the group's continued commitment to justice, saying, “We honor Cilivea today through the lighting of these candles and sharing of food together. We honor her in the weeks to come by fighting for corrective policies in the jails and organizing a town hall where Sheriff Ball will be held accountable for the conditions that have persisted under her watch.”

The Milwaukee Alliance played a pivotal role in pushing for the audit that finally compelled the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors to take action.

The vigil also highlighted the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Black, brown and indigenous communities. Kristin Welch of the Waking Women Healing Institute conducted a smudging ceremony, offering spiritual healing to all those suffering, including those still incarcerated.

Welch stated about the smudging, “The thing about our medicine is that it can reach anyone and even pierce through concrete walls,” invoking the healing power of indigenous traditions and recognizing the pain endured by both those inside and outside the jail. The Waking Women Healing Institute offers healing services to indigenous survivors of violence and families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Persons (MMIW/P). The institute recognizes that Cilivea Thyrion’s death is part of a tragic, recurring pattern of violence against indigenous peoples.

The vigil concluded with a community dinner at the Southeastern Oneida Tribal Services Center, where attendees gathered in solidarity and reflection. While the vigil was a moment to honor Thyrion ’s memory, it also marked the ongoing struggle for justice. In the months ahead, discussions will continue regarding the creation of an oversight board for the sheriff’s office, and a town hall meeting will be organized to hold Sheriff Denita Ball accountable for the continued failures at the jail.

The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression remains steadfast in its commitment to honoring Cilivea’s life and demanding systemic change. Long live Cilivea! Justice for victims of the Milwaukee County Jail!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #InjusticeSystem

Madison, WI – In a show of student power, nearly 50 protesters marched into the UW board of regents meeting Thursday, December 5, to put Palestine and divestment on the Finance Committee agenda.

This latest militant action comes after a large-scale administration failure to uphold the Madison and Milwaukee encampment agreements on disclosure and divestment from apartheid Israel.

Despite the freezing temperatures, the students opened with a rally outside the event hall. During the rally, SDS and Freedom Road Socialist Organization member Kayla Patterson told the crowd, “The simple truth is that the board of regents stands on the wrong side of history. 13% of the over $1 billion in ‘UW managed funds’ is hidden from the public, hidden from the students that make up these campuses. But the UW system’s investments in crooked companies like Palantir, Lockheed Martin and Mizrahi Tefahot Bank are no secret. Those in power at our universities choose to represent the ruling class and their bank accounts over real human lives under siege in Palestine.”

Shortly after the “Business and Finance” portion of the meeting began, protesters moved inside to occupy the room with signs and banners. After a few minutes, Gabo Samoff of Madison Young Democratic Socialists stood at the front of the room and confronted the board for its refusal to divest from genocide and its failure to deliver after promising transparency.

Once Samoff began speaking, the meeting facilitator, Regent Ashok Rai, turned off the meeting’s recording to prevent the student’s statement from being on file. Samoff said, “We will not accept this total lack of transparency and lack of willingness to even listen to students.” Campus administrators quickly tried to silence the students, calling in police reinforcements, but it was in vain. The students refused to allow business as usual and began chanting “Free free Palestine!” while police tried to shove and drag them out of the room.

UW-Madison police descended on the crowd to push and grab people indiscriminately. Many were simply holding signs when cops wrongfully detained them, with one student even being dragged out by their neck. The disruption continued throughout these police assaults, and students began chanting “We won’t leave!”, refusing to be silenced by the police. Once detained, protesters showed their resolve further during police processing, stomping and chanting “Palestine is our fight! Students of the world unite!”. Defiantly, the students disrupted the meeting for 30 minutes.

In total, 19 were arrested from both the Madison and Milwaukee campuses for showing solidarity with Palestine. Many students were released with bruises and even bleeding from the zip ties. The police repression couldn’t shake the students from their cause.

Organizations coordinating the action involved the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Young Democratic Socialists (YDSA) at UW-Milwaukee, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and YDSA at UW-Madison, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization-Wisconsin.

