Milwaukee, WI – On Tuesday, March 3, around 15 people gathered during peak rush hour at the Locust Street overpass in Milwaukee for a banner drop demanding U.S. hands off Cuba, Venezuela and Iran.

Led by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee and co-sponsored by Students for a Democratic Society – UWM (SDS – UWM) and the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN), attendees waved a Venezuelan flag and held up signs that demanded “Stop U.S. war on Venezuela,” “No war on Iran” and “Honk 4 peace.” Along the overpass, three banners proudly hung from the chain link fence that read, “Hands off Venezuela,” “U.S. hands off Cuba,” and “Hands off Iran! End U.S. aid to Israel.”

There was a stream of nearly continuous honks from both the highway and those driving over the overpass, making it clear that Milwaukeeans do not support the escalating aggression and acts of war against Iran, Cuba or Venezuela.

Chris Van Valkenberg, member of SDS-UWM, stated: “When we do these banner drops, we can see the importance of being out here and standing against U.S. intervention and escalation. Hearing the almost constant honks from cars and trucks passing on the interstate really highlights that these are working class issues.”

Van Valkenburg continued, “The masses of people don't want their tax dollars spent on bombs. They want that money to benefit the people of Milwaukee. They want that money going into schools and healthcare.”

As the sun was setting, the streets of Milwaukee echoed with chants, including “From Cuba to the Middle East, we demand justice, we demand peace” and “the U.S. lies and then they bomb, first Gaza, then Iran.”

The banner drop was part of the AWAN National Day of Action with nearly 20 coordinated protests across the country in solidarity with the people of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. March 3 marks the two month anniversary of the illegal kidnapping of Venezuelan President Maduro and First Lady Flores who are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

This National Day of Action occurred just three days after Milwaukee mobilized an emergency action to demand no war with Iran in response to the joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes which have murdered nearly 800 Iranians already.

The people of Milwaukee make it abundantly clear that we must continue the fight for a free Palestine and to demand the U.S. out of everywhere!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Iran #SDS #AWAN #MAC

Milwaukee, WI – On Saturday, February 28, around 70 people gathered in Milwaukee’s Zeidler Union Square Park for an emergency action to demand no war with Iran, braving the cold and snow.

The protest, led by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC), was in response to Israel and the U.S. launching a series of air strikes, killing over 200 Iranians and wounding hundreds, including at least 148 young girls who were murdered while attending classes at their elementary school.

MAC had been prepared for an emergency response as U.S. aggression ramped up against Iran. A month before, the organization had released an emergency action plan stating that it would call a protest for the day of an attack at 5 p.m. MAC, along with 17 other endorsing organizations, were prepared to fight back.

Emcee Sara Onitsuka, co-chair of MAC, started the rally, stating, “We are enraged for the Iranians who are being killed and injured. We are enraged for Palestinians, who are still facing genocide and starvation at the hands of Israel and the U.S. We are enraged for the whole region, who are in great danger from the U.S. and Israel’s attacks. And we are also enraged that people in the U.S. are forced to have our tax money go to death and destruction as many struggle to survive. We raise our voices today to fight in solidarity with Iran, against this grave injustice.”

“This unprovoked attack is not about Iran having nuclear weapons. This is about Israeli hegemony in the Middle East and toppling the Iranian government,” said Stephanie Spalatin, a member of Milwaukee Anti-war Committee.

“Like many of you I woke up this morning to see pictures of bloody backpacks that were found outside of the elementary school that the U.S. and Israel bombed. Those images reminded me of the car that Hind Rajab was in that was covered in 500 bullet holes from when the Israelis murdered her. It reminds me of the images we see every day coming out of Palestine, Lebanon, Haiti, Sudan, the Congo, out of all these places where we see women under attack all over the world”, said Casey Serrano representing Milwaukee’s International Women’s Day Coalition. “We are here to stand in solidarity with these women all over the world until every woman is safe and free!”

At 5:40 p.m., the rally paused for a call to prayer and breaking the fast for Ramadan. Dates and water were passed around as sunset hit in snowy Milwaukee.

After the breaking of the fast, there were more speeches, and chants such as “From Iran to the Philippines, end the U.S. war machine” and “From the belly of the beast, hands off the Middle East” to keep the energy of the crowd up.

Representative Ryan Clancy said, “In early 2003, I was in Baghdad trying to protest the war and protect the civilian infrastructure that I knew would be targeted and attacked just as the U.S. has targeted and attacked civilian infrastructure overnight. We cannot look at regime change by targeting an elementary school and killing any number of children. We are here to stand with the people of Iran here today.”

“It’s not about the freedom of women. What kind of freedom do you want to send to Iran by killing girls in their schools?” said Salah Sarsour of Islamic Society of Milwaukee. “We are here today to stop this, and work hard for real peace, and to stop all these killings all over the world. That’s why we stand against war with Iran.”

Closing out the rally, Chris Van Valkenberg from Students for a Democratic Society – UWM discussed their experience as a student teacher, stating, “For the first two years at UWM, I was an education major. I think about these elementary aged girls that were just murdered, and I think about my own students that I was student teaching just last semester. I don’t have the words to describe the pain and anguish that there is right now.”

Van Valkenberg continued, “It is abundantly clear that these strikes are not going to lead to peace. As much as Trump claims himself the anti-war president, these strikes and any more escalation will continue to have blood spilled and lives lost.”

A war with Iran remains deeply unpopular in the U.S. and the world. Through the Anti-War Action Network’s call to action, over 20 cities nationwide responded to the call to demand no war with Iran. Milwaukee added its voice to the call, vowing to continue rising up and taking the streets.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #MAC #SDS

Milwaukee, WI – On Saturday, January 17, over 30 community members drove through a snowstorm to gather at Milwaukee Public Library to attend Milwaukee Anti-war Committee’s (MAC) teach-in on Venezuela, part of MAC’s No War with Venezuela month of action. Attendees heard speakers cover Venezuela’s rich history of resistance and the connections between Venezuela and Palestine.

The teach-in featured four activists, starting with MAC Education Co-chair Añita Herrezuelo, who spoke on the U.S.’s long history of meddling, intervention and coup attempts in Venezuela, which has continuously been met with successful resistance. There is a pattern of the U.S. committing illegal war crimes, most recently kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro under the pretense of “drug trafficking,” without any evidence.

