Neenah, WI – On Sunday March 30, Hate Free Outagamie hosted an event celebrating Trans Day of Visibility. Nearly 200 community members of all ages gathered at a local park shelter to celebrate the struggles of the trans community. Attendees created art and photos, listened to speeches and workshops, and networked with other community organizations.

In their opening speech, Green Bay Anti War co-chair Lana Ksionek spoke about the importance of calling upon the strength of our trans elders such as Sylvia Rivera, and to take inspiration from them in our fight for trans liberation today.

Ksionek told the crowd, “I will not cower before men who are terrified that their place at the top of society is being challenged, I sleep well at night because I’m taking an active role in what happens to me, and you should too.” She concluded her speech, “if they try to outlaw our public existence, we will hit the streets and loudly defy them!”

Members of Hate Free Outagamie promoted their campaign to establish Outagamie County as a Trans Sanctuary County. Members also gave speeches focused on maintaining revolutionary optimism during the era of heightened attacks and reactionary politics of the Trump presidency.

In his speech, Hate Free Outagamie member Mitch Erickson encouraged community members to not despair in the face of oppression, but rather, to come together and organize to support and uplift our community. This speech also highlighted how all struggles of working class people are innately tied to the struggle for trans liberation. Erickson cited civil rights activist James Baldwin’s optimism to join the civil rights struggle, telling the crowd “if one of the greatest minds of his generation could believe this about a bleak situation, we queers could and should too.”

Diverse and Resilient, a co-sponsor of the event, led a workshop creating safety plans and pod maps for queer and trans people. Appleton Area Now gave an impassioned speech on domestic violence, women’s oppression and the need to stand up and fight back in an era of heightened reactionary attacks. Green Bay Anti-War Committee, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Appleton Area NOW, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, and Free Mom Hugs were also co-sponsors of the event.

The event ended with an inspiring discussion, led by a HFO member, who spoke about finding joy in his own trans experience and led a group share, where other trans and queer community members were able to share about their own experiences.

While queer and trans people are in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, we continue to see the community grow, and the struggle for liberation along with it. This event showed no executive order or bill passed by Congress can erase trans existence. Trans people have always existed and will continue to not only exist, and from this event we are sure we will see the struggle grow here in the Fox Valley.

#NeenahWI #WI #LGBTQ #HFO #GBAWC #NOW #TransDayofVisibility

Green Bay, WI – On Saturday, February 8, nearly 100 people braved the winter cold and marched through downtown Green Bay, Wisconsin in a powerful demonstration against ICE’s escalating attacks on immigrant communities nationwide.

The protest was organized in opposition to Trump’s executive orders and the surge in ICE activity since his inauguration. One protester’s sign captured the spirit of the march, “The word criminal does not define who we are. If you want to label us, label us as loyal neighbors, dedicated workers, and caring community members.”

As the crowd marched through the snow, chants of “Aqui estamos y no nos vamos!” (We are here and we are not leaving!) reverberated with defiance and hope through the streets of Green Bay. The march was spearheaded by a local DACA recipient, who despite her fears, chose to stand up and organize her community to fight back. “Fear is real,” she shared with the crowd, “but so is our power. When we come together, we are stronger than any force that tries to divide us.”

This march was co-sponsored by local organizations Hate Free Outagamie (HFO), a group fighting for LGBTQ liberation, and Green Bay Anti-war Committee (GBAC), a group fighting against U.S. imperialism and war.

Mary Bogen, chair of HFO, addressed the crowd before the march, stating, “This is not about ‘law and order,’ this is about control. It's about keeping working people, especially Black and brown immigrants, queer folks, trans folks and their loved ones living in fear, so corporations and the ultra-rich can continue to exploit them.”

As the march concluded, protesters chanted “From Palestine to Mexico, all these walls have got to go!” Then Daniel Castillo of GBAC spoke of the anti-war movement’s unity with the immigrant rights movement, “Our movement understands that the struggle for peace isn't separate from the fight for justice at home. Every dollar spent on foreign military operations is a dollar stolen from our schools, our healthcare, and our communities.”

This protest is part of a growing wave of resistance sweeping the nation, coinciding with Legalization for All’s national week of action. As we continue to see people from the queer rights movements, the anti-war movement, the trade union movement and the immigrant rights movement unite to fight back against Trump’s attacks, we look forward to seeing what more the movement in the Fox Valley has in store.

#GreenBayWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #HFO #GBAC #Trump

Appleton, WI – On June 23, a local office for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin was the focus of a demonstration against the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Activists covered the county Democrats’ office with the names of hundreds of Palestinian martyrs.

While these names posted on the office are only a small fraction of the tens of thousands killed, entire families were among the martyrs highlighted. The most recent death toll from the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs was over 37,000 deaths and over 10,000 missing. Given the dire conditions on the ground, however, many estimate the total number of casualties is significantly higher.

Amongst the names scattered across the office windows, additional statements were posted, including “Gaza must have food and water, Democrats must stop the slaughter,” and “Genocide Joe is a war criminal.” Gazans are facing critical levels of food insecurity, with many facing imminent risk of starvation. With such little aid getting into Gaza, Palestinians are living on only 200 calories per day.

The demonstration was organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), Hate Free Outagamie (HFO) and other community members.

Another message highlighted “No Pride in Genocide” calling out pink-washing, a strategy used to justify the ongoing genocide in Palestine citing a lack of queer rights. This message was intentionally placed over the pride flag hanging in the office and was especially relevant, as the community’s Pride celebration was held this weekend.

The community’s Pride organizers were directly called out by advocates just days before the event after they accepted a donation from Oshkosh Corporation. Oshkosh Corporation is the parent company of Oshkosh Defense, who is directly producing military vehicles for Israel to use in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. After receiving significant backlash, Pride organizers agreed to return the $500 donation to Oshkosh Corporation. In response, FRSO, HFO and other area anti-war activists raised over $1000 to replace the donation, showing the incredible power of community organizing.

FRSO and HFO are both members of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine as well as the Coalition to March on the RNC. The Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine has been active in protesting the Wisconsin Democrats state convention, supporting the university encampments, and holding various marches such as Rafah is a Red Line and commemorating Nakba Day.

#AppletonWI #FRSO #HFO #WisconsinCoalitionforJusticeinPalestine #DemocraticParty