After demanding the police release all the arrested activists, the crowd outside celebrated as each protester was released one by one. Milwaukee student organizer Cedar Lehman best summed up the energy post-action, stating, “Despite mounting political repression, we came to show the board of regents that no matter where in Wisconsin they hold their meetings, business as usual will not continue while they maintain their policy of 'neutrality’ toward genocide. We refuse to be intimidated by the administration's crooked cops that treat protest as justification for abusing and injuring their own students and community members.”

#MadisonWI #WI #StudentMovement #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #SDS #YDSA #SJP #FRSO #Feature

The Freedom Road Socialist Organization – Wisconsin District denounces the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) decision to reroute Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline through the lands of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. We call on all progressives and revolutionaries to oppose this move and demand the immediate shutdown of Line 5. Motivated by profit, this decision infringes on the sovereignty of the Bad River Tribe and puts the ecosystems of the Great Lakes region as a whole in danger. The DNR, state, and federal government have made it clear that they are only paying lip service to indigenous people while upholding the interests of the ruling monopoly-capitalist class.

The U.S. government and those seeking to make a profit have continuously trampled on the sovereignty of indigenous peoples. Today, the DNR did this on behalf of Enbridge Inc., the company with the largest oil export pipeline network in the world. This decision by the DNR shows exactly what the U.S. ruling class thinks about indigenous peoples and their lands – they see nothing but dollars signs and markets.

In 2019, Wisconsin’s Democratic Governor Tony Evers passed a repressive law meant to prevent protests at property owned by “energy providers”. This was primarily in response to the mass protests against Enbridge Inc. Today, Evers’ policies of upholding private interests and ignoring the will of working and oppressed people remains the same. Evers and the Democratic Party at large have doubled down on their support for extractive industries, especially fossil fuels. Along with support of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz ran on a platform of support for fracking in their failed campaign. At best, the Biden administration has a dubious track record with environmental issues the last four years. October 2024 was the hottest October ever recorded, with temperatures being nearly 60 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than averages in the 20th century.

The U.S. empire’s involvement in Israel’s genocide in Palestine has resulted in CO2 emissions greater than that of dozens of countries put together. As the rest of us deal with the consequences, the DNR is upholding the interests of those who are driving the world further into the climate crisis. The incoming Trump administration only plans to exacerbate all these issues and make life harder for everyone except for the rich. Every day, it becomes more obvious that the capitalist parties do not take the needs of the masses of people into account.

FRSO supports the struggle for full sovereignty and national development for indigenous peoples. The Bad River Tribe and all oppressed nationalities in the U.S. have a proud history of fighting for liberation. We see the struggle against Line 5 as connected to a wider process of imperialist struggle and national liberation. Imperialism is the highest and final stage of capitalism, and the movement to take it down is growing. It's becoming more clear that the U.S. is an empire in decline and is grasping at straws as its worldwide dominance dwindles. We need to continue building up the movement to bring this backward system to an end. Those exploiting natural resources and casting oppressed people aside won’t be defeated unless we organize and fight back.

We encourage our friends and allies to call demonstrations in solidarity, organize protests in their city, or join upcoming protests called on by the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Full sovereignty for indigenous peoples now! Down with the black snake! Fight capitalism, build socialism!

#WI #Environment #OppressedNationalities #IndigenousPeoples #Line5

Milwaukee, WI – 500 people took to the streets of downtown Milwaukee, November 6, to protest another Trump presidency that will surely launch an all-out assault on workers and oppressed people for the next four years. Rather than giving into despair, the people of Milwaukee, representing various progressive movements, showed they are ready to fight back against Trump’s racist and reactionary agenda.

Alan Chavoya of Freedom Road Socialist Organization provided a message of hope in the opening speeches, “It’s OK to be disappointed by the reality that we’ll have to deal with Trump’s racist, reactionary agenda once again. I was disappointed during his first run, but that’s why I joined Freedom Road Socialist Organization.“

“I knew that everything that Trump represents would not be defeated in the ballot box. Only organized movements pushing for a people’s agenda could and will take down Trump!” Chavoya continued.

