Oshkosh, WI – On November 30, 20 activists from the Fox Valley gathered in protest of the shameless Oshkosh Corporation’s sponsorship of the Oshkosh Holiday Parade. Oshkosh Corporation is the parent company of Oshkosh Defense, under which it manufactures vehicles of war, particularly the Eitan Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). Oshkosh ‘Defense’ has a $100 million contract with the Israeli occupation forces to produce 500 APCs.

“The hypocrisy of Oshkosh Corp to sponsor the holiday parade is an ugly attempt to sanitize their bloodstained reality as their war machines are used to wipe out a people. The ongoing use of these genocidal machines have caused the cancellations of Palestinians’ holiday celebrations,” said Audari Tamayo of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “This cowardly attempt at propaganda by the war profiteers is reflective of the wider callousness of the U.S.-backed Israeli occupation. The U.S.-Israeli war machine knows no bounds.”

Places of worship are being bombed by the Israeli occupation forces — an act the Zionists are no stranger to. Christmas celebrations have been canceled across Palestine. The third oldest church in the world, the Church of Saint Porphyrius, was bombed by the genocidal Israeli forces. This is after repeated attacks on the Al Aqsa Mosque, the third-holiest site in Islam, by settler forces. Schools, hospitals, ambulances, refugee camps, entire apartment buildings and people’s homes have been indiscriminately bombed.

“Oshkosh Corp has seen a rise a in profits with the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. The ruling class continues to laugh in our face as the merchants of death that are Oshkosh Corp. and its subsidiaries sponsor a holiday parade. But the people of the Fox Valley do not accept the posturing of the Oshkosh Corporation!” Tamayo said.

The protesters chanted for the duration of the parade: “Oshkosh greed makes children bleed” and “Oshkosh Corp, you can't hide, you don't care when children die!” The protesters were unapologetic about the murderous reality of the event’s sponsor.

Tamayo concluded: “The time of reckoning is dawning upon those who are profiting from settler-colonial occupation, from genocide, from the blood of the Palestinian people. Oshkosh Corp, we charge you with genocide. Blood money does not belong in the Fox Valley or anywhere. As long as the Palestinian people are under the continuous, violent, injustice of the genocidal Israeli occupation, the merchants of death deserve no peace. End U.S. aid to Israel! From the river to sea, Palestine will be free!”

#OshkoshWI #International #Palestine #AntiWar

Oshkosh, WI – In a powerful demonstration of solidarity, over a dozen passionate community members gathered outside Oshkosh Defense on Saturday, October 21, expressing their vehement opposition to the company's contract with the Israeli Occupation Forces.

The protest sent a clear message that the people of Oshkosh and the Fox Valley stand against the production of Eitan Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) destined for Israel's ground invasion of Gaza.

The Eitan APCs, which Oshkosh Defense does and is slated to continue manufacturing, have raised concerns due to their potential use in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Activists and community members believe that the deal not only exacerbates tensions in the region but also runs counter to principles of peace and justice, furthering the violent actions of the apartheid Israeli state.

The protest was organized by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) with support from Students for a Democratic Society, and United Action Oshkosh.

With Palestinian flags waving and a large banner unfurled, the gathered community members were met with multiple shows of support from the passing public. FRSO member Rob Logeson read a prepared statement, and the people called back with unified chants of solidarity. With the escalation of violence against Palestine, more actions could be on the horizon if Oshkosh Defense continues to do business with the genocidal apartheid regime of Israel.

#OshkoshWI #Palestine #AntiWar #FRSO #SDS

Oshkosh, WI – Worker solidarity proved to be too much for the administration of UW Oshkosh, when they were forced September 12 to scrap their plan to privatize over 100 custodial and groundskeeper jobs at the university. Workers first learned of this plan on August 22, when UW Oshkosh custodial and grounds staff were informed via email that the administration was considering contracting with a private company, SSC Services, in Tennessee. This move would have pushed workers off their state benefits and resulted in reduced job security, poorer working conditions and less effective services rendered, all while funneling public education dollars to a private company.

Custodial and grounds workers, students and the United Faculty and Staff of Oshkosh (UFSO), a union of faculty and academic staff represented by AFT-Wisconsin Local 6506, immediately joined together to organize against this proposal. On September 6, the university’s opening day, over 40 staff, faculty and students marched through campus and around the administration’s offices, chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, keep the jobs at UWO” and “The people united will never be defeated.” Protesters also marched up and down nearby streets, cheering as passing cars honked in solidarity and getting extensive local media coverage.

Union members spearheaded a petition and a letter-writing campaign, gathering testimony and signatures from hundreds of faculty, staff and students in support of their custodial and grounds workers and sending these letters to the administration. Students organized their own resistance, gathering over 200 signatures on their own petition in a matter of days.