Herrezuelo stated, “Western media ignores the historical sabotage of the U.S. on Venezuela’s economy. Instead, it often talks about poverty, inflation, inaccessibility of goods, ‘corruption,’ and blames this solely on the Venezuelan government and economic system while never talking about the coup attempts, hybrid warfare, and illegal sanctions by the U.S.”

Casey Serrano of Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) recently returned from a solidarity delegation to Venezuela, attending the International Peoples’ Assembly for Sovereignty and Peace hosted by the Simón Bolivar Institute for Peace and Solidarity Among Peoples. That assembly gathered thousands of people from around the world, even from the U.S. as Trump issued a no-fly zone. Casey spoke about their experiences meeting union workers and visiting several communes led by working class people. 

One of the most important takeaways from their trip was the difference in priorities between U.S. presidents and Venezuelan President Maduro. While at the commune, their delegation and ambassadors from other countries, including Russia and Burkina Faso, waited while President Maduro first toured the commune and walked among the people. 

Casey stated, “President Maduro’s speech was about reinvesting money into the communes and reinvesting money into the people. In the U.S., all we hear about is how we’re going to reinvest money into fighting other countries, like Venezuela, and giving more money to Netanyahu. It’s all about these external battles that the U.S. is so concerned about and never about putting more money into education, healthcare, food, or anything else that would actually make anybody’s life better.”

Eric Kleppe-Montenegro, a member of Guacamaya Roja, a national organization made up of Colombian diasporas, talked about the solidarity between Venezuela and Latin American countries.

Kleppe-Montenegro stated, “Under President Gustavo Petro, Colombia has been able to prevent any sort of U.S. intervention to be staged from Colombia. President Petro understands that an attack on Venezuela is an attack on Colombia, and that solidarity is what we see in Cuba too. Venezuela and Cuba have both suffered under the same type of economic blockade and have come to depend on each other greatly, especially because of how much Cuba depends on the Venezuelan economy to stay afloat. This isn’t about Venezuela, and it’s never just been about Venezuela. It’s about all of Latin America and the threat to our sovereignty, our freedom, dignity, and self-determination.”

The threat to Venezuela significantly impacts the surrounding region, including Puerto Rico. Herrezuelo noted that Puerto Rico has been under permanent U.S. military occupation and has been unable to govern itself.

The bombing of Caracas and kidnapping of President Maduro is one front of U.S. imperialism. This comes as the destruction of Gaza by Israel continues, a central project of U.S. imperialism for decades. Janan Najeeb, co-chair of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, spoke about not only the coordinated similarities of U.S. imperialism, but the history of solidarity between the Venezuelan and Palestinian people.

“Since the rule of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela has been a strong supporter of Palestinian rights, twice expelling the Israeli ambassador,” Najeeb said. “Chavez was a hero in the Arab world. Maduro was also hated by Israel, for condemning their actions and calling them an illegal state.”

As the United States and Trump regime continue to make enemies around the world and within their own borders, the solidarity movement only grows stronger. MAC will conclude their No War with Venezuela month of actions with a One Year Against Trump rally and car caravan on Tuesday, January 20.

Details for January 20 can be found on MAC’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #MAC #Venezuela

Milwaukee, WI – On Wednesday, January 14, nearly a dozen people met at Zao MKE Church to participate in Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC)’s phone zap in solidarity with the Jacksonville Palestine Solidarity Network (JPSN) and to watch the documentary The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.

Throughout the day and at the beginning of the evening event, Milwaukee activists and community members called Florida State Attorney Melissa Nelson to demand that all charges be dropped against the three activists who were targeted and attacked by Jacksonville police for their anti-war organizing. This phone zap was organized one week before one activist’s final pretrial hearing and was part of a national day of action with the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN).

Chris Van Valkenberg, chair of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Students for a Democratic Society (SDS UWM), stated, “As someone who’s experienced political repression, it’s important to publicize the political repression you’re facing through statements, packing the court, and hosting call-in campaigns to drop the charges. These actions have a big impact. We know that protesting is not a crime, and that’s why it’s important to speak out against political repression.”

They went on to provide examples of national call-in campaigns and the recent wins for organizations and community members that were facing severe political repression.

“When three students in SDS UWM were unable to register for classes due to their involvement with Palestine solidarity protests, SDS UWM held a national call-in campaign. Within an hour, all three students were able to enroll in classes. It is because of these national calls to action that we’ve seen the federal charges dropped against immigrant rights organizer Alejandro Orellana in Los Angeles last summer and the ‘Tampa 5’ students a few years ago. Across the country, we know that when we fight, we win!”

After the brief remarks, attendees watched The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, a documentary on the 2002 coup attempt against former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

After the event, attendees felt motivated and ready to stand up and fight back against political repression and to demand no U.S. intervention in Venezuela, in Palestine, in Iran, or anywhere.

The phone zap and movie night were part of MAC’s No War with Venezuela Month of Action, announced in early January during a press conference at Milwaukee City Hall. This month of action comes on the heels of escalating U.S. military aggression against Venezuela, including bombing Caracas which killed 100 people and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

MAC’s month of action will continue with a teach-in on Venezuela on January 17, supporting the annual MLK Day event on January 19, and concluding with a One Year Against Trump March and Rally on January 20.

Details for future events can be found on MAC’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #MAC #JaxPSN #AWAN

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, January 11, an audience of around 20 people gathered at Zao MKE Church to watch a webinar featuring five anti-war activists who visited Venezuela in the last month, hosted by the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN). 

The webinar watch party, convened by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), was part of MAC’s No War with Venezuela Month of Action, called in early January in response to the Trump administration’s escalating aggression against Venezuela, including an intense bombing campaign and the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro.

Sara Onitsuka, co-chair of MAC, introduced the webinar and provided context on its relation to anti-war organizing in Milwaukee. 

“It is so important to build the anti-war movement in the U.S. and locally,” Onitsuka said. “The U.S. government repeats the same imperialist playbook, with just a few modifications, over and over across the world. Meanwhile in the U.S., including in Milwaukee, most are struggling just to meet our basic needs. We deserve better here, just as people all over the world deserve to no longer be under the boot of U.S. imperialism.” 