Solidarity with Palestine was front and center during the event. Janan Najeeb, co-chair of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, explained how a new Trump presidency is the result of a massive failure by the Democratic party. Najeeb stated, “When we are sending $50 billion to kill Palestinians and destroy the infrastructure of Gaza, while people of this country are trying to figure out where their next meal is going to come – why is our money being sent over there to kill innocent people while we are suffering here?”

Protesters took to the street chanting for a free Palestine and “No Trump, no KKK, no racist USA.”

The rally made a stop at the Federal Building for more speeches. Speaking on behalf of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Casey Serrano explained “From the very first campaign event in 2015, he has been racist and anti-immigrant. We remember the promises to build the wall, the Muslim ban, bragging about assaults on women. And this go-round we remember what he has said about mass deportation and that Israel needs to ‘finish the job’ in Palestine. We must be ready to fight his racist, reactionary agenda through to the end.”

The march ended back at Red Arrow/Dontre Hamilton Park with closing remarks from Students for a Democratic Society. Trump’s first presidency in 2016 witnessed the rise of a new generation of organizers. Audari Tamayo of Students for a Democratic Society stated, “Many of us today were teenagers or kids when Trump went to office the first time. We also witnessed the George Floyd rebellion. The resurgence of the Black and Chicano liberation movements came after many young people realized that organizing is how we get things done.”

The people’s movements in Milwaukee are ready to fight back and make our country ungovernable. “The people's movements are here to stay. And not only are we here to stay, we are here to win!” declared Tamayo.

The future is bright and organizers in Milwaukee are embracing the struggle ahead.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #PeoplesStruggles #Trump #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #ImmigrantRights

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement by Students for a Democratic Society University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Chapter.

The Students for a Democratic Society UWM chapter condemns the ongoing political repression against Robby Knapp, Patricia Fish, Kayla Paterson, and Audari Tamayo. Knapp is currently facing suspension after refusing to stop protesting for Palestine and has been hit with multiple disciplinary sanctions. Fish is now being hit with disciplinary sanctions from the Chapman Hall occupation in February. Patterson and Tamayo were unable to enroll in time for the Fall 2024 semester after bogus holds were placed on their school accounts. This was just part of the string of repression unleashed by the university in its attempt to intimidate members of SDS and the student movement at large for standing with Palestine.

At 2:00 a.m., June 20, UWM PD officers went to Robby Knapp’s home. They arrested Knapp at 2:25 a.m., took the long way to campus, and didn’t read his Miranda rights until after arriving at the campus booking station at 3:00 a.m. They later released Knapp at 3:26 a.m., with no way to get home. This despicable act of intimidation was to force the SDSer to give the police information about an alleged “graffiti” incident on campus.

Later that week, the police visited the homes of Tamayo and Patterson, visiting Tamayo’s home twice. Both SDSers live over 20 minutes away from campus, making the repeated visits by campus police even more ridiculous. Neither SDSer spoke to the cops. The UWM police later called them both repeatedly, attempting to intimidate Patterson and Tamayo into going in for a “chat” and giving them information on their dubious investigations into other SDS members. In defiance, all three SDSers – Knapp, Patterson, and Tamayo – refused to say a word to the cops.

SDS has been relentless in standing up for what is right. The struggle has risen to levels unseen in decades, and with it, the ruling class and the administrators at their service have attempted to stomp out the growth of the student movement. We know police weren’t acting on their own — they act on behalf of the administration. It was admin who wanted to crack down on the encampment. It was admin who called over 10 police precincts during the Chapman Hall occupation in February, and it was the admin that had riot police and pre-printed citations ready for student activists during the Board of Regents meeting in June. The administration is not our friend, they are tools of the war machine.

We denounce these political attacks from the administration and the UWM PD. SDS will never talk to the cops in their bogus investigations against fellow organizers, much less members of SDS. UW-Milwaukee is spending student and taxpayer money on sham investigations, sending cops far off campus to intimidate pro-Palestine student activists over some alleged graffiti. It's a shame. This is one of many reasons we demand that admin defund the cops and instead fund student needs!