Then, at 1 p.m. on September 12, a group consisting of custodial and grounds staff, faculty, students and other university staff met with the administration to deliver their petitions, with over 900 signatures, demanding “immediate rejection of the plan to outsource the employment of the dedicated and hard-working custodians and grounds crew” and asking to “work together to find home-grown solutions to the challenges we face in recruitment, retention and allocation of resources.”

Less than two hours later, UW Oshkosh Chancellor Andy Leavitt sent an email to all university employees and students stating, “After considerable feedback, analysis and reflection, I have made the decision to maintain an internally managed custodial and groundskeeping staff at UW Oshkosh,” and that the administration will “develop a management plan that will allow us to get the work done, improve working conditions and successfully recruit and retain new employees.”

“Outsourcing would not only have been bad for workers, but it would have impacted our entire university community and our educational mission,” said Stephanie Spehar, a faculty member at UW-Oshkosh and member of the UFSO executive board. “This win demonstrates the power that we have when all workers stay united. It was an honor to stand in solidarity with my coworkers and I hope that we will continue to work together in the future.”

#OshkoshWI #UniversityOfWisconsinOshkosh

Oshkosh, WI – Over a dozen community members rallied in downtown Oshkosh on Saturday afternoon, September 25, to demonstrate their support for a Civilian Police Accountability Council, or CPAC, in their city.

The rally took place at Isaiah Tucker Square, recently renamed by the community in memoriam of Isaiah Tucker, a father of three children, who was murdered by officers Aaron Achterburg and Kyle Roberts of the Oshkosh Police Department in 2017. Several grassroots community action groups united to organize the demonstration, including United Action Oshkosh, Food Not Bombs, and Hope Fridge.

Sophia Rose, an organizer with United Action Oshkosh said, “I helped to organize this event because I believe that it’s important that cities across the U.S., including Oshkosh, begin to look at solutions to the policing problem. CPAC is a great start to police accountability and community control.”

Rose continued, “We’ve gotten to a point where police are seen as above us when they are not, they work for us. We pay them, they are supposed to ‘protect and serve’ us.”

The event drew a positive response from the community and passersby who stopped to talk, learn, and enjoy hot food and refreshments from Food Not Bombs. The rally ended with a call to action, for people to support their local grassroots community organizations, join them and help them grow.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #UnitedActionOshkosh #civilianPoliceAccountabilityCouncilCPAC

Oshkosh, WI – Over a dozen community members rallied in downtown Oshkosh on Saturday afternoon, September 25, to demonstrate their support for a Civilian Police Accountability Council, or CPAC, in their city.

The rally took place at Isaiah Tucker Square, recently renamed by the community in memoriam of Isaiah Tucker, a father of three children, who was murdered by officers Aaron Achterburg and Kyle Roberts of the Oshkosh Police Department in 2017. Several grassroots community action groups united to organize the demonstration, including United Action Oshkosh, Food Not Bombs, and Hope Fridge.

Sophia Rose, an organizer with United Action Oshkosh said, “I helped to organize this event because I believe that it’s important that cities across the U.S., including Oshkosh, begin to look at solutions to the policing problem. CPAC is a great start to police accountability and community control.”

Rose continued, “We’ve gotten to a point where police are seen as above us when they are not, they work for us. We pay them, they are supposed to ‘protect and serve’ us.”

The event drew a positive response from the community and passersby who stopped to talk, learn, and enjoy hot food and refreshments from Food Not Bombs. The rally ended with a call to action, for people to support their local grassroots community organizations, join them and help them grow.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #UnitedActionOshkosh #civilianPoliceAccountabilityCouncilCPAC

Oshkosh, WI – 30 concerned community and family members gathered to call for justice for Isaiah Tucker, who was shot and killed by Oshkosh police officer Aaron Achterberg on July 31, 2017. The protest marked the four-year anniversary of his murder. No charges were ever filed in Isaiah’s case. The police department investigated themselves with other officers and determined that all instances of violence towards Tucker were justified.

This annual event was organized by United Action Oshkosh (UAO) and the Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression along with the Tucker family to publicly address ongoing concerns of wrongdoing by the hands of police.

After a full program of speakers and chants, there was a call to action to collectively file a mass complaint on behalf of Tucker and those who cared about him. For seven days, the public around the country is being rallied to call, email and continuously bring attention to this murder case with the demands that the officers involved be severely disciplined or fired for the intimidating and erroneous misconduct before, during, and after Tucker was killed. The event organizers are also demanding the implementation of a civilian-led Police Accountability Council (CPAC).

The seven days of action represent the seven-plus minutes Isaiah was stripped of all his clothes and pinned down by officers after he was found critically injured in the shed in which he was hiding.

