Milwaukee, WI – The movement to win justice for Darius Simmons, Derek Williams, Corey Stingley, and Bo Morrison has received a boost from the national attention and outrage over the “not guilty” verdict for Zimmerman. Last week over 300 people shut down major streets in downtown Milwaukee. In similar cases over the last two years, community members led by the Occupy Coalition (Occupy the Hood Milwaukee and Occupy Milwaukee) repeatedly rallied for Derek Williams, Darius Simmons, and other local victims of racist police and vigilante murder.

The verdict in the case of Trayvon Martin’s murder hit home for many in Milwaukee who witness similar verdicts in the cases of friends, family, and neighbors. Fueled by outrage, many are putting their energy into revitalizing the local movement to demand justice for the victims of police and vigilante murder in the Milwaukee area. The movement is currently focused on four local cases, all Black men and boys ages 13 to 22 killed by white adults.

Justice for Darius Simmons

This week, John Spooner, the murderer of thirteen-year-old Darius Simmons, is on trial in Milwaukee. Wisconsinites witnessed the Milwaukee Police Department go to great lengths to protect Spooner after he murdered the child, just as Sanford police officials went to great lengths to assist Zimmerman. Instead of immediately arresting the murderer, Milwaukee Police arrested Simmons' brother at the scene of the crime, detained the dead child’s mother for three hours, and searched their family home. At the same time, MPD allowed Spooner to go into his home (part of the murder scene) and “retrieve belongings.” Notorious Southside alderman Bob Donovan even suggested to Spooner that he take matters into his own hands, hours before Spooner shot Simmons to death. “There are other ways to deal with situations,” said Donovan, “that police couldn’t solve.”

In the first half of Spooner’s trial, he was convicted of first-degree homicide. The trial now moves to the second phase, in which Spooner’s lawyers will try to prove an insanity defense. But one thing is for sure, the massive national movement for Trayvon Martin and local movements for similar cases have magnified Simmons’ case and put a watchful eye on the court as Spooner is tried.

Justice for Corey Stingley

The most recent case to come to light is the strangling of sixteen-year-old Corey Stingley at a liquor store in Milwaukee county. Three white men reportedly accused Stingley of theft, and attempted to conduct a citizen’s arrest. While the three grown men detained Stingley he was strangled to death. No charges were brought against any of the men involved in his death. Corey’s father, Craig Stingley, led the Occupy Coalition rally on Sunday, carrying a portrait of his son.

“There’s no reason that the men who killed my son should still be out on these streets, no reason period. But they are, and that’s because this system is broken,” said Craig Stingley in an interview with WISN news.

Justice for Derek Williams

For two years the Occupy Coalition has rallied tirelessly alongside friends and family of Derek Williams to demand justice. They have helped expose a cover-up of his death that leads all the way to the Police Chief’s desk, and beyond.

After community pressure, the autopsy records were revised to show Williams suffocated after Milwaukee Police broke his neck. Persistent, militant rallies for Derek Williams led to a federal inquest into his death. The jury in the inquest recommended homicide charges against the three white police who refused, against protocol, to help Williams while he suffocated in the back of their squad car. Incredibly, the judge disregarded the jury’s advice and allowed the officers to walk right back to duty on Milwaukee streets, with no punishment whatsoever. The inquest, won through community pressure, did not bring justice for Derek, but it did expose the racist and corrupt nature of the so-called justice system.

Systematic change

Persistent community mobilization aims a spotlight on the corrupt and deadly police misconduct in MPD, on their political supporters, the police and fire commission, the sheriff’s office, and even the mayor’s office. With every injustice exposed, more community members are joining the coalition.

The Occupy Coalition joins community leaders and family members to fight for justice in the courts, but it is also demanding systematic change. Activists blame racist discrimination and national oppression for many of the tragedies perpetrated against African-American youth by Milwaukee police and racist vigilantes. But they are also targeting the city’s elite power structure for encouraging and protecting those who commit such crimes. Occupy leaders are discussing continued actions addressing the ineffective Police and Fire Commission, but this weekend, they plan to take to the streets again.