Along with attacks against SDSers, SDS UWM has been suspended from being a registered student organization for over a year. All this is clear-cut political repression directed at pro-Palestine activists and organizations. Nonetheless, targeting SDS has backfired on admin. SDS has continued to deal blows against the enemy. In addition to advancing our campaign to cut ties with “Israel”, we have gotten cases dismissed at court, overturned an unfounded suspension alongside our coalition members in the Popular University for Palestine, and we’ve had student conduct charges brought down to simple “reflection essays”. SDS has grown and helped build the movement on this campus and in Milwaukee through struggle, not compromise. Admin will keep failing because with every act of repression, our resolve to win only grows.

SDS demands UW-Milwaukee drop the student conduct charges and investigations against Robby Knapp and Patricia Fish! SDS demands UWM PD stay the hell away from SDSers' homes! SDS says solidarity with Palestine is not a crime! SDS says don’t talk to the cops, chop from the top! Dare to struggle, dare to win!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #StudentMovement #PoliticalRepression #FreeSpeech #SDS

Milwaukee, WI – Former President Trump returned to Milwaukee this past Friday, November 1, to speak at a rally at the Fiserv Forum, the same venue where he accepted the Republican presidential nomination during the Republican National Convention (RNC).

Once details of Trump’s visit were made public, the Milwaukee organizations who helped lead the Coalition to March on the RNC rallied together for an emergency protest to say no to Trump. Trump’s reactionary agenda stands against multiple movements that have a strong home in Milwaukee – anti-police crimes, reproductive justice, anti-war, labor, student, and Palestinian liberation.

Speaking to the question of reproductive justice, Allison Smith of Reproductive Justice Action – Milwaukee, stated, “we don’t want a man with a documented history of sexual misconduct. We want to remind him, and everyone else, that we did not stand idly by when our rights were stripped away in 2022, and we will not be silent now. We are committed to doing everything in our power to push back against right-wing attacks on reproductive healthcare and the healthcare system at large.”

Progressive elements of the labor movement have largely united against Trump on account of his prioritization of CEOs rather than workers and his vile attempts at sowing division among workers. While dividing the working class isn’t unique to Trump, his reliance on reactionary rhetoric has emboldened the reactionary elements of the U.S. population. Jacob Flom of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council made this point clearly, stating, “the labor movement stands for everything that Trump is against. Trump has tried to pit workers against each other by fostering anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ hate.”

With all the hatred Trump and his supporters have voiced against working and oppressed peoples, the imperative to take a firm stand against it and fight back became another consistent theme in the remarks of Friday night’s speakers. Speaking on behalf of the Milwaukee Antiwar Committee, Eva Dickenson, stated, “Trump’s comments on Palestinians have been sickening. He’s promised to put pro-Palestinian protesters like us in jail, and he has said that he wants to finish the job. No matter what he tries, he will never kill our spirit of resistance.” Aurelia Ceja, co-chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, carried a similar message forward, explaining “we’re united to show that Milwaukee is a fighting city.”

A Trump presidency will require mass organizations capable of standing up against the multiple attacks on various movements. Trump has made it clear that he’s an enemy of the people, and the only antidote against him will be mass movement. Speaking to the importance of organizing, Audari Tamayo of Freedom Road Socialist Organization stated, “We recognize the ballot box as an arena of struggle, but we say that the best way to fight reactionaries like Trump and his supporters is right here in the streets. Trump represents the U.S. empire in decline, but this system won’t fall on its own or through the ballot box. The real hammer of change will be socialism built by the working and oppressed people!”

Tuesday’s election is quickly approaching, and for the people of Milwaukee, the road ahead is one of struggle.

Milwaukee has become a must-visit location for Republicans and Democrats given the city’s significance for the Wisconsin vote, which will play a key role as a swing state. Regardless of the outcome, it will be up to the people of Milwaukee to fight like hell for what they need and deserve. Friday offered a small glimpse into how the progressive movements of Milwaukee intend on standing together post-election.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #2024Elections #Trump #PeoplesStruggles #Elections #NAARPR #MAARPR

Milwaukee, WI – On Tuesday, October 22, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) and numerous families of those impacted by police violence, lack of transparency, and by the conditions in the Milwaukee County Jail honored their loved ones in a panel and vigil for Stolen Lives Day at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, with around 100 people in attendance.