Chris Van Valkenberg, chair of SDS, followed up with the connection to student organizing, stating, “Historically we’ve seen the anti-war movement and the student movement work very closely together, from Vietnam to Palestine. And we’re going to have to work very closely again as we stand in solidarity with and say no war with Venezuela.”

After introductions, attendees settled in to watch the webinar. After opening comments from the emcee, Jae Franklin, an activist with the Chicago Anti-War Committee, talked about the first day of the conference that their delegation attended – the International Peoples’ Assembly for Sovereignty and Peace, hosted by the Simón Bolivar Institute for Peace and Solidarity Among Peoples. In particular, they were struck by a quote from Blanca Eekhout, the president of the Simón Bolivar Institute, who said, “Fear cannot defeat the conviction of the Venezuelan people.”

Jessica Plichta, an organizer with Grand Rapids Opponents of War who recently gained significant media attention for being arrested by Grand Rapids police immediately after finishing a news interview, talked of the importance of international solidarity. Plichta quoted Delcy Rodríguez, current acting president, “No blockade can defeat solidarity. No blockade can defeat the love that other peoples of the world have for Venezuela, and no threat or military aggression can destroy this love for our people.”

Izzy McCabe from Seattle Against War, who presented on the delegation’s visit to the Ministry of Women, reiterated a message of solidarity: “The people of the United States and Venezuela have a common enemy, a common fight, and a common goal.“ 

AWAN webinar presenters talked further about the communes, food sovereignty and labor organizing in Venezuela. They shared their experiences talking not just with assembly participants, but also working-class Venezuelans on the streets of Caracas. They said that what they heard the most in Venezuela was that they all need to be united against Trump.

After the webinar, watch party attendees discussed what they had learned. One attendee noted that it was not only helpful to hear the takeaways from their delegation, but also how much fun they were having. Hearing of their experiences in Caracas helped to disrupt the mainstream view in the U.S. of Venezuela as a violent and dangerous place. 

Watch party attendees also discussed how to tie back to organizing in Milwaukee. There have been similar instances of political repression in Milwaukee, particularly among student organizers. They discussed the importance of fighting repression, not being afraid of it, and using it as a tool to bring people out to support the cause. 

The watch party attendees left the event re-energized and ready to fight back.

Since early January, MAC’s Month of Action has gained broad support in Milwaukee and beyond. As of Sunday, 17 organizations have endorsed MAC’s Month of Action.

MAC’s month of action will continue with a phone zap against the political repression of anti-war activists in Jacksonville as part of a National Day of Action with AWAN on January 14, a teach-in on Venezuela on January 17, supporting the annual MLK Day event on January 19, and concluding with a One Year Against Trump March and Rally on January 20. 

Details for future events can be found on MAC’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #MAC #AWAN #SDS

Milwaukee, WI – On Monday, January 5, the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) held a press conference at Milwaukee City Hall, announcing their “No War with Venezuela” month of action.

This month of action came on the heels of the U.S. bombing Caracas and kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

On Monday, while MAC held their press conference, President Maduro and Flores made their first appearance in federal court where Maduro faced four criminal charges. Maduro pleaded not guilty and asserted that he remains the legitimate president of Venezuela. Interim president Dalcy Rodriguez has affirmed Venezuela’s support for Maduro, adding that Venezuela has “the right to peace, development, sovereignty and a future.”

At the press conference, MAC Co-chair Sara Onitsuka delivered a statement explaining the month of action and why it is needed at this time to fight back, “The U.S. war machine is working as intended through military occupation, coups, kidnapping foreign leaders, and imposing governments that serve U.S. interests. But the people of the world will never back down – not in Venezuela, Iraq, Haiti, Palestine, and not in the U.S., where we fight against the U.S. war machine, at home and abroad.”

Onitsuka continued, “The Milwaukee Anti-war Committee stands against these military escalations and the violations of Venezuelan sovereignty, which is why we are launching our ‘No War with Venezuela’ month of action, a campaign of direct action opposing war on Venezuela! Throughout this month, our demands are clear: No U.S. war with Venezuela! Free President Maduro! U.S out of all of Latin America!”

Wisconsin Assemblyman Ryan Clancy also spoke in support of the month of action and against the Trump administration’s actions over the past several days. Clancy stated, “This was never about Maduro. Trump has very explicitly said this is about oil, and about taking the profits of that oil, which have been going to help the people of Venezuela, and giving them instead to U.S. corporations.”

Later in the day, at 5 p.m. over a local highway overpass, MAC held their first action of the month – a banner-drop with a banner reading, “No war with Venezuela.” Flashlights were used to backlight the banner to create visibility for long stretches of the highway. More than a dozen people showed up, waving Venezuelan flags and receiving honks from both the highway and people driving over the overpass.

Local media was quick to report on the press conference and banner-drop. Members of MAC have also been interviewed by radio stations and made a TV appearance for PBS’ Adelante.

The month of action is quickly gaining steam and support in Milwaukee. 12 organizations, both local and national and representing an array of movements, have already endorsed MAC’s month of action.

This month of action will include a watch party for the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN) webinar on Venezuela on January 11, a phone zap against the political repression of anti-war activists in Jacksonville as part of a national day of action with AWAN on January 14, a teach-in on Venezuela on January 17, supporting the annual MLK Day event on January 19, and concluding with a One Year Against Trump March and Rally on January 20.

Details for future events can be found on MAC’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.

During the month of action, MAC is ready to mobilize an emergency rally if there is an escalation that warrants an additional protest. Within 24 hours, MAC will announce and lead a protest in solidarity with the people of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan people are taking to the streets to oppose the attacks and the abduction of President Maduro, and Milwaukee will keep agitating and rising up this whole month to say no war with Venezuela!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #MAC

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, December 7, the Milwaukee Anti-War Committee (MAC) hosted a commemoration of International Human Rights Day, answering the national call for a week of action by the Anti-War Action Network. International Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10, marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations in 1948.

The event began with a march, followed by a program portion featuring a panel of local organizers, a keynote speaker, and the presentation of the 4th annual Lucille Berrien Humanitarian Award.

Dozens of determined people braved the frigid temperatures and snowy streets during the march. Gathering at Zao MKE Church, attendees heard speeches by the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Milwaukee 4 Yemen, and the Young Workers Committee of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council.

