Kenosha, WI – Protesters rallied outside the Kenosha County Detention Center, July 7. Dozens came together to demand the abolishment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a show of solidarity with the detainees held in the center. Demonstrators hoped to raise local awareness of the impact that the federal agency has on Wisconsin’s immigrant communities, including the threats of detention and deportation.

People gathered before the march at Kenosha’s DMV on County Highway H. One of the organizers, John Fleissner, explained, “What we are doing is pointing our forces in the direction of the machine that is actively detaining people and deporting families from this country. We believe in the power of the working class to stop these horrible atrocities.”

Tania Chavez, an activist with Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) and DACA benefactor, expressed her anxiety about deportation, which threatens her family.

Then YES member Luis Tapia said, “Look at all of us, we’re together. And it’s great to see that I have people that will stand up for the people locked up, not being able to see their families.”

Tapia retold his chilling history of having to cross the border as a baby and the difficulties he and his brother had to endure just to get to safety within the U.S. Tapia ended his speech by calling, “If we don’t get it?” and the crowd responding, “Shut it down!”

The protesters formed a rank with banners and signs held high and proceeded to march up the highway, towards the detention center. Chants continued for several minutes followed by a speech from Fernanda Jimenez of YES. With power in her voice, she told her story of running from ICE and at the end her message was clear, “We need solidarity in the struggle if we hope to win!”

“We do not abolish ICE without standing with our Black and refugee communities, we do not pass a Clean Dream Act unless we stand with no Muslim ban, unless we stand with ending racial profiling. If you only stand for one issue, how can you stand for every issue? You stand for every issue; it is one struggle,” Jimenez said.

Considering Trump’s most recent order allowing for the detention of refugees indefinitely, this action is a beautiful and much-needed act of solidarity among the people of southeastern Wisconsin. Jess Patel, the primary organizer of the action, said this is the beginning of a long struggle and is looking forward to future actions within our communities.

Local community activists, namely members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), organized the rally.

#KenoshaWI #ImmigrantRights #ChicanoLatino #Wisconsin #Immigration #YouthEmpoweredInTheStruggleYES

Milwaukee, WI – On April 6, members and affiliates of immigrant rights activist group United We Dream held actions around the country to raise awareness of a significant issue. DACA+ (Deferred Action for Children Arrivals extension) and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans) will return to the Supreme Court after a delay caused by Justice Scalia’s death in February. As the court date approaches, groups in Albuquerque, Milwaukee, and many other cities are holding actions, making noise and taking the streets in attempts to direct media attention toward the families affected by the measures.

On the night of April 6, in Milwaukee, students, workers and others marched down the busiest street of the city’s downtown, mariachi band in tow, chanting in support of their brothers, sisters, parents and selves, all eager for a favorable ruling on DACA+ and DAPA. The march was organized by Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), a radical immigrant rights group comprised of progressive university students and community members.

Blas Antimo Perez, a YES member and first generation Chicanx, said he was marching for “my undocumented parents. Although I do not benefit from DACA, having been born in the U.S., I stand with my brothers and sisters who deserve a better experience in this country. DACA and DAPA mean not having to live with paranoia, they mean having the freedom and comfort to plan for the future. These policies will allow self-determination for people who are constantly unable to fulfill their dreams because they are burdened by manmade borders ­ a detriment to Latinxs in this country.”

DACA+ and DAPA has the potential to better the lives of millions of immigrants currently living in fear of deportation, separation from their families and forced removal from their jobs and homes.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case April 18.

#MilwaukeeWI #MilwauekeeWI #StudentMovement #OppressedNationalities #ChicanoLatino #UnitedWeDream #DACA #YouthEmpoweredInTheStruggleYES #DAPA

There is an undeniable need for increased educational equity across oppressed communities. Every year, an estimated 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school, while only 5-10% of those students go on to pursue higher education.

The barriers to attaining a college degree for students without legal status include the constant increase in tuition, the lack of access to federal financial aid and the varying state laws which, for example, prohibit in-state tuition for undocumented community members or which don’t let allow them access higher education at all.

The keynote speaker at the event was Maricela Aguilar Monory, a Marquette alumna who is undocumented and unafraid. She spoke of her experience attending a private institution: “I met students who wanted to go to school as much as I had, who were just as dedicated as I was, but who were denied the ability to go to school full time, or even at all some semesters. I began to truly understand the dissonance between American ideals and American reality.”

The creators and supporters of the scholarship hope it will help close the gap between the U.S. ideals of achievement and self-determination, and the current reality of disparities in higher education.

#MilwaukeeWI #ImmigrantRights #PeoplesStruggles #YouthEmpoweredInTheStruggleYES

Milwaukee, WI – About 500 protesters rallied, Feb. 11, at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Zelazo Center, where the Democratic National Debate taking place. The Milwaukee Antiwar Committee (AWC) along with Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), the Student Union Movement (SUM) and United Workers Organization (UWO) marched through the streets demanding “No more deportations!” “No more wars!” and “Black lives matter!”

