Milwaukee, WI – On Wednesday, January 14, nearly a dozen people met at Zao MKE Church to participate in Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC)’s phone zap in solidarity with the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) and to watch the documentary The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

Throughout the day and at the beginning of the evening event, Milwaukee activists and community members called Florida State Attorney Melissa Nelson to demand that all charges be dropped against the three activists who were targeted and attacked by Jacksonville police for their anti-war organizing. This phone zap was organized one week before one activist’s final pretrial hearing and was part of a national day of action with the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN).

Chris Van Valkenberg, chair of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Students for a Democratic Society (SDS UWM), stated, “As someone who’s experienced political repression, it’s important to publicize the political repression you’re facing through statements, packing the court, and hosting call-in campaigns to drop the charges. These actions have a big impact. We know that protesting is not a crime, and that’s why it’s important to speak out against political repression.”

They went on to provide examples of national call-in campaigns and the recent wins for organizations and community members that were facing severe political repression.

“When three students in SDS UWM were unable to register for classes due to their involvement with Palestine solidarity protests, SDS UWM held a national call-in campaign. Within an hour, all three students were able to enroll in classes. It is because of these national calls to action that we’ve seen the federal charges dropped against immigrant rights organizer Alejandro Orellana in Los Angeles last summer and the ‘Tampa 5’ students a few years ago. Across the country, we know that when we fight, we win!”

After the brief remarks, attendees watched The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, a documentary on the 2002 coup attempt against former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

After the event, attendees felt motivated and ready to stand up and fight back against political repression and to demand no U.S. intervention in Venezuela, in Palestine, in Iran, or anywhere.

The phone zap and movie night were part of MAC’s No War with Venezuela Month of Action, announced in early January during a press conference at Milwaukee City Hall. This month of action comes on the heels of escalating U.S. military aggression against Venezuela, including bombing Caracas which killed 100 people and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

MAC’s month of action will continue with a teach-in on Venezuela on January 17, supporting the annual MLK Day event on January 19, and concluding with a One Year Against Trump March and Rally on January 20.

Details for future events can be found on MAC’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #MAC #JaxPSN #AWAN

Jacksonville, FL – On Saturday, March 22, over 200 community members gathered to protest the genocide carried out by Israel after it violated the ceasefire on March 18. Community members protested in the town center, on one of Jacksonville’s busiest streets, to demand an end to U.S. aid to Israel and call for the Jacksonville Port Authority to end its contracts with two shipping companies, Maersk and ZIM.

The shipping giant Maersk is among the wealthiest in the world. While they recently denied shipping arms to Israel, records show they have shipped millions of dollars’ worth of military cargo since the attack on Gaza began in 2023. ZIM is Israel’s largest and oldest shipping company, a direct supporter and facilitator of the occupation and genocide in Palestine.

The Jacksonville Port Authority has refused to answer organizers’ calls to end their complicity in the genocide since the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) took up their Genocide Out of Jaxport campaign last October. A leading Palestinian JPSN organizer said, “After the people of Gaza were finally able to poke their head above water for a fragile gasp of air, they are again drowning in the blood that is Zionism. At the same time, we are witnessing a new level of destruction and settler violence in the West Bank. We must not slow down our fight, we must continue to reach people from different areas of Jacksonville and bridge the connection of our suffering!”

On April 5, JPSN plans to take their action directly to Jacksonville’s Dames Point Terminal, where Maersk and ZIM operate, as part of the national week of action for Palestinian Land Day called by the Anti War Action Network (AWAN). Speaking to the crowd, Ryan Delaney of AWAN’s steering committee said, “If you take one thing home with your today, let it be this: if that port in your own backyard stops shipping with Maersk and ZIM, that disrupts the killing of Palestinians from being killed. If we can stop them, we can save lives, and we can stop them, because when we fight, we win!”

The action was called by Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, and answered by a broad coalition of organizations, including American Muslims for Palestine, Jacksonville Community Action Committee, Students for a Democratic Society, Jacksonville Immigrant Rights Alliance, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #JaxPSN

Jacksonville, FL – On Saturday, November 16, people of conscience in Jacksonville rallied in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Over 100 protesters demanded an arms embargo on Israel, chanting “Israel bombs, USA pays!” Protesters also had local demands for the Jacksonville Port Authority-JAXPORT to cut ties with the shipping and logistics company Maersk, as long as that company continues to ship weapons and weapons components used by Israel. 