More actions planned

Carrying over the momentum from last weekend, this weekend will have three separate events. On Saturday, July 20, the Occupy Coalition will participate in the 100 cities rally called for by Al Sharpton. The rally will be held at noon in front of the Federal Courthouse at 517 E Wisconsin Ave. Also on Saturday, the “Cop Watch” Program will meet at Urban Underground at 2pm, 4850 W Fond Du Lac Ave.

On Sunday, the Occupy Coalition will lead another mass march beginning at 6pm by the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on MLK Drive, near Vine Street.

#MilwaukeeWI #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyTheHood #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem #DerekWilliams #OccupyCoalition #DariusSimmons #CoreyStingley

Williams was an African American youth who died while he was in Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) custody. Within the first three days of the trial, seven of the 20 MPD officers who were called to testify plead the Fifth. A few of those seven officers agreed to testify only after they were promised immunity. The arresting officer and two other officers were not offered immunity.

Members of Derek Williams' family and other witnesses from the Riverwest neighborhood where Williams was arrested testified as well. In many cases the testimony from community members and family members contradicted that of the officers.

Officers claimed that Williams stated that he couldn't breathe one time, but others stated that he pleaded with officers many times about his inability to breathe. Towards the end of the inquest, in a disappointing move, the prosecutor and judge decided that felony unintentional homicide charges would not be considered if the jury called for a criminal trial. In the end, the jury decided to recommend misdemeanor ‘Failure to Render Aide’ charges. It was clear by both testimony and the video tape of Derek Williams in the squad car that officers did not act soon enough when it was apparent that he was in distress.

The day after the inquest, Occupy Milwaukee and other community organizers released statements denouncing the court's decision to consider only misdemeanor charges while at the same time acknowledging that it was good thing that the jury decided to press charges at all.

Occupy Milwaukee demanded that the special prosecutor uphold the jury's decision and also demanded that a full investigation into MPD be launched, the officers be fired regardless of the outcome of the criminal trial and that MPD be subject to more citizen oversight from now on. There has been no final decision from the prosecutor on whether or not formal charges will be pressed against the cops who are liked to Williams’ death.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #OccupyMilwaukee #MilwaukeePoliceDepartment #DerekWilliams

Milwaukee, WI – The declaration of a cease fire didn't stop 200 people from marching in downtown Milwaukee, Nov. 22, in response to a week of Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. Protesters demanded the bombing of Gaza stop and called for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.

A statement by the Milwaukee Committee to Stop FBI Repression read, “We were pleased with the turnout to the emergency call to action to stop the bombing of Gaza and end U.S. funding of Israel. These people understood the importance of coming together to oppose U.S. support for Israel and making a stand for the Palestinian people. Government repression of Palestine solidarity activists from Hatem Abudayyeh to the Holy Land 5 will not stop us. We look forward to meeting with organizers in the next few weeks to plan more antiwar and Palestine solidarity events in the near future.”

The march went up and down Wisconsin Avenue, chanting, “Free Palestine!” and “Palestine will be free.”

A wave of young people from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee joined the downtown protest, a day after their own spirited demonstration on campus.

“We stand here in solidarity with the Palestinians and we will continue to fight until the struggle is over. We must boycott, divest and voice ourselves because we, the people, have the power to make change. As we continue to work towards a free Palestine, our collective efforts will not go unnoticed. We demand the U.S. to cut aid to Israel and we demand the injustice to be ceased,” said Jameela Asmar of SJP.

As the march approached the old downtown Federal Building, protesters gathered together for a speak-out. Organizers from SJP, SDS, Occupy Milwaukee, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, American Muslims for Palestine, Iraq Vets Against the War, Friends of Palestine Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Committee to Stop FBI Repression rang out their support for the struggle for a free Palestine and vowed to continue the fight.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #Gaza #SDS #Palestine #StudentsForJusticeInPalestineSJP #OccupyMilwaukee #MiddleEast

Milwaukee, WI – Demanding the right to collectively bargain, Palermo’s frozen pizza workers have been out on strike since June 1.