Tracy Pollock, of the Milwaukee Antiwar Committee, stated “Drones and bombs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Iraq. Weapons for extremists in Ukraine, Libya and Syria. These are all things that have actually increased under the last president and now is the time to let the Democrats know we reject their imperialist policies,”

Chanting, “United we stand, divided we fall, an injury to one is an injury to all!” the protesters joined with the Fight for 15 who were also rallying outside the debate. Fast-food workers, community members and union staffers mobilized around the Democratic National Debate demanding that the minimum wage be raised to $15 an hour, a policy supported by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

“I want to give a shout out to the brothers and sisters in the Fight for $15 movement who are demanding an increase to a $15 an hour wage and respect on the job for all workers,” Pollock continued. “Because when we say economic justice we know that workers not only deserve this, but in fact it’s necessary for survival. Just as we know that the workers in Palestine deserve the right to go to their jobs without the threat of getting shot dead by the Israeli Defense forces. And workers in Pakistan have the right to go to their jobs without the fear of being killed by a drone sent by the U.S. imperialists.”

Many in the crowd were not happy with Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's record on foreign policy and carried signs such reading “Hillary for prison!” and “Bourgeois feminist.”

“Hillary ain’t no feminist,” said Pollock. “Because what kind of feminist wants to increase aid to apartheid Israel whose genocidal policies against the Palestinian people wouldn’t be possible without funding from the U.S.?”

With the University of Wisconsin system facing a $250 million budget cut, many students from the campus came out to voice their concerns about higher education. “It's completely unjust that a generation of students are burdened with debt due to an exploitative educational system, and that they have to work for decades just to break even,” said Evan Elkins of SDS. “The alternative to being burdened with debt is being unemployed, or living in poverty. These students deserve loan forgiveness from these predatory financial institutions so that they can have economic freedom, and it is an issue neither candidate is talking about.”

After roasting Republican lawmakers, Daniel Ginsberg of the United Workers Organization stated, “In fighting for the working class we need to keep pressure on both political parties. There's a lot that the Democrats aren't talking about in there that we're discussing here.”

Protesters then marched through the student union chanting “The people united will never be defeated!” and “When they say cut back we say fight back!”

“Electing a progressive president can only do so much,” said Jorge Maya of Youth Empowered in the Struggle. “Bigger than that is the labor movement and the immigrant rights movement and the Black lives matter movement. Because we know that the people are the ones that make change, not the politicians.”

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiwarMovement #YouthEmpoweredInTheStruggleYES

Madison, WI – 200 community members organized by the Milwaukee based Voces de la Frontera and Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) traveled to the state capitol in Madison to oppose anti-immigrant legislation on Jan. 20. There are three bills in the assembly currently targeting immigrants: AB-450, AB-533 and LRB-2818.

AB-450, if passed, will prevent city and county resolutions that prohibit immigration status inquiries from local authorities. This bill will allow local authorities and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to collaborate by giving local officials authority to begin enforcement actions, as well as informing other units of government about the presence of undocumented immigrants. AB-450 has been referred to the Committee on Urban and Local Affairs.

The second bill, AB-533, is a direct response to the victory the Milwaukee immigrant community had only a few months ago, when the city and county governments approved of issuing state IDs to undocumented immigrants. AB-533 would prohibit cities and counties from creating such identification cards that can be used for basic personal information to establish proof of residence or obtain health services.

LRB-2818, the third anti-immigrant bill, will prevent people without a license to register vehicles under their name. This bill will not only impact the undocumented people, but also those who do not have a driver’s license.

Florencio Mondragon, a community member who attended the Jan. 20 hearing, demanded representatives oppose LRB-2818. Florencio said, “Work is far from where I live, a car is important to have especially in the winter times. The town I live in is small, and there is not much public transportation available. Authorities should be focusing on the real issues and crimes. This is not a fair way to treat people. I contribute to the state by paying taxes and staying out of trouble, I just want to live a simple life.

2016 has begun with anti-immigrant action and rhetoric coming from all levels of the state government, as well as the Republican presidential candidates. Groups like YES and Voces will continue to mobilize in opposition to these three bills, both at the state capitol and in the streets.

#MadisonWI #immigrantRights #VocesDeLaFrontera #YouthEmpoweredInTheStruggleYES

Milwaukee, WI – On Oct. 29, students led by Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES) and Progressive Students of Milwaukee (PSM) disrupted a CIA recruitment event held on the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus.

The CIA is a defender of U.S. corporate interests against democratic people's movements. Protest organizers say that for more than 60 years, the CIA has assassinated foreign leaders and civilians around the globe, systematically tortured, trained assassins to kill both US and foreign civilians, facilitated weapons and drug trafficking by terrorists and paramilitaries, influenced foreign elections with money and murder, and lied to congress about its activities.

The students began by holding an informational picket outside the space where the event was to be held. As attendees arrived they were handed a flyer featuring a timeline of the CIA's activities, including overthrowing the democratically-elected governments of Iran in 1953 and Guatemala in 1954, assassinating Patrice Lumumba of the Congo in 1961, illegally spying on over 7,000 US antiwar activists in 1967, assassinating Salvador Allende of Chile in 1973, and attempting to overthrow the government of Hugo Chávez of Venezuela in 2002. Several attendees thanked the students for providing them with a different perspective than the one offered by the event program itself.

After the event began, the students entered the room chanting, “CIA, go away!” Inside the event space, YES President Oscar Hernandez spoke about the CIA's history of overthrowing democratic governments and encouraged attendees to study the history of people's movements throughout the world.

#MilwaukeeWI #CentralIntelligenceAgency #YouthEmpoweredInTheStruggleYES #ProgressiveStudentsOfMilwaukeePSM