Vaun L. Mayes is a leading activist in Milwaukee’s African American community facing serious felony charges in what many consider a frame-up by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (the ATF) and Milwaukee Police Department (MPD).

On June 5, 60 supporters applauded in federal court as Mayes was released from custody after a hearing. Mayes is facing three charges, including attempted arson. While federal prosecutors claim Mayes tried to organize people to throw rocks at police and firebomb a police station, they also say he never acted on the plans. It was also revealed in court there are at least two government informants involved.

Mayes alleged crimes took place after the MPD shooting of Sylville Smith, a 23-year-old African American man who was running away from police. Smith’s murder by police sparked the Sherman Park uprising, in which a BP gas station was burned to the ground and police lost control for three days, starting on August 13, 2016.

At the time, the MPD said Smith pointed a gun at officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown. Protesters demanded the release of police body camera footage and it revealed that Milwaukee police lied to the public. It showed that Smith had thrown a weapon to the ground before officer Heaggan-Brown shot him in the arm, and then the officer fatally shot Smith on the ground.

Officer Heaggan-Brown was charged, but then acquitted, in the murder of Smith.

In the two years since the Sherman Park uprising, the MPD and federal agencies have had little success in filing charges against people involved in the protests. So the U.S. government is resorting to a frame up.

Mayes is a well-respected activist and youth mentor. He is targeted because he is an unapologetic fighter against police crimes and the oppression of African Americans. Mayes was one of the leaders in the high profile movement to hold MPD accountable for the killing of Dontre Hamilton in 2014. Mayes works tirelessly for the residents in Milwaukee’s African American community, which suffers from some of the highest poverty and incarceration rates of any major U.S. city.

The charges against Vaun Mayes are an attempt to target activist leaders who speak out and organize people against the Milwaukee Police and their crimes. We need your help to defend Vaun Mayes and to hold police accountable, to end there lies, cover-ups and crimes.

The CSFR is asking you to stand in solidarity with Vaun L. Mayes and demand “Drop the charges now!”

Be ready for future calls to action in the campaign to “Drop the charges now!”

#NewYork #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #Milwaukee #SylvilleSmith #VaunLMayes #MilwaukeePoliceDepartmentMPD

Milwaukee, WI – On May 20, the revolutionary forces of Venezuela won a great victory with the re-election of Nicolás Maduro as president, who received a landslide 67% of the vote. The reactionary opposition parties, stumbling over themselves, ran a sub-par candidate that they could not even unite behind. For the foreseeable future, the political forces of the comprador bourgeoisie are defeated, and they and their imperialist partners will need to explore other means to try to defeat the Bolivarian Revolution. Now is the time for the revolutionary movement to advance, and that is what they are doing.

Seizure of local marketplaces

Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela and head of the United Socialist Party (PSUV), is committed to driving imperialism and its lapdogs from the country. Since May 20, his administration – and the broader Bolivarian movement that it leads – has launched a sweeping offensive against the vestiges of entrenched comprador bourgeois power that still hold on to key sectors of the economy. The goal is to create a stable, sovereign national economy capable of meeting the needs of the Venezuelan people and enabling them to fulfill their revolutionary desires.

Venezuela has been in severe economic crisis for years, the product of sharp class struggle and imperialist meddling. The comprador bourgeoisie, although weakened by their political failures, continue to use their dominance of the imports and distribution sectors to strike blows against the masses. Goods are hoarded, prices are gouged, and the fuel for crisis is made. Criminal elements actively aid the bourgeoisie in these efforts. It is at these key sectors of the economy that the Bolivarian movement now aims its sights.

To this effect, Maduro announced that the Sovereign Supply Chain Mission – a government body that combats corruption in the imports and distribution networks – would seize control of all local markets in the country. “The people demand a cleansing of all the local markets in this country, that we take all of the mafias away in handcuffs,” Maduro said a week after his re-election. “It is not socialism that is failing us, but this old savage capitalism that lives on like a zombie, plunging its claws into the people and preventing them from buying [what they need] with their high prices.” He added that any local officials that worked against the seizure of local markets would be treated as sympathizers of the “mafias” currently holding power over the local markets.