Workers and supporters picket six days a week while collecting thousands of petition signatures online. A national boycott is in effect for Palermo’s frozen pizzas.

A solidarity dinner will be held July 12 at United Lodge 66 at 6:00 p.m., bringing together Palermo’s workers and members of Voces de la Frontera, the Machinists, Occupy and other supporting organizations.

After the dinner, at 7:30pm, attendees are all invited to join the picket line.

“We expect to raise money and enjoy our creativity before Thursday's picket,” commented Daniel Ginsberg of Occupy Milwaukee.

Carolina Soza-Gonzalez, who is helping to organize the solidarity dinner said, “The just fight for living wages, benefits and safe working conditions has been a constant through the history of this country. Milwaukee in particular is one of the places where the workers have gone as far as giving their lives for an eight-hour work day. Today the Palermo workers are the ones leading this fight, for them and for all of us. It is because their fight goes beyond this particular factory that we have the duty to support them. These workers, and their families, are fighting for our rights by risking it all – jobs, housing, health benefits.”

Soza-Gonzalez added, “The strike has been going on for over a month and we do not know exactly how much longer it will go on...so we need the support of everyone...the workers need money for rent and basic needs, they need food and even water and umbrellas for the picketing. They also need to know we are with them. They need our strength to continue, until victory.”

#MilwaukeeWI #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #OccupyMilwaukee #PalermosPizza #pizzaWorkersStrike

Milwaukee, WI – The day after Governor Walker survived his recall election, hundreds marched in the streets of Milwaukee in non-violent civil disobedience from Pere Marquette Park to City Hall and into the banking district. Occupy Milwaukee, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, AFSCME Local 82, Milwaukee Teachers Education Association, Voces de la Frontera, Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society, Youth Empowered in the Struggle, Peace Action WI, Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement, 9 to 5, Citizen Action, Welfare Warriors and dozens of other community organizations demanded: Repeal the union busting bill Act 10; reinstate the Equal Pay Act; and tax the 1%.

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organizer Michael Raspanti said, “The battle to recall Scott Walker began with the occupation of the capitol last year, which created a people’s struggle that extends far beyond electoral politics. Despite the results of the recall election, we plan to keep it in the streets and to hold our elected officials accountable to the people, not to the corporations that pay for their campaigns.”

200 protesters refused to stop their peaceful march in the streets, even after being repeatedly beaten by police for 14 straight blocks. At least 12 protesters were injured and 4 were arrested. The police brutality by the Milwaukee Police Department riot and mounted police is part of the coordinated attacks by police nationwide against the Occupy movement.

Protester Natalie Gostynski, who is five months pregnant, stood defiantly in front of the police. “I’m here because Scott Walker created a poor future for my child. He has been stealing money that is supposed to be used for our schools and healthcare and is using it for his own personal political gain.”

Protesters were unfazed by the police brutality. They organized an impromptu dinner and raised funds for those arrested. After the event many marched immediately to Milwaukee County Jail where the protesters are being held, demanding their release.

The day’s action demonstrates that the Occupy Movement as a whole, as well as the people of Wisconsin, continue to stand strong against attacks on education, health care and workers rights.

#MilwaukeeWI #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #EducationRights #workersRights #GovernorScottWalker #OccupyMilwaukee

“We might be depressed or we might be celebrating June 5, but regardless, we're going out there June 6 to let everyone know this recall is one battle within a much larger conflict against the 1% and we're gonna keep on fighting,” stated Occupy Milwaukee activist Daniel Ginsberg.

