Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

MilwaukeeWI

By Carly Klein

Activists protest outside the home of Milwaukee County Supervisor Patti Logsdon'

Milwaukee, WI – On the evening of August 29, demonstrators from Reproductive Justice Action- Milwaukee (RJA-M) lined the street outside of Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Patti Logsdon’s home in Franklin, a suburb of Milwaukee. Banging pots and pans and holding picket signs reading “Stay out of my panties Patti” and “Don’t be a problematic Patti,” activists aimed to call attention to the unethical, anti-choice rhetoric Logsdon spewed during the county board supervisors meeting on July 28.

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By Alan Chavoya

Jacqueline Ratzel, the mother of Earl Lawhorn, speaks to supporters

Milwaukee, WI – On August 26, the family of Earl Lawhorn joined the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression in a car caravan to demand justice for him and his family. Lawhorn was murdered by Milwaukee police exactly one year before. Cops initiated a high-speed chase with Lawhorn. The chase culminated in a fatal shooting, which the police officers justified by claiming Lawhorn had fired on them. Evidence presented by the district attorney to the family revealed that the firearm in Lawhorn’s possession was broken and unable to fire.

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By staff

Milwaukee protest for reproductive rights outside county supervisor’s home.

Milwaukee, WI – On August 15, a brand-new grassroots organization, Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee, picketed outside the home of Milwaukee County District 6 Supervisor Shawn Rolland. This was in response to Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voting against putting an advisory referendum on Milwaukee County’s November ballot to overturn State Statute 940.04, which makes most abortions illegal in the state of Wisconsin.

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By Lauryn Cross

Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression vigil with the family

Milwaukee, WI – On Saturday, August 6, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression held a march and vigil with the family of Brieon Green and other community members. Green died at the jail on June 26. With a small but energetic crowd, the Milwaukee Alliance led people in a loop through the downtown area that began and ended in front of the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

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By Ryan Hamann

Milwaukee press conference announces march on Republican National Convention.

Milwaukee, WI – Cameras and microphones of news outlets were out in force the afternoon of August 5 as members of organizations hosted a press conference outside City Hall in downtown Milwaukee to announce the formation of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024. The press conference came only a few hours after the decision of the Republican National Committee became official following a vote at their summer meeting in Chicago.

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By Alan Chavoya

Brian Verdin, member of the Milwaukee Alliance, discusses the long history of pe

Milwaukee, WI – On Friday, July 29, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression held a press conference with the family of Brieon Green, a 21-year-old African American male who died last month at Milwaukee County Jail hours after his arrest. The Milwaukee Alliance joined Green’s family to voice the following demands:

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By staff

Milwaukee protest targets Federalist Society

Milwaukee, WI – On July 28, a group of more than 20 people rallied at Dontre Hamilton (Red Arrow) Park in downtown Milwaukee before marching a half mile to the Wisconsin Club, where the Milwaukee chapter of the notorious Federalist Society were hosting its summer cocktail party. The crowd included members of the Democratic Socialists for America, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National Lawyers Guild. Speeches were made just outside the big front windows of the building with some of the Federalists looking on.

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By Alan Chavoya

Mlwaukee, WI – On Saturday, July 23, members of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression attended the first of 15 community engagement sessions designed to gather community input about the recently launched “Community Oriented Policing” initiative. The Milwaukee Police Department, in partnership with the Community Collaborative Commission (CCC), the Fire and Police Commission (FPC), and the Mayers Strategic Solutions, LLC has launched this new initiative to, as they claim, “reimagine public safety together.”

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By staff

Alan Chavoya, Outreach Chair for the Milwaukee Alliance, calls for people to fig

Milwaukee, WI – On July 26, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee joined SEIU Wisconsin for an event to speak against voter suppression. Early voting for the partisan primary kicked off on Tuesday in Milwaukee, and while many speakers emphasized the need to vote, the Milwaukee Alliance and RJAM kept their messages focused on the fight for voting rights. This is important, as our voting rights, especially those of oppressed nationalities, are coming under deeper and more frequent attacks.