“We must stand up and fight for better worker protections, and that can only be done with the recognition of a union,” said Rhen Lutz of the Young Workers Committee. They went on to add, “With these union protections – free speech against workplace harassment, the ability to bargain for protections that outweigh any law, to strike, to challenge unfair labor practices – we can defend our fellow immigrant workers and say hell no to Trump and ICE!”

After the first three speeches, the group headed out for the march, carrying signs saying, “March for human rights” and chanting, “Money for jobs and education, not for wars and occupation!” and “Up, up with liberation, down, down with deportation!” Onlookers and cars passing by gave thumbs up, shouted “Free Palestine!” and applauded as the crowd made a loop back to Zao MKE Church.

Once back at Zao, two more speeches from Milwaukee 4 Sudan and Freedom Road Socialist Organization closed out the march portion of the event.

Piper Hogan of Freedom Road Socialist Organization stated, “The United States is an empire in decline, and Trump’s political strategy is only going to accelerate that decline.”

Hogan added, “A symptom of that decline is the U.S. ruling class committing more and more human rights abuses against their own people. They have ramped up political attacks on transgender people and against abortion rights. These attacks are an attempt to reinforce traditional gender roles rooted in the oppression of women. On the other hand, Trump’s war on immigrants is an attempt to wall off the U.S. economy from the rest of the world.”

The group headed inside Zao MKE Church, where others joined them to begin the program. The program emcee, MAC education co-chair Christina Stradwick, told the crowd, “This year’s 77th anniversary of the UDHR comes amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Although there is a supposed ‘ceasefire’ in place, Palestinians continue to be killed at the hands of Israel. This ‘ceasefire’ is part of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza which purports to offer a path toward peace but in truth blocks self-determination for the Palestinian people.”

Next, five speakers spanning work in Black liberation, Palestinian liberation, reproductive justice, student organizing and anti-war took the stage for a panel.

“Whether you are undocumented or not, specifically with this new ICE processing center that they have on the North Side, there are a lot of Black folks that live there. And why should they care if they’re not immigrants? Well, do you want feds in your neighborhood? Do you think that they’re just going to target folks that are undocumented? No! For us, it’s being able to make the issue personalized and having the broader conversation of how these are all interconnected,” said Angela Lang of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC).

After the panel, keynote speaker Omar Flores from the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression addressed the crowd. Flores read aloud selections from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, asking the around 50 audience members to engage in providing examples of when the U.S. had violated any right – the takeaway being that the U.S. has egregiously violated every one of them throughout its history.

Finally, Sam Charnon of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization presented the Lucille Berrien Humanitarian Award, named after a beloved longtime Milwaukee community activist, to Bara Omari of the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund in Milwaukee, for her integral role as a community with UWM’s Popular University for Palestine encampment and her dedication to nurturing the next generation of leaders through mentorship and relationship building.

The event, also serving as a fundraiser for Zao MKE Church, a staple in the Milwaukee organizing community, raised hundreds of dollars in donations. At a time when human rights are under attack by the Trump administration domestically and abroad, International Human Rights Day was an opportunity to get together and reflect on the past, and to inspire the fight now and in the future.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #ImmigrantRights #Palestine #WomensMovement #OppressedNationalities #AfricanAmerican #MAC #AWAN #Feature

Milwaukee, WI – On Saturday, November 22, around 30 people gathered at Milwaukee City Hall to demand U.S. hands off Venezuela. They brought Venezuelan flags and signs with messages such as “From Caracas to Jenin, stop the U.S. war machine” and “No blood for oil.”

The rally, led by the Milwaukee Anti-War Committee (MAC), was in conjunction with the call to action by the Anti-War Action Network, United National Anti-war Coalition, and other national organizations.

The call to action was declared after the U.S. murdered nearly 45 people in military airstrikes on Venezuelan fishing boats for alleged drug trafficking at the same time that federal troops and ICE agents are carrying out mass raids and deportations. The action made connections about how the U.S. war machine is attacking people in Venezuela and within the U.S. More than 70 events were put on all across the country in response to the call to action.

The event opened with remarks from emcee James Oldenburg, who stated, “Bombing civilians of another country is a war crime. We oppose this war just like we opposed the last war, because this is about U.S. imperialism and nothing else. It’s the same old thing we’ve seen before – the real answer is this is about oil.”

Kayla Kuo, a member of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee stated, “In 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq with its ‘shock and awe’ bombing campaign that literally cleared the path for U.S. troops to occupy the country. The invasion of Iraq was justified under the false notion that Saddam Huseein was stashing weapons of mass destruction. Yet, no weapons were ever found.”

Kuo continued, “More than 170,000 troops ruthlessly defended the U.S. and participated in the destruction and death of millions of people, all so that the U.S. could steal its oil! In fact, there are still U.S. troops in Iraq.”

Chris Van Valkenberg of Freedom Road Socialist Organization told the crowd, “As Trump threatens to unleash the national guard in our cities and bomb Venezuela, it is clear he doesn’t care about the people here or abroad. He strives to protect the ruling class as they do whatever they damn well please.”

Valkenberg added that the Trump administration plans to designate the entire Venezuelan government as a terrorist organization this upcoming week.

Eric Kleppe-Montenegro, a Colombian community member, delivered a speech in Spanish. He pointed out that Marco Rubio, who has gone on record falsely labeling the Venezuelan government as “narco-terrorists,” himself has documented narco-trafficking links through his in-laws. Kleppe-Montenegro said that Colombians have taken to calling Rubio “Narco Rubio.”

In between speeches, the participants chanted in support of Venezuelan sovereignty, shouting, “1, 2, 3, 4! Intervention no more!” “No blood for oil! U.S. off Venezuelan soil” “¡Se ve, se siente! El pueblo está presente!”, and “No troops on the ground! No bombs in the air! U.S. out of everywhere!” Accompanied by a drum, the chants rang out in the busy downtown intersection. As they were speaking and chanting, cars passing by honked in support.

This was the first hands off Venezuela event put on by MAC, but with the aggression towards Venezuela by the U.S., it will not be the last. As the Trump administration increases its attacks and ramps up propaganda against Venezuela, Milwaukee will take to the streets to resist and educate about the real danger in the world – the U.S. war machine.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #MAC #AWAN

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) organized a banner drop on September 26 as part of the Anti-War Action Network (AWAN) National Week of Action. This call was an opportunity to mobilize anti-war and anti-imperialist organizations around the country in defiance of Netanyahu being welcomed onto the world stage at the United Nations General Assembly.