Strengthen the state sector

As battles wage between comprador and revolutionary forces in the private sector, efforts are underway to strengthen the large state-owned sector of the economy. Productive forces need to be further developed if Venezuela is to survive outside of the imperialist world. All revolutionary forces are working to construct this new economy. Agricultural communes are developing new methods to grow and process corn and other food staples. Workers are taking control of their factories, taking advantage of a new law that allows Worker Production Councils (CPTs) to legally seize and run their own workplaces.

While these revolutionary efforts are underway, work is being done to strengthen the existing state-owned businesses. On June 29, Maduro directed the Francisco de Miranda Front (FFM) – a cadre youth organization jointly organized by the PSUV and the Cuban Communist Party – to take managerial control of over 700 state-owned companies in order to strengthen their productive abilities and ensure they function in the national interests.

“Prepare yourselves, form into cells, because I want the best of the working class to take control over these companies!” Maduro declared before an assembly of FFM leaders. The youth will be assisted in this grand project by experienced officers from the National Bolivarian Armed Forces, who have been active in managing some of these companies for years.

¡Socialismo o nada!

The Venezuelan masses are hemmed in by enemies at home and abroad. On their border, the far-right regime of Ivan Duque is coming to power in Colombia, and he has made it clear that his central foreign objective is defeating the Bolivarian Revolution. Steps are certainly underway for the Colombian military, a full member of NATO, to attempt such a feat. They will be backed to the hilt by the Trump administration. It was leaked this week that, months ago when Trump and his advisors were discussing Venezuela, he incredulously asked why the Marines could not be sent in to overthrow Maduro. While this option has not been attempted yet, it is clearly on the table, and is beginning to look like the last option the imperialist have left.

Despite these real threats, the Venezuelan people have no fear. They know what they want, they know how to get it, and they are willing to get there.

Challenging times are ahead. The Venezuelan people's desire for independence cannot coexist with the profit hunger of U.S. imperialism. This contradiction is sharpening and will reach its breaking point. There are only two paths available for Venezuela – forward or backward. The present cannot last. The choice is now more than ever, to push forward the national democratic process towards socialism or barbarism.

#Milwaukee #MN #Venezuela #Socialism #NicolásMaduro #UnitedSocialistPartyPSUV

Milwaukee, WI – On Nov. 5, the self-proclaimed “fastest growing motivational movement,” #besomebody, met the world's fastest growing boycott movement on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Over 20 activists handed out informational fliers exposing the connection between SodaStream and the #besomebody “movement” which markets SodaStream's in-home soda machines. Activists educated fellow students on SodaStream's human rights abuses which include operating on an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank of Palestine.

Members of two Students for Justice in Palestine chapters held signs that read, “Don't drink SodaStream. Support Palestinian human rights. #besomebody against occupation.“During the action, activists from the Milwaukee Palestine Solidarity Coalition and Friends of Palestine met with #besomebody's founder, Kash Shaikh, and urged him to cut ties with companies that profit from the occupation of Palestine. Before a large group of activists Shaikh admitted, “I didn't do a very good job looking into their background,” referring to SodaStream, and said he was personally opposed to the occupation.

Actions and local campaigns against companies that sell SodaStream have been springing up over the last year as it becomes one of the primary focuses of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. A national week of action against SodaStream will coincide with ‘Black Friday’ later this month, focused on the retailer Target, demanding they withdraw the product and break ties with the Israeli occupation.

#Milwaukee #WI #Palestine #Divestment #Boycott #solidarity #SodaStream #besomebody #andSanctions #BDMMovement #MiddleEast

Milwaukee, WI – Palestine solidarity activists rallied against Israeli settlement construction in response to an awards banquet held by the Jewish National Fund Aug. 28. The annual awards banquet celebrated local bankrollers of the Israeli occupation for “their support in reclaiming the land to help secure the State of Israel.”

The Milwaukee Palestine Solidarity Coalition released a statement in opposition to the banquet and the 1200 new illegal settlement homes recently announced by Israel, saying, “settlements are the #1 roadblock to peace.”

During the rally, some members of the coalition presented a proposal to a local business asking them to endorse the global movement to boycott, divest and sanction apartheid Israel. The coalition has had multiple victories over the summer as local businesses sign on to the boycott of Israeli products, as well as the cultural and academic boycott.