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By staff

Milwaukee hospital workers demand that the technical and service staff receive t

Milwaukee, WI – On the afternoon of July 18, 18 workers at St. Francis Hospital represented by the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Healthcare Professionals (WFNHP) Local 5000 followed the top hospital administrator to his office to demand that the technical and service staff receive their long-awaited contractual raise.

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By Lauren Forbush

Milwaukee protest defends reproductive rights.

Milwaukee, WI – On the afternoon of July 17, about 65 people gathered in downtown Milwaukee to protest in the streets for reproductive justice. This event was led by a brand new grassroots organization named Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee (RJAM). This organization arose shortly after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. As a result of the Supreme Court decision, Wisconsin’s State Statute 940.04 defaulted into law. This law is from 1849 and bans abortion unless the mother’s life is at risk. Performing an abortion can result in a Class H felony and a $10,000 fine.

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By staff

Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression protests police crime

Milwaukee, WI – After a series of storms this week, the skies cleared up and the sun shone down on a lively Milwaukee crowd of 30 people gathering for a vigil on July 9 at Lucille Berrien Park hosted by the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR). The vigil honored Jayland Walker and various victims of police crimes in Milwaukee, especially Ernest Lacy, who was murdered by Milwaukee police 41 years ago to the date.

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By Alan Chavoya

More than 1000 march in Milwaukee for "People's Independence Day."

Milwaukee, WI – In the calm before the storms hitting Milwaukee on July 4, over 1000 protested around the following six demands: True separation of church and state; repeal of Wisconsin State Statute 940.04; law enforcement shall not enforce abortion bans; the state of Wisconsin shall require law enforcement officials to read off Miranda Rights to those being detained; the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County shall not prosecute abortion cases – dismiss them all; and community control of the police now.

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By staff

People march in the streets of Milwaukee in opposition to cops and corporations

Milwaukee, WI – Despite the sporadic rainfall throughout the day on June 25, 100 people showed up to say no to cops and corporations in Pride. The rally and march honored the radical character of the LGBTQ struggle. In Milwaukee, the legacy of Black and brown trans working-class people – like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson – has unfortunately been whitewashed by people who welcome cops and corporations with open arms to Pride.

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By staff

Thousands rally and march in Milwaukee after the Supreme Court overturned federa

Milwaukee, WI – On June 24, nearly 3000 people rallied in Dontre Hamilton (officially known as Red Arrow) Park to take back the right to abortion. Earlier that day, the U.S. Supreme Court dealt a blow to women’s and reproductive rights by overturning Roe v. Wade. This meant the ability to get a safe and legal abortion would now be determined by individual state governments.

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By Alan Chavoya

Members of the Milwaukee Alliance stood together with the families of victims of

Milwaukee, WI – On June 6, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression facilitated a meeting between the Fire and Police Commission (FPC) and families who have lost loved ones to police violence. Present at the meeting were the families of Samuel Rodriguez (murdered 2002), Larry Jenkins (murdered 2002), Jay Anderson Jr. (murdered 2016) and Alvin Cole (murdered 2020).

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By Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR).

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By Ryan Hamann

Marching against attacks on abortion rights in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee, WI – On May 12, students at Golda Meir School organized a walkout near the end of their school day in protest of the Supreme Court majority opinion report that was leaked on May 3. Children from all grades at Gold, from third to the twelfth grades, participated in the action. One sign read, “Forced pregnancy is a crime against humanity.” Some of the older kids led their peers with some chants which drew support from cars driving by.

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By Ryan Hamann

Janan Nejeeb of the Milwaukee Muslim Women's Coalition speaks to a crowd at a Ma

Milwaukee, WI – May 15 marked the 74th anniversary of the Nakba, the day that Zionist paramilitaries began the violent removal of Palestinians from a majority of their historic homeland. Various organizations in Milwaukee, led primarily by American Muslims for Palestine and Students for Justice in Palestine, hosted a rally near the lakefront downtown to commemorate the tragedy that drew over 100 people. The event was co-sponsored by a variety of faith-based organizations representing Muslims, Christians and Jews.

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By staff

March for abortion rights in Milwaukee, WI.

Milwaukee, WI – On May 7, the Milwaukee International Women’s Day Coalition hosted an action to support reproductive rights and defend Roe v. Wade from the attack by the Supreme Court.

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