During peak rush hour as people traveled back into Milwaukee, an energetic group of people gathered on a highway overpass bridge for a banner drop demanding the arrest of war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu for his genocide against the Palestinian people.

Attendees brought a Palestine flag, as well as a main banner that read “Arrest Netanyahu” and another banner reading, “Not another bomb.” The group received honks from drivers of cars, trucks and buses on the highway and on the overpass.

As MAC chair, Sara Onitsuka, reflected on the event, “While millions of people are being starved and relentlessly bombed in Gaza, Netanyahu continues to spew his lies about what is happening in Palestine.”

“While many countries recently decided to recognize Palestinian statehood and the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted for a two-state solution, we know that this is not enough to achieve Palestinian liberation! Free Palestine! End the siege on Gaza!”

Around the country, marches and banner drops were held with similar demands. The UN General Assembly saw many attendees walk out in protest of Netanyahu’s speech, which fell flat on the much smaller UN gathering.

The anti-war movement in Milwaukee has steadily grown, particularly mobilizing the community through monthly AWAN actions. Milwaukee will not stop until there is a free Palestine!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #MAC #AWAN

Milwaukee, WI – On Tuesday, August 19, around 25 people held a banner drop at the Locust Street overpass in Milwaukee, demanding an end to the destruction and starvation of Gaza, an end to U.S. aid to Israel, and calling for a free Palestine.

Led by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) and co-sponsored by the statewide Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, the banner drop was in response to an emergency call to action by the Anti-War Action Network, a national network of anti-war organizations.

Residents of Milwaukee responded swiftly to the call, bringing with them banners, homemade signs, and Palestinian and peace flags. Banners and signs included messages such as “End starvation of Gaza”, “Stop genocide” and “Victory to the Palestinian Resistance.” All throughout the banner drop, the crowd chanted in solidarity with Palestine, shouting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!” and “We want justice, you say how, end the siege on Gaza now!”

Held during peak rush hour, the banner drop was popular with the cars driving on the highway below and on the overpass above. There were exuberant honks from cars and trucks driving past, with many people waving out of their windows in the heavy traffic. Some drivers yelled “Free Palestine!” out of their cars, to cheers from the banner drop attendees. Though there were a few naysayers on the road, the supporters vastly outnumbered them.

In addition to the banner drop, some of the people gathered grabbed chalk to express their solidarity with Palestine. “Israel is a terrorist state! Stop blocking land aid to Gaza!” one large chalk message said. “Boycott Israel!” said another.

Sara Onitsuka, chair of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee and member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization stated, “Though mainstream media in the U.S. is not covering it, we have been hearing from folks on the ground in Gaza that a ground invasion of Gaza has begun. This is yet another escalation after nearly two years of Israel committing the most brutal and heinous acts of genocide.”

Onitsuka continued, “We must act now. We must keep talking about Palestine and keep it front and center in our lives.”

Chris Van Valkenberg, of Students for a Democratic Society stated, “Hearing all the honks from the cars and semi-trucks driving on the freeway below during the peak of rush hour was a constant reminder that the fight for Palestine is a working class issue. That the workers of Milwaukee know they are closer to the people of Palestine than they ever will be to the people conducting and aiding to their genocide.”

The people of Milwaukee have made it clear, time and time again, that they will keep responding and keep fighting until Palestine is free.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #MAC #SDS

Milwaukee, WI – On July 19, more than 40 people rallied alongside the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) for their third annual protest of the Milwaukee Air & Water Show.

The group gathered in the grassy area outside the Milwaukee Art Museum, a common viewing area for the show, to demand an end to the promotion of war.

Emcee Sara Kraco opened the rally remarking “The oppression of people overseas is directly tied to our oppression at home. The money being drained from community services like schools, libraries, healthcare and roads are being funneled into the military and the police instead.”

This theme continued throughout the rally as the group chanted “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!”

Speakers from organizations such as the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), and Peace Action spoke to the death and destruction that are being promoted behind the insidious illusion of a “family-friendly” event. Robby Knapp of SDS noted that “the Air & Water Show is an attempt to make war and U.S. imperialism lighthearted.” Speakers highlighted the role this propaganda plays in enticing people to join the U.S. war machine.

Connections were also made between the fight against the war machine and the struggle for immigrant rights. Speaking for MAARPR, Kayla Patterson said, “The Wisconsin National Guard launched a new propaganda campaign this year advertising a ‘path to citizenship’ for anyone and their families in exchange for military service.” She emphasized that this race-based repression makes the military a beneficiary of the recent terror against migrant communities.

Sara Onitsuka of Freedom Road Socialist Organization connected all the areas of struggle represented at the event and spoke to the importance of organization. They stated “It’s so important to make connections between the struggles, but the question is, what’s next? We need a strategy for how to win.” They further stressed the importance of a united front across movements to fight U.S. imperialism.

To close the rally, Elizabeth Bjork of MAC reminded attendees of the true purpose the planes used in the demonstration serve. They stated, “Here we have the comfort of knowing that these planes are not going to be raining bombs from the sky. Families in Palestine know that when they hear the same plane sounds that we hear now, that it means death.”

Specific reference was made to the F-35s flown by the Wisconsin Air National Guard in the Air & Water Show. These aircraft are also used by the Israeli Air Force to bomb the Palestinian people in Gaza. The F-35 is produced by Lockheed Martin and serviced by their Milwaukee-based subsidiary Derco.

The Milwaukee Anti-war Committee continues its fight against the U.S. war machine in its own backyard. As their main banner stated, “War is NOT family friendly!”

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #MAC

Milwaukee, WI – On Saturday, June 28, more than 60 people gathered at Cathedral Square Park in the light of downtown Milwaukee, to commemorate the Stonewall Uprisings and the Black Nite Brawl.

The Black Nite Brawl is a crucial piece of history from 1961, before the Stonewall Riots, where when four individuals chose to go to the Black Nite Bar with the intentions of causing trouble at the locally known gay bar. The bashers were not prepared for the pushback they were to receive. There were countless gays, lesbians and trans people ready to defend themselves, and make it clear that they were ready to fight for their right to exist. The night had quickly escalated, ending with a fight to defend the bar and its patrons.