Anyone who is interested in participating in this series of actions should do any one of the following and demand justice, transparency and accountability: Email Bob Vajgrt, the president of the Oshkosh Police and Fire Commission (PFC), at bobvajgrt1941@gmail.com; call the secretary of the PFC at 920-236-5110; or call the Oshkosh Police Department at 920-236-5700.

For a call or email script, any other information people may want about Isaiah’s murder or how they can help, or how to get involved with United Action Oshkosh or the Wisconsin Alliance, interested persons should visit their social media pages on Facebook or Instagram.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #UnitedActionOshkosh #IsaiahTucker #WisconsinAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression

One teen, who wished to remain unnamed, said, “It was super important to have a space to celebrate our identities without school, our parents, or any stranger policing our bodies. It was also nice to learn how we can stick together and fight back!”

There was an onsite counselor through Reach Counseling who was there to assist any youth struggling and to provide resources for youth victims of sexual violence and other attacks related to their gender identity. One of the key themes of the event was expressing solidarity with the Black and brown communities who also identify as LGBTQ and their allies.

Since Pride originated as a rebellion against police and political repression it was appropriate for organizers to also highlight our need for an all elected Civilian Police Accountability Council (CPAC) to hold police officers fully accountable for harm done when cops commit crimes.

Hollie Poupart, a host and member of the Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, emphasized the historical relationship between police violence and LGBTQ community.

“For far too long police officers and those in positions of power have been able to target, harass, humiliate, misgender, abuse and even murder beautiful members of our communities without any true consequences,” Poupart said. “This has to stop and if we want change; we need to elect a body of marginalized people who have no problem hearing testimonies and holding police officers accountable.”

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #WisconsinAllianceAgainstRacistPoliticalRepressionWAARPR

Daunte Wright was allegedly pulled over for the air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror; later police claimed Wright had a warrant, which confused him, causing him to sit back down into his vehicle. While trying to forcefully remove him from his vehicle, Officer Potter shot Wright in the abdomen with her gun. She immediately claimed she thought she had been holding her taser. Protesters are calling this error “inexcusable” and are demanding that the ‘veteran’ Officer Potter be fully held accountable to the law the same way that any regular person would be.

Protesters in Oshkosh highlighted the similarities between the murder of Daunte Wright and the murder of Isaiah Tucker in their own community almost four years ago, when officer Aaron Achterberg fatally shot Tucker for entering his vehicle attempting to ‘flee.’

“For years we have seen cases of police shooting Black men, women and children with no accountability. It’s happening everywhere and not just in big cities,” said Hollie Poupart, a leader with United Action Oshkosh and of the Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. “Police are shooting and killing here in smaller cities like Oshkosh, Appleton, Green Bay and across the country. Enough is enough!”

Local grassroots organizations like United Action Oshkosh and the Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression are calling for a Civilian Police Accountability Council to be enacted to hold police officers accountable when they cause serious harm. More protests will take place as tensions resurface, fueling the drive for changes around the country.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #UnitedActionOshkosh #WisconsinAllianceAgainstRacistPoliticalRepressionWAARPR #DaunteWright

Oshkosh, WI – Over a dozen protesters from many parts of eastern Wisconsin answered a call put out by United Action Oshkosh (UAO). People rallied on October 24 to demand justice for Isaiah Tucker and community control of the police.

Community members participated in a motorcade through an area of Oshkosh that typically does not see protests outside the standard political campaign yard signs. The area of town chosen to meet up was picked specifically to help bring confidence to the Black and brown residents who lived in that area.

Despite local COVID-19 cases spiking, making the northeastern part of Wisconsin a ‘hotspot’ and one of the worst places on the planet for new cases, people lined up in their cars decorated with signs and their megaphones in tow ready to make some noise. Safety was a number one factor for local organizers as they completely understand the dangers COVID-19 presents to their most vulnerable neighbors.

“We encourage social distancing and mask wearing. We have extra masks for people who do not have them and hand sanitizer for everyone. We ask that people who are not feeling well stay at home,” said Abby Ringel, of the Wisconsin Women’s Equity Coalition and a participant in the action. “We typically also have a few vehicles that travel with us and people that aren’t comfortable marching in the large group are encouraged to caravan with us.”

Staying in cars created barriers between others as well as the community members that either followed along or cheered them on.

Aside from demanding police accountability, local grassroots groups like Food Not Bombs and the Wisconsin Women’s Equity Coalition believe that working together directly in their actions while serving their communities is crucial.

“It is important for us to show solidarity with other communities because this is one fight. The problem is systemic and without widespread action, there will be no systemic change. It is important that we band together to have the greatest effect,” continued Ringel.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #IsaiahTucker #CommunityControlOfThePolice

Oshkosh, WI – On the afternoon of September 19, over 30 people gathered in Menominee Park in Oshkosh to demand justice for Isaiah Tucker. The group came together to protest the violent police killing of Tucker and to demand the officers responsible be held accountable. Tucker was a 28-year-old Black man from Oshkosh, and a father of three, who was murdered at the hands of Oshkosh Police Department officers Aaron Achterberg and Kyler Roberts.