Speakers emphasized that the people's movements would remain steadfast in the fight for the self-determination of the Palestinian people. “Our fire is still lit, and we won't stop until Gaza is free,” said a member of the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network. 

Onlookers and passing drivers showed their support by joining chants, honking and cheering the protesters on. With signs reading, “We want genocide out of JAXPORT,” the crowd chanted, “Mask off Maersk, mask off Maersk!”

Community leaders made it clear that the fight for a liberated Palestine is a part of the fight against U.S. imperialism - that only the people can save us, and that the power of the people is much greater than the ruling class. Ryan Delaney from the Freedom Road Socialist Organization emphasized, “When we see moments of revolution, of people taking their futures into their hands, we see that as the right side of history, and we see that as the road to freedom.” 

As the U.S. Senate is days away from voting on a bill that would block $20 billion of weapons to Israel, protesters in Jacksonville maintain that the people's movements are at the helm of this fight, and they won't stop until they win.

#JacksonvilleFL #JAXPORT #FreePalestine #JaxPSN #MaskOffMaersk

Jacksonville, FL – The 16 student and community activists who were arrested Thursday evening, May 2, after taking part in the Gaza solidarity encampment at University of North Florida were all been freed from the Duval County Jail in Jacksonville on Friday at 6 p.m.

All 16 all face charges of trespassing on UNF’s campus after their arrest by over 75 riot cops of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Around 50 supporters, along with leaders from UNF Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the Jacksonville Community Action Committee and the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network, gathered on the steps of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office earlier in the evening demanding their release and for the charges to be dropped.

The activists are scheduled for their next days in court on May 13 and June 3.

#JacksonvilleFL #FL #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #StudentMovement #SDS #JCAC #JaxPSN

All ages were represented, as families brought their children and elders proudly wearing keffiyeh, waving Palestinian flags, and holding signs honoring the martyrs that have died. Signs included messages that read, “10,000 dead, 4500 children,” “The only peace Israel wants is another piece of Palestine” and “Do you condemn genocide?”

Leaders from JPSN spoke on behalf of the Floridians in attendance expressing how they don’t agree with Governor Ron Desantis’ support for Isriel. They told the group that State Representative for Florida House District 13 Angie Nixon’s resolution on a ceasefire, HR 31C, which she filed on November 6, should be supported by other politicians.

Chants at the rally included,” Israel, Israel we know you. You imprison children too,” “End the tension, stop the crime, Israel out of Palestine” and “Netanyahu what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?”

There was an overwhelming amount of support that came from people driving by in their cars. Drivers would honk their horns and hold up a V sign out of their windows to show solidarity with the ralliers on the ground. Participants in the crowd spanned across racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds, showing that no matter individuals’ differences, anyone could stand in support for Palestine.

A member of JPSN shared why the group gathered the community together. “It's important for our communities to grab onto the power available to them in the streets. We want to mobilize the people, make their voices heard and let the rest of this community know that we won't be silent at home for atrocities that we are directly complicit in abroad.” They went on to share how the violence abroad directly affects people in Jacksonville.

“We have factories and investors right here in Jacksonville that directly supply the IDF. There are also Zionist issues at the state and local level we need to combat. Since 2019, Florida law has ridiculously codified any rhetoric that “delegitimize Israel” as antisemitism. Our own city council recently passed a resolution to stand with Israel, sponsored by a warhawk who used to work at Raytheon and Safariland. We have a sheriff who went on an ‘enlightening’ trip to watch the IDF in action.”

JPSN calls on the community to stand with them in combating Zionism. They demand an end to U.S. aid for Israel and that state representatives to stop resisting calls for a ceasefire.

The rally lasted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and ended with a group prayer in a nearby stretch of grass for the Muslim attendees. To find out more about JPSN, you can follow them on social media at JaxPSN.

#JacksonvilleFL #Palestine #AntiWar #JaxPSN