Support for this idea is spreading widely in a state that has been engulfed in a battle to save unions and to fight off cuts to the poor since Republican Governor Scott Walker took office in 2011. Immediately after taking office, Walker attacked union rights to collectively bargain, rolled back laws on workplace discrimination, imposed over $1 billion in cuts to education and opened new fronts on the war against workers, the Black and Latino communities and women.

Endorsers of Keep it in the Streets include the Amalgamated Transit Union 998, AFSCME 82, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association, Welfare Warriors, Students for a Democratic Society and many more who have been on the front lines of the battle against Gov. Walker since the winter 2011 Madison uprising, when hundreds of thousands descended on the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Gov. Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett are virtually tied in the polls, even though Walker outspent the Democratic gubernatorial candidate by millions. Walker is backed by billionaires who want to turn Wisconsin into a ‘right to work’ state, as was seen on a conversation caught on video between Walker and billionaire Diane Hendricks. Tom Barrett, with his own big money backers, is primarily depending on working people from all over the state, who have already launched a mass successful mobilization to force the recall election.

Many will speak on June 6 before the protest heads downtown and into the banking district. The core unifying demands will be: Repeal Act 10 – hands off unions and collective bargaining; no cuts to education or Badger Care; restore the Equal Pay Act – we demand an end to workplace discrimination; tax the 1% – hold the banksters and the 1% accountable for their economic crisis; and stop the cuts to working and oppressed people.

The Keep it in the Streets protest will start at 5:00 p.m., June 6 at Pere Marquette Park.

For more information: www.occupymilwaukee.org

#MilwaukeeWI #GovernorScottWalker #rightToWork #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyWallStreet

Milwaukee, WI – Over 10,000 marched here, April 29, to celebrate International Workers Day.

Since 2006, the event has been organized by Vosces de la Frontera as a demonstration for immigrant rights. The march was four miles, beginning in Milwaukee's predominantly Latino Southside, then going through the downtown area and ending by the lakefront with speakers and music.

Students, teachers and other workers also came out in support, along with a statewide contingent called by Occupy Milwaukee. “We stand in solidarity with the immigrant rights struggle here in Milwaukee and across the United States,” said Danielle Meyer of Occupy Milwaukee.

Marchers chanted, “Education not deportation!” “Obama, escucha, estamos en la lucha!” and “Recall Walker!” President Obama has deported more Latinos from the United States than any other U.S. president.

The rally in Milwaukee continues to be one of the largest in support of immigrant and workers rights in the U.S.

#MilwaukeeWI #ImmigrantsRights #MayDay #OccupyMilwaukee #VoscesDeLaFrontera

Milwaukee, WI – Dozens of community organizations came together here, April 10, for the “Rally to Demand Justice for Trayvon Martin, Bo Morrison and Victims of Milwaukee Police Brutality.”

Speakers included Milwaukee’s iconic civil rights leader Vel Phillips and members of National Black United Front, Voces de la Frontera, Occupy the Hood, Occupy Milwaukee, Peace Action Wisconsin, Milwaukee Inner City Congregation Allied for Hope and Nation of Islam, Muhammad Mosque #3.

“There’s a war being waged on African and poor people of this country; this is not just in Florida, this is not just in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They will do whatever we allow them to do until we start to stand up for ourselves and stand up for one another,” said Tony Marley of Occupy the Hood “I feel like they at war with us right now, like this the Gaza strip, right up and down North Avenue any time of day.”

After several speeches, protesters marched up Martin Luther King Drive to the Milwaukee Police District 5 headquarters. District 5 patrols part of Milwaukee’s predominantly Black North Side. Allegations of police abuse in District 5 have been common, but community members are especially concerned about recent cases of illegal cavity searches and the death of a young man in the back of a squad car.

Speaking in front of the District 5 Police station, Khalil Coleman of Occupy the Hood said, “This isn’t just a problem with District 5, it’s also a problem with District 3, it’s a problem in District 1 – this is a problem across the whole system.”