After the demonstrators rallied on a busy street corner with signs and banners that read “Justice for Isaiah Tucker!” and “Police accountability now!” they marched through the park and shut down traffic, chanting “No justice, no peace!” and “We want CPAC now!” The community embraced the demonstration by cheering on the march, honking car horns, and even joining in the chants of “Black lives matter!” The action was organized by local grassroots organization United Action Oshkosh.

“Menominee Park definitely heard us on Saturday,” said Jeremy Bradley, United Action Oshkosh organizer and Teamsters union activist. “We were loud, consistent and did just what we wanted to do, be heard and disrupt the peace. Aside from a few counter-protesters, the community at the park showed support for the march.”

Salazar Vaas Keapa, a Black lives matter activist from Waupaca, saw the action in Oshkosh as a success, saying, “It was awesome, peaceful and had great speakers. Oshkosh was my 40th protest this year. This is just me getting warmed up. I love doing these events and making friends, real friends, plus yelling at racists with a megaphone just feels great.”

The rally for justice in Oshkosh was just one of many across the country as people organized against a racist government for the national day of protest against police terror, called by the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The message from coast to coast is clear: the people have had enough of police crimes and are ready for community control of the police.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #NationalAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression

Oshkosh, WI – On the afternoon of August 17, a large crowd of people marched and rallied to protest the arrival of President Donald Trump at Wittman Airport. Answering the call put forth by a handful of organizations, most of whom are members of the Coalition to March on the Democratic National Convention, over 120 people gathered in the parking lot of the Lake Aire Shopping Center, just a half mile from where Trump spoke.

Despite releasing information on road closures earlier in the day with different information, the police on hand changed which roads were closed and where. This threw a wrench into the plan for the march, but organizers adapted quickly. After a few chants to get the crowd in the mood, marchers pushed forward with a large banner that read “We can’t breathe.”

With the change in route, the march took a more residential path. The protest cut right through blocks with plenty of Trump supporters, but the chanting from the marchers was deafening, drowning out whatever the counter-protesters were saying. Some people came out of their homes to cheer as the march moved down the street.

Without access to 20th Avenue, the street Wittman Airport is on, let alone to the area in front of the building where Trump was speaking, march leaders had to make do with what was available. The march ended in front of the police blockade preventing access to 20th, right next to the Southside Oshkosh post office. Speakers from organizations that led the march shared their messages with the gathered crowd.

The main thrust of the action was denouncing President Trump’s role in escalating the racist attacks against Black men and other oppressed people by police and vigilantes, but the speakers touched on a range of topics pertaining to Trump’s time in the White House.

“We can all agree that Donald Trump is a racist, a bigot and a warmonger. He is an enemy of the people. But we must also understand that Trump is just a symptom of a much larger problem, not the cause of the problem itself,” said Ryan Hamann, one of the co-chairs of the Coalition to March on the DNC. “Like I said earlier, we need to organize in our workplaces against the boss, in our communities against racist killer cops and other oppressive institutions like ICE and rich slumlords, and in our schools and on campuses against out of touch administrators and racist policies.”

Hamann continued, “All of these things that we must struggle against are tools of the ruling class used in their war against us, the working class, and we need to meet them with the force of the organized masses of working and oppressed people if we are ever going to win this fight.”

A small but very vocal group of fascists gathered behind the rally. With their loud megaphone, they shouted racist, sexist and bigoted expletives, all while other Trump supporters watched and said nothing. Despite all their noise-making, the fascists tucked tail and got out of the way the second the mass of protesters began marching back the way they’d come.

While the event was a protest of Donald Trump and everything he stands for, it also served as an appropriate kick-off to the weeks’ worth of events and actions planned in Milwaukee and other places connected to the DNC. The Coalition to March on the DNC is building momentum for their main action at 5 p.m. on August 20 in Milwaukee’s Dontre Hamilton (Red Arrow) Park.

At the rally and march, the Coalition will demand that Democrats like Joe Biden and local figures like Mayor Tom Barrett put an end to the police killings of Black men and other people. In addition, they will be joined by several families from across the state who are victims of killer cops. The families of Alvin Cole of Milwaukee, Jonathon Tubby of Green Bay and Isaiah Tucker of Oshkosh will be present to demand justice for their loved ones.

Despite the decision by Biden and the Democrats to stay home and shelter themselves from the movement for Black lives in the streets of Milwaukee, August 20 is shaping out to be a can’t-miss event.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #CoalitionToMarchOnTheDNC