The MAARPR and the families of Sam Sharpe Jr, Earl Lawhorn Jr, Dontre Hamilton, Sade Robinson, and many more have been fighting for police accountability, better conditions in the Milwaukee County Jail (MCJ), and general transparency for the families of victims.

For this year’s Stolen Lives Day commemoration, they crafted the following demands: release of unredacted, and accurate Brady List of Milwaukee Officers; Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that demands Milwaukee-Area Investigative Team/Milwaukee Police Department give more frequent and concrete updates on progress of an officer-involved shooting or homicidal investigation; and updating SOP 575 to give families control over what investigation details are released to the media.

The first portion of the Tuesday night’s program consisted of many families giving their stories. Lo Cross, co-chair of the Milwaukee Alliance, stressed the importance of having the families tell their stories, stating “these stories give fuel and strength to our mass movement.”

None of these Milwaukee families asked to be put into these situations. Debra Jenkins, mother of Larry Jenkins, expressed this by stating, “We didn’t choose to be in this group.” However, these families have found much optimism and strength supporting each other in order to continue fighting together. Taleavia Cole, sister of Alvin Cole, shared this sentiment, stating, “We have the power, we have the bigger voice.”

As families recounted details of their cases and the work they have done, it was obvious to all in attendance that Milwaukee is home to families who are helping shape the movement to end police crimes.

After the families spoke, the crowd then transitioned outside for a brief candlelight vigil, reading off a long list of police crimes victims in Milwaukee. This year’s Stolen Lives Day commemoration concluded with a direction towards upcoming actions to continue advancing the struggle.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #InJusticeSystem #PoliceCrimes #MAARPR

The focus of the action was primarily the national contract for the letter carrier craft. The NALC and USPS have been negotiating for nearly two years. Rank-and-file members of NALC have been frustrated with the lack of transparency and updates on negotiations from national leaders like NALC president Brian Renfroe. These frustrations came to a head at the union's recent national convention, where Renfroe would have been removed from office on counts of neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming of an officer, but political savvy and manipulation of procedure allowed him to escape that fate. A reform movement is brewing.

Other points of emphasis were more local in scope, addressing issues of widespread and rampant wage theft of carriers across the broader Milwaukee area, as well as major issues of harassment and lack of respect for carriers from management.

Will Shroeder, a steward out of the North Milwaukee Station, served as emcee for the event, leading the crowd with a rousing speech and chanting.

“We’re out here today to demand a contract. We shouldn’t have to be out here fighting for ourselves as we’ve recently passed a resolution that would force national to put on public contract campaigns as well as an open bargaining resolution, but national has continued to leave us in the dark and give us empty promises. It’s been 500-plus days since our contract has expired and that's 500 days too many – especially when our membership has no clue as to what Renfroe and the USPS are up to behind closed doors,” Shroeder said.

He continued, “We’ve had record inflation over the last two years and our union has been incapable of providing for us and our families and we need to let them and the USPS that enough is enough and that we want a contract now!”

The rally featured speakers from Teamsters Local 344, AFSCME Local 526, and the American Federation of Teachers Local 212. Members of the Amalgamated Transportation Union Local 998 and the International Association of Machinists were scattered throughout the crowd, demonstrating working class solidarity.

After the speeches, the assembled crowd picketed outside the downtown office, chanting for an end to wage theft and for a new contract and greater respect.

Mere days after the National Day of Action, a tentative agreement between NALC and USPS was announced. The agreement, lauded by the sellout Renfroe as an historic achievement, has come under intense fire from rank-and-file members for its concessions and paltry wage increases. The next step in this process is a national vote on the contract. A vote no campaign coordinated by the reform oriented Build a Fighting NALC (BFN) is anticipated.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #Labor #NALC #USPS