Madison, WI – Inside and out, the Capitol Building is loud and crowded. It's the eighth day of protests against Governor Scott Walker's ‘budget repair bill’ and every night, thousands of students and workers occupy the Capitol Building. The people of Wisconsin are showing determination to kill the bill.
Madison, WI – Feb. 17 12:00 noon: Thousands of people are filing into the Capitol Building to protest Governor Scott Walker’s Budget Repair Bill. The unions and community groups that called for demonstrations have been overwhelmed with the turnout of the people. As of noon today, the Capitol is full on all floors and more just keep coming.
Milwaukee, WI – 3000 students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) walked out of classes at noon, Feb. 17 to protest Governor Scott Walker’s proposed union busting bill, which would effectively ban public sector unions from being able to collectively bargain. Students at colleges and high schools across the state organized walkouts and many school districts were shut down by teacher absences.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) on the massive struggle in Wisconsin against attacks on public workers.
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society, urging participation in the March 2 education rights protests.
Madison, WI – On Feb.15, students and workers from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee traveled to Madison to join the tens of thousands of others protesting to demand an end to Governor Scott Walker's attack on Wisconsin employees. On Feb. 11, Walker proposed his 'budget repair bill' which would eliminate collective bargaining for nearly 175,000 public-sector union members to fill a $136.7 million budget deficit. In response, over 10,000 workers and supporters stormed the capitol in Madison.
Milwaukee, WI – More attacks on students and workers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are underway, this time from newly-elected Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who is planning to cripple state workers with new legislation that will virtually eliminate collective bargaining rights for public sector unions. Claiming that he has the votes in the state house and senate, Gov. Walker's budget bill will be voted on Thursday, Feb. 17.
Chicago, IL – “Stop the subpoenas, stop the raids! We are here, we aren’t afraid!” On a chilly morning, Jan. 14, over 50 people gathered at the Federal Building in downtown Chicago to deliver a mock subpoena to U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is in charge of the wave of FBI raids, harassment and subpoenas that began last September across the country. Since then, 23 people have been summoned to appear before a federal grand jury in Chicago and all have refused to participate in what is being called a political witch hunt.
Minneapolis, MN – On Dec. 10, seven students here started a hunger strike to demand that Congress pass the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is a proposed law that would give some undocumented immigrant youth the possibility to gain legalization if they go to college or join the military.
Milwaukee, WI – On Dec. 3, the Milwaukee Activist Defense Network and Students for a Democratic Society held a protest in coordination with the national week of action to stop FBI repression. Students handed out fliers and passed a petition at the busiest intersection in Wisconsin to raise awareness of the FBI repression that is targeting activists around the country.
Chicago, IL – About twenty students from the University of Illinois campuses in Chicago and Urbana-Champaign attempted to speak out at a Board of Trustees meeting, Nov. 18. The students are organizing against tuition increases and the re-segregation of higher education.
Gainesville, FL – Approximately 100 students rallied at Turlington Plaza on Nov. 17 with signs, bullhorns and petitions, demanding that the University of Florida halt its plan to implement Block Tuition starting Fall 2011. Block Tuition would force 60% of students to pay for more classes than they actually enroll in. Block Tuition would severely limit the ability of poor and working-class students to attend the University of Florida.
Chicago, IL – Members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at the University of Illinois-Chicago staged street theatre in front of an FBI recruitment event here, Nov. 9. Dressed up as agents of the ‘Federal Bureau of Intimidation,’ activists handed out fliers against FBI repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists who were raided on Sept. 24.
Minneapolis, MN – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) hosted a panel discussion here Nov. 2 at the University of Minnesota. The panel was made up of six anti-war and international solidarity activists from the Minneapolis, all of whom were raided by the FBI on Sept. 24th and were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in Chicago. None of the affected activists have any charges against them; the FBI claims to be searching for evidence of “material support of terrorists.”
Waukesha, WI – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), along with other student groups, held a Speak Out Against Racism! demonstration in response to a recent rise of white supremacist graffiti on the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha campus. The graffiti included swastikas and the initials “KKK.” The graffiti had previously been addressed by the university administration only with a mass email warning of a possible “written reprimand, loss of a privilege, or community service” for the perpetrator.
Milwaukee, WI – On Oct. 23-24, around 100 student activists from across the country converged here for the fifth Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) National Convention.
Minneapolis, MN – University of Minnesota students gathered for a press conference Oct. 20 outside the administration building. The event, organized by Students for a Democratic Society, focused on Students for a Democratic Society’s ongoing campaign for education rights and challenged the administration’s attacks on student cultural centers currently occupying space in the campus student union. Speakers included members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), La Raza Student Cultural Center, the American Indian Student Cultural Center, Al-Madinah Cultural Center, the Queer Student Cultural Center, and the Women’s Student Activist Collective.
Tuscaloosa, AL – A dozen people gathered in front of the downtown Federal Building on Tuesday Oct. 5 to protest the FBI raids and repression of peace activists. The protest was part of a national day of action against the first day of scheduled grand jury proceedings for the targeted peace activists. The University of Alabama chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized the protest. Students were joined by faculty as well as members of the local community.