Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

MAARPR

By Lo Cross

Members of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression \[MAARPR\] protest at the headquarters of police union.  | Fight Back! News/staff

Milwaukee, WI – On March 29, Judge Brittany Grayson issued a ruling regarding the Milwaukee Police Association’s (MPA) case against the city of Milwaukee over Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 575. Judge Grayson denied the city of Milwaukee’s motion to dismiss the MPA’s case against SOP 575, but she also ruled against the MPA’s argument that the Fire and Police Commission violated state law or the collective bargaining agreement. The MPA failed to produce the necessary evidence to justify their argument.

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By staff

Picket at Milwaukee police union offices demand greater transparency and accountability. | Fight Back! News/staff

Milwaukee, WI – Ahead of Judge Brittany Grayson’s decision regarding Standard Operating Procedure 575, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression held a press conference and picket outside of the Milwaukee Police Association on Friday, March 15.

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By staff

International Women's Day celebrated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Fight Back! News/staff

Milwaukee, WI – To end the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine’s (WCJP) Day of Action with an exclamation point, the Milwaukee International Women’s Day Coalition convened hundreds for the celebration of this important working-class holiday.

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By Aurelia Ceja

Brian Verdin, the education chair of MAARPR, speaking to the room. | Fight Back! News/Omar Flores

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, January 26, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) hosted a community forum on transparency and accountability at the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998 hall.

50 community members attended presentations from MAARPR on various policies related to footage release from law enforcement, which was followed by a question and answer session with County Supervisors Wilie Johnson, Ryan Clancy, and Juan Miguel Martinez regarding the lack of a footage release policy from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).

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By staff

Kerrie Hirte \[center\], mother of Cilivea Thyrion, and Laquita Dunlap \[left\], mother of Brieon Green, continue the fight for victims of Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office. | Fight Back! News/staff

Milwaukee, WI – On December 16, dozens of community members and the family of Cilivea Thyrion gathered outside of the Milwaukee County Safety Building for a vigil commemorating Thyrion one year after her passing inside the Milwaukee County Jail.

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By staff

Community members kneel near a collection of candles while other hold signs that read "Justice for Joel Acevedo"

Milwaukee, WI – After a five-day trial, a jury acquitted former Milwaukee police officer Michael Mattioli of first-degree reckless homicide on Friday, November 10. Mattioli was on trial for the murder of Joel Acevedo, which took place in April 2020 and was one of the central cases during the 2020 uprising in Milwaukee.

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By staff

A member of Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Wisconsin speaks during the rally outside Senator Baldwin's home on November 6. | Fight Back! News/staff

Madison, WI – On Monday, November 6, a group of 100 people gathered at the intersection of South Butler and King Streets in Madison to demand that U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin vote against U.S. aid for Israel’s brutal attack on Gaza, stop taking money from pro-Israel lobbyists, and end U.S. financial support for the military detention of Palestinian children.

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By Paris Miller

People's Budget demanded at Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors meeting.  | Fight Back! News/staff

Milwaukee, WI – On Monday, October 30, the County Board of Supervisors held their annual public hearing to discuss the proposed 2024 county budget. One of the proposals within this budget was an increase to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) of $7 million. Although people attended the public hearing to discuss a wide range of issues, such as taking into account the safety of Milwaukee County Transit System’s drivers or better accessibility for the disabled community within the county, the majority of public testimonies demanded increased spending for public goods and services rather than continual increase to the MCSO.

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By staff

Thousands march in Milwaukee for Palestine. | Fight Back! News/staff

Milwaukee, WI – Nearly 2000 people joined a mass demonstration organized by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee on Wednesday evening to show support for the people of Palestine as they resist the Israeli occupation. People of all ages, draped in keffiyehs and carrying Palestine flags, flooded the streets of downtown Milwaukee behind a banner reading “Long live the popular Palestinian resistance.”

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By staff

Eugene Nelson, an anti-recidivism activist with Project Return, speaks during a prison reform action in Madison. | Fight Back! News/staff

Madison, WI – On Tuesday, October 10, nearly 100 concerned Wisconsinites came together in Madison, joining Wisdom Wisconsin, a non-profit organization bridging the faith community with prison reform efforts, in order to demand an end to inhumane lockdowns that have been enforced in correctional facilities across the entire state.

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