“This act of resistance predates the more widely known Stonewall Riots and highlights the early involvement of the queer community in standing up against systemic oppression. The brawl has since become a symbol of queer struggle and solidarity, amplifying the role of intersectionality in the ongoing fight for queer liberation,” said Robby Knapp, an SDS member.

The rally featured a handful of speakers, from Students for a Democratic Society Milwaukee (SDS UWM) and the Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM), the Milwaukee Anti-War Committee (MAC), the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Endorsing groups included Hate Free Outagamie and Society of Indigenous Students @ UW-Milwaukee. Each of the speakers brought an important piece of pride and how it’s interconnected to their own work as organizers.

A member of MAC, said, “Pinkwashing ignores that both Israel and the United States are themselves violently anti-LGBTQ, as we can see with our current administration as it gleefully attempts to slash LGBTQ rights one bill after the other.” Their speech highlighted the fact that while Israel claims they care for LGBTQ people in the Middle East, the bombs they are dropping on Palestine do not discriminate for the queer people that live there.

Lauren Forbush, from RJAM stated, “Our community is still experiencing the same oppression as our predecessors. The violence hasn’t stopped. We mourn Jonathan Joss, brutally murdered – Infront of his husband. We mourn Sam Nordquist. We mourn Amyri Dior, a vibrant 23-year-old trans woman from Milwaukee, stolen from us. These are not isolated incidents. They are a part of a relentless pattern of violence targeting our trans siblings, our queer family, especially people of oppressed nations who are black and brown, and those facing economic hardship.”

RJAM and SDS UWM had four key demands: “Cops and corporations out of Pride – no more rainbow-washed oppression; Pride was born from resistance, not policing or profit! Keep gender affirming care accessible – trans healthcare is healthcare, no bans, no barriers! Protect trans youth – hands off their healthcare, sports, schools and futures! Healthcare for all! Full access to gender affirming care and trans inclusive services!”

“We cannot stop showing up. We cannot stop fighting! We may have achieved hard-won rights like gay marriage and legal protections for the LGBTQ community, but the Trump administration has proven how easily these rights can be taken away. The overturning of Roe v. Wade, attacks on trans youth, healthcare restrictions for LGBTQ+ communities; we must keep fighting and we will win!” Said Patricia Fish, chair of SDS UWM.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #LGBTQ #RJAM #Pride #SDS #MAC

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, June 15, more than 50 community members gathered at Red Arrow Park for an emergency “Hands Off Iran” rally, led by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC).

The event began with a community member proudly playing her violin before transitioning to speeches from several organizations, including the U.S. Palestinian Community Network – Milwaukee Chapter, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racism and Political Repression (MAARPR), Milwaukee 4 Yemen, and Peace Action.

Casey Serrano from MAARPR spoke to the fact that this emergency rally took place on Father's Day, a day typically reserved to honor and thank fathers for their guidance and support. They began their speech with a moment of silence to honor the children whose fathers have been killed and for the fathers whose children have been murdered by Israel – the killings bankrolled by the U.S. government.

All of the speakers were united in their demand of “Hands off Iran” and the connections of extending solidarity with Iran, just as Iran has firmly stood as an ally of Palestinian liberation. Speeches spoke of the U.S. and its allies waging war in the Middle East and the fact that Israel's most recent unprovoked attack are part of a decades-long campaign to destabilize the region.

Hayley Thomson of MAC further contextualized the role of anti-war organizers and community members alike who are living in the belly of the beast. They stated, “’Hands off Iran’ is not just about foreign policy. It is about resisting the entire system of imperialism,” pointing out that Israel's attacks on Iran are not about democracy, but about control and imperial domination in the region.

In between speeches, community members chanted “Stop the drones, stop the flames, stop this war with dirty games” and “Revolution's in the air. Iran's fight is everywhere!” The rally ended with more spirited chants, and encouragement for attendees to join MAC to expose war profiteers and to build a world without imperialist domination.

Milwaukee Anti-war Committee continues its campaign against the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council, a conglomerate of local banks, politicians, and weapons corporations.

From MKE to Palestine, end the U.S. war machine!

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Iran #MAC #USPCN

Pewaukee, WI – On the afternoon of May 13, dozens of anti-war and pro-Palestine activists held a rally outside the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council (WDIC)’s inaugural conference at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, a suburb of Milwaukee. The rally spoke out against the WDIC’s stated mission, to increase the influence of defense manufacturing in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Defense Industry Council was founded in December 2023, mere months after the genocide ramped up in Palestine – and just in time to capitalize and profit off the mass deaths of the Palestinian people. This timing has not gone unnoticed in Wisconsin.

Sabine Wolter, a Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) member who emceed the rally, started off by stating the need for a protest against the WDIC. “Right behind those hotel doors, the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council is meeting. They are working right now to expand defense spending here in Wisconsin. They want more of our tax dollars funneled into the hands of rich defense contractors – tax dollars that could have been used for essential services, like housing, healthcare and education!” Wolter declared, adding, “We are here today to tell them not in our state!”

Concurrently with the rally, five activists staged a die-in in the conference space of the Ingleside Hotel. Initially, they were planning to disrupt an afternoon panel, but they were barred from entering the session. Instead, activists pivoted and staged the die-in in the conference room foyer, while one speaker, Carson Bunker with MAC, stood and spoke on the bloody ties of the WDIC, saying, “How dare you profit off of death and destruction? Shame on you!” and “Wisconsin residents don’t want this. We didn’t ask for this!”

An estimated ten police officers were already waiting inside the conference room foyer, prepared to make arrests to escalate the non-violent protest. The protesters were able to successfully cause a disruption to the inaugural WDIC conference for about seven minutes until two activists were arrested and taken into custody.

At the word of arrests, the protesters quickly mobilized to the Waukesha Police Department where the two were being held. With their solidarity as well as a public call-in campaign, the two protesters were ticketed and eventually released, to cheers from the crowd.

The rally was called by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC), a local grassroots organization that has previously protested WDIC events and defense corporations in the area. They were joined by over a dozen other organizations, including CODEPINK Milwaukee, Green Bay Anti-war Committee, Peace Action Wisconsin, Black Alliance for Peace, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization – Wisconsin.

Throughout the rally, the spirited crowd chanted, “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!” and “WDIC is guilty!” Protesters carried flags and wore keffiyehs in support of the Palestinian people, who have been suffering under an ongoing genocide by the state of Israel since October 2023.