Sexual assault by Milwaukee police

Eight Milwaukee District 5 police were are currently on ‘desk duty’ for illegally strip-searching, cavity-searching and sexually assaulting neighborhood residents in public. One of the victims, a 22-year old woman, said the police illegally strip searched her “at least three times,” adding that they even searched her vagina and anus in public, without consent. Allegations of illegal strip searches by District 5 police go back at least two years and include as many as 20 victims.

In July of 2011, a Milwaukee police officer responded to a 911 call and raped the victim. The victim called police after hearing someone try to break in her back door on Milwaukee’s North Side. After being raped by the responding officer Ladmarald Cates, the victim was ignored by several officers at the police station, who accused her of lying when she begged for help. The victim was left in a jail cell for 12 hours, waiting to be interviewed about the incident.

The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office refused to charge Officer Cates for any crime. Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn eventually fired Cates for “idling and loafing.” Cates was not charged until federal prosecutors stepped in.

The Milwaukee Police Department has a bad habit of ignoring police brutality. Officers such as Mucha and Cates have been accused of breaking the law many times, but never received any punishment. Officer Cates was accused of sexual assault twice with a female prisoner and once with a 16-year old girl, but was never charged or reprimanded.

Milwaukee police brutality is nothing recent for residents of Milwaukee. There are many cases involving Milwaukee police as the perpetrators of rape and sexual assault, but the vast majority of those officers are left on the streets and even allowed to respond to sexual assault cases themselves.

MPD racism and brutality

One of the police officers under investigation for illegally cavity searching people is District 5 Supervisor Sergeant Jason Mucha. In 2011, Sgt. Mucha crashed his squad car into another driver. He then accused the other driver of possession and crashing into the police vehicle. That case was dismissed in court after video evidence contradicted Sgt. Mucha's testimony. The court found that Sgt. Mucha wrongfully searched the driver's car, but did not punish the officer. Sgt. Mucha has also been investigated for police brutality and planting drugs on search victims, but was never punished by the department's internal investigations.

Sgt. Mucha also has a history of targeting political activists. Last August, while hundreds of community members protested an appearance by Governor Scott Walker, Sgt. Mucha and his officers arrested two well-respected community activists, Bryan Pfeiffer and Andy Andre, for no clear reason. The activists are challenging the allegations by Sgt. Mucha and his officers in court.

More allegations of brutality were raised against Milwaukee Police District 5 after the death of a 22-year old Black man, Derek Williams, in the back of a squad car. The case recently resurfaced after new evidence revealed there was a broken bone in his neck when he died in custody on July 6, 2011. Police claim Williams died from a “sickle cell crisis” although Williams did not have sickle cell anemia disease and therefore could not have suffered a sickle cell crisis, according to doctors at the National Institutes of Health. Williams begged for help as he was handcuffed and shackled in the back of the squad car. Police failed to call for an ambulance and Williams died in the back of the squad car. His family has filed a lawsuit against the department.

Statistics show that Milwaukee police aggressively target neighborhoods of color, and Black and Latino people are most often the targets of random searches, brutality, rape and murder.

A recent study by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel confirmed that Black drivers are seven times more likely to be pulled over than white drivers. Latinos are five times more likely to be stopped than whites. Primitivo Torres of the immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera told the Sentinel, “It was always there, but never to this extent…we are seeing cases almost on a weekly basis. We ask why they are being stopped, and we can’t find out why.”

Bo Morrison

Wisconsin residents are also upset over the recent murder of another young Black man, Bo Morrison, in Slinger, Wisconsin. The murder has received national attention for its parallels to the murder of Trayvon Martin. 20-year old Bo Morrison fled an under-age drinking party and was his on a neighbor's porch when the homeowner shot him. Recently, hundreds of community members rallied in support of the Morrison family. At the time of the killing, the homeowner knew of the party next door, had already called the police and knew police were in the area. According to his own testimony, the homeowner loaded his weapon and walked outside to confront Morrison on the porch. When Morrison stood up, the homeowner shot and killed him. “He executed my son,” said Bo Morrison's mother, “this cannot happen to another kid.”