“We can't wait for the politicians to stop funding Israeli occupation. We need to start in our communities by encouraging our friends, organizations and local businesses to stand in solidarity with Palestinians by withdrawing their financial support for the occupation. We also have to confront the local supporters of apartheid, occupation and illegal settlements,” said coalition member Jacob Flom.

#Milwaukee #MilwaukeeWI #Occupation #Palestine #Israel #JusticeForPalestine #IsraeliSettlements #MiddleEast

Milwaukee, WI – While 300 foreclosed homes were being auctioned off Feb. 6 at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, over 50 protesters stormed Milwaukee City Hall, Feb. 6 demanding an end to foreclosures, evictions, plant closings, school closings and layoffs, as well as transparency with the federally-funded Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

The Occupy Coalition called the event “Take Back City Hall.” It included a march past several downtown banks before entering City Hall, along with mic checks and chants against bankers and corrupt politicians. One chant addressed the mayor: “Tom Barrett, get your ass in gear; stop giving our homes to the auctioneers!”

“Our people have been robbed so long and our elected officials have been letting big businesses control the voices of the people,” said Khalil Coleman of Occupy the Hood. “So we went to City Hall to take the power back.”

Despite the heavily-policed City Hall confining protesters to the main lobby, Occupy protesters made it to the second floor balcony to drop a large banner that read, “We are the 99%. Stop foreclosures. CDBG transparency.”

At one point, Milwaukee Alderman Ashanti Hamilton came down past the police to meet the protest. Confronted about transparency issues over CDBGs, he agreed on public record to a hearing over the issue.

The Occupy Coalition, made up of Occupy the Hood, Occupy Milwaukee and Occupy Riverwest, have also recently been involved in door-to-door interviews, bus teach-ins and community service.

Danielle Meyer of Occupy Milwaukee explained, “The only way to confront the power of the 1% is to do it together. We've been in a lot of communities talking about the economic crisis and its impact on us. Today at City Hall we just got done confronting that power with our demands and I expect we'll be doing it again soon.”

Brian Woods, an Occupy organizer, agreed. “This was an empowering experience,” he said.

From 3 to 5 p.m., the main floor of the Milwaukee City Hall lobby was occupied, with Occupy protesters promising to return.

#MilwaukeeWI #Milwaukee #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyWallStreet

Milwaukee, WI – In response to concerns from community members of the 20th Street neighborhood, north of North Avenue, a newly formed Occupy Coalition consisting of Occupy the Hood, Occupy Milwaukee, Occupy Riverwest and other groups collected trash that had been scattered throughout the streets and lawns of the community. About forty bags of trash were piled in front of an abandoned home on 20th and Meinecke with a banner reading, “Banks and politicians made this mess.”

Community members left their homes to join in the cleanup and wholeheartedly supported the message that greedy bankers and their political cronies are to blame for the condition of their neighborhood.

Muhammad Mahdi, who is running for Supervisor in the 5th district states, “Unemployment leads to foreclosure and abandoned and dilapidated houses, which invites crime and trash. Jobs are a necessity and housing is a human right!”

The Occupy Coalition has a series of actions planned to tackle the issues that Milwaukee residents are facing and they state that they are willing to do what it takes to put an end to this crisis for the 99% and to end attacks on the most oppressed.

#MilwaukeeWI #Milwaukee #HousingStruggles #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyTheHood #OccupyRiverwest

Those one-hundred sat down on a large tarp on the bridge, with the remaining protesters surrounding them, for about three hours. The protests across the country were intended to highlight the fight for jobs, arguing that people could be put to work fixing our nation’s crumbling bridges.

The rally at Carver Park only lasted for about 15 minutes, but included speeches from several community members, including local politician Ian Biddle, who said of the people on Wall Street, “They don’t care about us, they don’t care about black people, or Hispanic people, or poor people. . . we will not be divided between black and white.” Then protesters marched to the bridge, chanting “We are the 99%!”

When they arrived at the bridge, another speaker addressed the crowd, saying “We won’t tolerate one more cut or one more corporate giveaway.” Protesters then surrounded the taped-off civil disobedience zone, forming a barrier between those performing civil disobedience and the police. Organizers of the march set up tents and distributed water and hand warmers.