The WDIC tries to paint itself as serving all of Wisconsin by creating jobs and bringing more money to the state. However, working-class Wisconsinites know that the only people benefiting from the WDIC are the war profiteers at the top. As they get richer, working-class people suffer. In Milwaukee, a lead crisis threatens the public school district, and hospitals are closing every year on top of an already poor access to healthcare.

Wisconsin says no to the WDIC!

#PewaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #MAC #CodePink

Milwaukee, WI – On Monday, February 10, The Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) held a rally at the “The Calling,” commonly referred to as the Sunburst Sculpture, in downtown Milwaukee. The rally was organized to protest Trump’s recent comments on Gaza, which threatened to “empty Gaza of Palestinians” and turn Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Trump’s comments have received major pushback internationally. On a frigid evening in Milwaukee, over 60 people stood defiantly, waving Palestine flags, chanting and hearing moving speeches re-affirming that Palestine belongs to no one but Palestinians.

The emcee for the event, MAC organizer Eva Dickenson, opened up the rally with some news that dropped mere hours before the protest. Due to Israel’s ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement, the Palestinian resistance said they will delay the next round of prisoner releases scheduled for Saturday, if Israel continues to refuse to abide by the ceasefire. Though each speaker invited up had a different perspective to share, they were all united in this spirit of continued resistance and struggle inspired by the Palestinian people.

Said Kayla Kuo, also with MAC, “While Trump’s comments have evoked outrage in the U.S., we also want to draw attention to the West Bank. Israel has been increasingly escalating their attacks, in frequency and in intensity, in the occupied West Bank since the ceasefire in Gaza last month.” Kuo reminded the crowd that though Trump’s comments gained the most traction in U.S. news, we must also educate ourselves and each other on the U.S.-funded Israeli aggression in the West Bank.

Rachel Buff of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine expanded on the illegal nature of Trump’s comments, saying that Trump’s recently proposed plan for Gaza is “in violation of about every single international human rights law that there is,” as the crowd booed Trump’s ideas. Buff continued, “Let’s talk about Article 147 of the Geneva Convention, which prevents forced displacement and dispossession. Let’s talk about the UN General Assembly’s Resolution 194 in 1948, saying that Palestinians have the legal right to return.”

As the crowd listened to speeches and chanted in between, many cars passing by honked to show their support. Ihsan Atta, representing US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), remarked that it is due to the consistent efforts of people such as those in attendance that night, that awareness about Palestine has grown so significantly in Milwaukee over the last year and a half.

Catie Petralia of Freedom Road Socialist Organization elaborated further, stating, “Their resistance to colonialism is a sign that the tides are changing, the American people are waking up, and we will not stand for this any longer. The people stand united against capitalism and oppression!”

Upon assuming office, Trump began attacking oppressed people across the board, domestically and internationally. In a statement read out by the emcee, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression made connections between Palestine and the domestic threats we face at home.

Othman Atta from the Islamic Society of Milwaukee told the crowd, “Palestinians are not going to give up Gaza, Palestinians are not going to leave Gaza. Gaza belongs to Palestinians, Palestine belongs to Palestinians, the West Bank belongs to Palestinians, and Palestinians will never kneel to anyone!”

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #MAC #USPCN

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, February 9, the Immigrant Rights work team of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) led a crowd of close to 500 participants in a march through Milwaukee’s South Side, which is home to a significant immigrant population.

This march was part of the Legalization for All’s national week of action, and there was overwhelming support from participants and community members who saw or drove by the march.

Alondra Garcia, an elementary school teacher, kicked things off with recounting her experience being reprimanded by her school’s principal for supporting undocumented students and mixed status families. Julissa Velazques, outreach chair of the MAARPR, explained the connections between the struggles for immigrant rights and against police crimes, stated, “Throughout this country, our immigrant brothers and sisters are being brutalized by ICE in similar ways that our Black, brown and poor siblings are being brutalized by the police here in Milwaukee.”

The crowd marched towards a statue of César Chávez, issuing chants calling for legalization for all, an end to deportation, and solidarity. At the statue, César Hernández of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement brought highlighted the importance of immigrant rights for organized labor. The need for unions capable of fighting for immigrant workers on the shop floor will be crucial in the years to come.

Speaking on behalf of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Kayla Patterson stated, “We, as revolutionaries, work in every mass movement because the masses are the makers of history. For every attack Trump and his cabinet launch at us, we’ll strike back tenfold in the streets.” Patterson continued, “FRSO spearheaded the massive marches on the RNC and DNC, and we are building the broadest movement possible that will continue to fight this racist agenda and will bring imperialism to its knees!”

The march returned to the Mitchell Park Domes for closing remarks. Sara Onitsuka, chair of the Milwaukee Antiwar Committee, stated, “What are often viewed as issues of domestic racism and xenophobia, actually stems from the effects of the U.S. war machine and the U.S. government’s agenda abroad.”

Speaking from their family’s experience, Onitsuka recounted how during WWII, “the U.S. found an opportunity to stoke racism against Japanese Americans in order to later occupy Japan and install dozens of military facilities.”

This march is the beginning of a broader fight in Milwaukee. The people spoke out today and showed that the people of Milwaukee are here to fight back against Trump’s policies. Immigrants are welcome in Milwaukee, and the movement is building the necessary momentum to defend them.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #NAARPR #MAARPR #FRSO #MAC #Feature

Milwaukee, WI – On July 28, the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) held their second annual protest of the Milwaukee Air & Water Show. Around 70 people gathered at Cathedral Square Park, less than half a mile from Bradford Beach where the show was being held, before marching through downtown Milwaukee to the doorsteps of the show.

Anti-war and pro-Palestine protesters, environmentalists, veterans, other local organizations and neighbors joined MAC to show that the Air & Water Show is unpopular and harmful.

After opening remarks, the group took to the streets, marching near the Air & Water Show before stopping for speeches. Organizations like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at UWM, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR), and USPCN spoke about the Air Show for what it is – U.S. military propaganda falsely advertised as a “family-friendly” event, used to funnel people, often oppressed nationality people, into the U.S. war machine.

Connections between imperialism and violence at home were also highlighted – the latest example being the Air & Water Show coming just a few weeks after two people were shot and killed by police in Milwaukee.