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #AfricanAmerican #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyTheHood #TrayvonMartin

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 – The Occupy movement and Palestine solidarity activists filled the room, Jan. 17, for the teach-in called “Occupy Wall Street, Not Palestine!”

The teach-in was presented by local Palestine solidarity activists and included a history of Palestinian oppression, current political analysis and a discussion of how to end the occupation.

A discussion took place on the political repression of activists in the U.S., from the nationally-coordinated effort to shut down the Occupy movement to the nationally-coordinated FBI repression of Palestine and international solidarity activists that began over a year ago.

“Our relationship with Israel is based on the interests of the 1%, who enjoy military and strategic control of an oil-rich region, arms sales and collaboration on projects such as the training of local police,” said Daniel Ginsberg. “The Occupy movement faces repression in the fight for economic justice, so we should take up the defense of fellow Palestine solidarity activists and demand an end to U.S. diplomatic, military and financial support of Israel.”

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #PalestineSolidarity #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyMilwaukee

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

“This demonstration was important for Occupy the Hood Milwaukee, Occupy Milwaukee, and really Occupy Wall Street,” commented Occupy marcher Alicia Skeeter. “This is an all people’s movement and the diversity present yesterday is truly a testimony to how much of a crisis we are in.”

Occupy the Hood encourages people to attend a People's Hearing about SB 207 this Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 6:00 p.m. at the Amalgamated Transit Union Hall in Milwaukee.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoorPeoplesMovements #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyTheHood #OccupyTheHoodMilwaukee

Milwaukee, WI – Occupy Milwaukee held a theatrical “Crisis 101” teach-in, Oct. 20, at M&I Bank, a TARP bailout recipient.

The 30 people in attendance were kicked out of the bank and began to picket outside, chanting “Banks got bailed out, we got sold out!” and “We – are – the 99%!” The ‘professor’ of the teach-in, a young African American man, was leading chants outside when he was abruptly arrested. He was held overnight before being released on bail and charged with disorderly conduct. See video of protest and arrest here:

“This is an attempt to criminalize Occupy Milwaukee and all those fighting against the greed and corruption of the banks, corporations and elected officials” commented Occupy Milwaukee organizer and protest participant Khalil Coleman.

The Occupy Milwaukee movement is still on the move, planning more actions next week and another large march on Oct. 29. Thousands marched Oct. 15 and occupiers still hold space in a park in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood.

Local activist Brian Verdin is a supporter of this movement. “We struck one small blow today on behalf of the 99% and this wonderful worldwide movement. We'll be back!” he says.

Occupy Milwaukee organizers would like people to visit their website (occupymilwaukee.org) to stay updated on how they will defend their fellow organizer's disorderly conduct charge.

#MilwaukeeWI #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyMilwaukee #MIBank

Milwaukee, WI – More than 3000 people marched here, Oct. 15, as a part of the Occupy movement, which began about a month ago on Wall Street in New York. At 11:00 a.m. in Milwaukee’s Zeidler Park, protesters gathered to stand against continuing cuts to education and public services carried out by Governor Scott Walker and to stand against rampant corruption in the powerful financial sector.

After gathering at the park for about an hour, protesters marched toward the Chase Bank building for a rally. The protest consisted of a diverse group of Milwaukee residents, from union workers, to undocumented workers, to students, and many more.

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society led a student contingent consisting of about 20 people. Students carried about four large banners and led chants, such as “When workers’ rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” and “Money for jobs, not for war!” which were well-received by people surrounding the contingent. SDS member Chelsea Ottery summed up the importance of the Occupy movement for her, “By unifying the voices of people from the lower and middle classes, we can create a movement dedicated to positive change for the average person and hold Wall Street and the American government accountable.”