As time went on, the police constructed a one-way barrier through which people could leave, but could not re-enter. Arrest seemed imminent as the police surrounded the occupied bridge. Protesters began new chants, such as “We are unstoppable, another world is possible,” and “Walker, let’s face it, your budget cuts are racist,” in reference to Wisconsin’s right-wing governor Scott Walker.

Chief Ed Flynn of the Milwaukee Police Department announced to the media that their blockade would stay up. No one could bring in food, but that the occupiers would be allowed to stay the night on the bridge if they wished. Occupiers held a meeting and decided to march to the MICAH building nearby. The MICAH building is the headquarters of a local inner-city faith activist group. Despite warnings from the police, protesters took the streets and marched all the way to the building, where they were greeted with applause.

University of Wisconsin Student and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) member Eddie Chapman said of the action, “It was a success, we won...this was the most inspiring and radical action I’ve ever been a part of.” Chapman was one of sixteen arrested on the March 4, 2010 National Day of Action for Education Rights.

#Milwaukee #MilwaukeeWI #CapitalismAndEconomy #PoorPeoplesMovements #jobs #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyWallStreet #bridges #CarverPark #OWS

Milwaukee, WI – A dozen members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) marched in Independence Day parades for the fourth year in a row over the July 4 weekend. The group of student and youth activists entered parades – without registering – in Whitefish Bay and Shorewood, which are in the midst of a heated recall campaign against Republican State Senator Alberta Darling.

SDS members jumped into both parades ahead of Senator Darling, who is a primary target of a statewide campaign to recall supporters of Governor Scott Walker’s anti-worker agenda.

In the Shorewood parade, SDS received thunderous applause when they unveiled a banner which read “War on Walker, not on workers!” Other banners demanded “Fund education, not occupation,” “U.S.A. off foreign soil,” and “End the occupations – No war for empire!”

The reception in Whitefish Bay was much more contentious. Some angry spectators yelled obscenities at the students and fetched police, who threatened to arrest SDS members for “parading without a permit.” While SDS members were forced out of the parade by police, dozens of spectators thanked the students for their message and courage to exercise free speech. One man was heard saying, “War on Walker, where do I sign up?”

After leaving the Whitefish Bay parade, undercover police cars tailed the activists for blocks before stopping them far from any supportive spectators. The officers questioned and videotaped the students and even attempted to separate one student from the group. When it became clear that the rest of the group would not leave, police eventually let them go, but continued to tail them. After several members entered their car, they were immediately pulled over and eventually released without a citation.

In 2008, Glendale police detained several SDS members for marching in a parade while parade goers looked on in outrage. However, SDS is committed to sharing pro-worker messages in the face of government repression. Even as 23 activists face federal repression for anti-war and international worker solidarity, SDS members are taking bold action to show that they cannot be silenced.

After the event, one SDS member said “The support we received from families, workers and youth at the parades was overwhelming and truly made the event worthwhile.”

#Milwaukee #WI #Labor #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #PeoplesStruggles #July4 #Darling #AlbertaDarling #recall

Click the images below for PDF's of the flyers promoting the May 1 demonstration: in Milwaukee, WI

#MilwaukeeWI #Milwaukee #News #Immigrants #May1

Milwaukee, WI – Angry labor unionists and their supporters protested here, May 19, against Republican hit man Karl Rove. The conservative lobbying group, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) invited former Bush aide Karl Rove to speak against the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). EFCA promises to make it easier for workers to form unions with less interference and dirty tricks from bosses. Unions and workers are demanding this new amendment to the National Labor Relations Act that will make forming a union a simple democratic choice.

The Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce conference was closed to the public and the press, but 150 workers showed up at 8:00 a.m. outside to make their voices heard. Workers held signs in favor of the Employee Free Choice Act and chanted, “What do we want? Free Choice! When do we want it? Now!” The bosses at the WMC would not speak to the media, but passed out literature that opposed the EFCA.

The Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce is also opposing a measure that would make Milwaukee the third U.S. city to win paid sick days. The paid sick days ballot initiative passed in November with an astounding 69% mandate and would give all workers in Milwaukee nine paid sick days each year, a huge victory for all workers.

#MilwaukeeWI #Milwaukee #News #SDS #EFCA #KarlRove #EmployeeFreeChoiceAct