Once the rally concluded, the protesters marched back to Zeidler Park, where they began preparations for an occupation. Protesters have set up a first aid tent as well as a tent for food and are getting themselves organized as a larger group. This is a continuation of large general assemblies that organized the action from the beginning. Most people are planning to stay at least until the park closes and some have made clear their intentions to stay the night at Zeidler.

Police presence during the march was heavy, but did not interfere with the action. The Chase Bank building, which was the target of the march, was closed to the public for 24 hours before to the protest and had police surrounding it. Police presence back at the park was fairly light, but it is unclear what will happen if protesters refuse to leave after the park closes at 10:00 p.m.

SDS National Organizer Kas Schwerdtfeger said of the overnight occupation, “We aren’t really sure what they [the police] are going to do, but if we can get enough people, we are planning to try to stay the night.”

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #Labor #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyMilwaukee

Milwaukee, WI – About 75 protesters rallied outside of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s office at the Federal Courthouse here. Riot police swarmed inside and outside of the building, refusing to allow the activists to meet their representative. 19 activists who entered the building refused to leave until they were allowed a meeting with Johnson; instead they were arrested, loaded into paddy wagons and hauled off to the first precinct. Each of the demonstrators arrested was issued a $171 ticket for trespassing and released.

Tony Marley, a Milwaukee resident who was arrested at the demonstration, said, “The voice of the people will no longer be ignored. We are the 99%. We have power and we will be heard. We can no longer stand by and watch our government side with the 1% that owns most of the capital. We need jobs and we’re willing to go to any lengths to get them. I would gladly get arrested again.”

Senator Johnson is a multi-millionaire businessman who called the American Jobs Act, “the definition of insanity.” During his 2010 election campaign he infamously referred to Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged as his “foundational book.” Staying true to his foundations, Johnson shamelessly sides with the interests of the billionaires and millionaires like himself, placing profits over people.

On Oct. 15, Milwaukee activists are planning to launch Occupy Milwaukee with a massive protest in the heart of the financial district, just three blocks from Johnson's office. The event is being organized in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and will demand an end to the crimes of Wall Street and the top 1% ruling class. The protest will begin at 12:30 outside JP Morgan Chase Bank on the corner of Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue.

#MilwaukeeWI #Labor #PublicSectorUnions #OccupyWallStreet #OccupyMilwaukee

Milwaukee, WI – On Oct. 8, over 100 people rallied and marched against the continuing U.S./NATO occupation of Afghanistan. The event was organized to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, which began in October of 2001.

The rally was followed by a large march to City Hall, where community members spoke before the crowd inside. Attendees included Milwaukee Alderman Nik Kovac, union workers and community organizations including the L.U.V. Brigade, Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Peace Action-Wisconsin, Veterans for Peace, U.S. Labor Against the War and others represented by the Milwaukee Coalition for a Just Peace.

Khalil Coleman of the L.U.V. Brigade said of the day's events, “We have to start looking at poverty at home and poverty in foreign countries in a different light. If we can take money that is being used to fund violence in Libya and to oppress people in Afghanistan and bring it back to the communities here in the U.S., we can help to build a better world.”

Danielle Meyer, an organizer for the upcoming Occupy Milwaukee protests, said, “We're out here today because military spending on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is wasteful and is going to kill innocent people. We want to see funding come back for human needs here in Milwaukee, as well as the rest of the country.” Milwaukee is often listed as the most segregated city in the United States with the fourth highest level of poverty.

Solidarity was also expressed for those anti-war activists persecuted by the FBI. Jhosellin Perez, speaking for the Milwaukee Activist Defense Network, urged those present to visit www.stopfbi.net and sign the Pledge to Resist there, as well as to keep active in opposing government repression of anti-war activists.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #Afghanistan #VeteransForPeace #AfghanistanWar #MilwaukeeActivistDefenseNetwork #MilwaukeeSDS #PeaceActionWisconsin #LUVBrigade #MilwaukeeCoalitionForAJustPeace #USLaborAgainstTheWar #OccupyMilwaukee #NikKovac