“We understand the connections between the U.S. military and the militarization of police here,” said Sara Onitsuka, chair of MAC.

As military jets soared overhead, protesters held signs with slogans like “Those planes bomb children” Chants such as “Family friendly is a lie! Those planes are used for genocide!” echoed through downtown as cars honked and cheered in support.

After marching back to Cathedral Square Park, Audari Tamayo of Freedom Road Socialist Organization connected the Air & Water Show with violence we see abroad. They added, “What we see here with the Air & Water Show is imperialism – or capitalism in decay. It is the ruling class trying to grab at what is left of their failed system. Imperialism is the final stage of capitalism.”

This year was the second consecutive year of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee protesting the Air & Water Show.

The event came shortly after the Republican National Convention was hosted in Milwaukee, where MAC and more than 100 local and national organizations marched and protested within sight and sound of the RNC.

“Just two weeks after the RNC, we are dealing with another event that many of us did not ask for,” said Sara Onitsuka of MAC.

The city of Milwaukee continues to put profit over people, and as they do, people continue to rise up and resist. “They know we are becoming organized! That's why they shamelessly attempt to repress our movements. Despite their best efforts, they have failed. They have failed because the movement only continues to rapidly grow,” Temayo declared.

#MilwaukeeWI #MAC #SDS #MAARPR #USPCN

Milwaukee, WI – On Sunday, April 14, the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC) marched from Walker Square to Ivy House in the Walker’s Point neighborhood of Milwaukee, where local congressional Representative Gwen Moore was holding her birthday party.

The spirited crowd of about 100 supporters joined the emergency action and marched toward the Ivy House, chanting “Hands off Iran!” and “Free free Palestine!” the whole way over. Meanwhile, two MAC members mingled inside Moore’s birthday dinner. Despite the birthday party costing a pricey $100 per person to attend, serving as a fundraiser for Representative Moore, the two MAC members had secured complimentary tickets and sat patiently.

As the marching crowd slowly walked up to the building chanting, the MAC members inside the birthday dinner event stood up and challenged Moore on her position on Palestine, demanding she vote to end aid to Israel and to sign HR 3103, a bill that would limit funding to Israel. The protesters inside the birthday event were kicked out onto the street and met with cheers and applause as they joined the outdoor protest crowd.

The first speaker outside Ivy House, MAC Chair Sara Onitsuka, began to speak. They were commending the bravery of the protesters inside when a woman later identified as Representative Moore’s daughter, Jessalynne Moore, suddenly came up behind them and attempted to grab and wrestle away the microphone from Onitsuka’s hands.

The protest’s security team responded immediately, blocking Moore from stepping any closer and holding off J. Moore’s husband as well, who was shoving and threatening the security team.

The disruption failed, and the cheers and chants only grew louder as the crowd shouted, “Hands off, shame on you!” at Jessalynne Moore and her husband as they walked away.

The rally continued and the audience heard from multiple speakers from other organizations, including the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, Students for a Democratic Society at UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee 4 Yemen, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR), and Freedom Road Socialist Organization. US Palestinian Community Network also co-sponsored the event.

The speakers were united in their demand for “Hands off Iran” and in their solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. They understood that Iran’s attack on Israel was a justified response to Israel’s bombing of the Iranian Consulate in Syria weeks earlier. Iran went on record after its response to Israel, saying that the attack had concluded, and no further action would be taken unless Israel provoked them again.

Jacob Flom from Freedom Road Socialist Organization spoke to Iran’s response and the broader implications for anti-imperialist resistance, stating, “The U.S. and Israel downplay successes of the resistance. They want us to despair and see no alternative to their imperialism and genocide. But the tide is turning, and we are seeing the genocidal Israeli regime and U.S. imperialism face consequences for the decades of terror they have perpetrated.”

Alan Chavoya of MAARPR further contextualized Iranian support for Palestine. Speaking passionately, he said of the Iranian people, “There’s a couple of things that are truthful for them: their love for soccer, their incredible food, their brilliant minds, and their unconditional support for Palestine.”

As support for Israel wanes globally, countries around the world and their people continue to rise up in support of Palestine, as part of a wider struggle against Israel and U.S. imperialism. Añita Herrezuelo of Milwaukee 4 Yemen brought home this message, stating, “The decline of the U.S. empire sparks a global yearning for freedom and self-determination,” adding, “Together, we hold the power to enact change. The power lies with the people, and we will wield it in the streets until our cries are heard.”

After confronting Representative Gwen Moore, the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee and supporters are undeterred in their demands for Moore to sign bill HR 3103; an end to U.S. aid to Israel; hands off Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and for a free Palestine.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiWarMovement #International #Iran #Palestine #FRSO #MAARPR #MAC #Feature

Milwaukee, WI – On March 14, protesters rallied in front of Chancellor Mark Mone’s mansion demanding UW-Milwaukee cut ties with Israel. Despite the constant rain and cops tailing the caravan headed to the mansion, the protesters remained steadfast in their commitment to the campaign to cut ties with genocide.

The rally was hosted by Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at UWM, the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee (MAC), and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

UWM SDS’s campaign, which is sponsored by the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine, aims to cut financial ties with Israel, end study abroad trips to Israel, change the name of the Golda Meir Library, and recently, drop the charges on the Milwaukee 5. There have been consistent militant actions in the spite of the repression.

Sara Onitsuka, chair of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee and a UWM alumnus, brought attention to the connection between the ongoing SDS and MAC campaigns, stating, “I am so proud to stand here in solidarity with the student movement today, following the footsteps in the many decades-long solidarity between the student and anti-war movements.”

Astronautics, with its headquarters in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and a subsidiary in Israel, frequents UWM career fairs, but they did not present themselves at the most recent club fair, knowing they are not welcome. Onitsuka finished with a resounding chant, “From Milwaukee to Falastin, end the U.S. war machine!’’

Patricia Fish, co-chair of UWM SDS and part of the Milwaukee 5, called out Chancellor Mone, stating, “Over 30,000 Palestinians are dead. Our school is complicit! How can you not have a sense of urgency to stop a fucking genocide! UWM and Chancellor Mone are standing on the wrong side of history, and we won’t forget. If you are complicit, if you are neutral, you are guilty!”

To end, Kayla Patterson, of UWM SDS said, “I can look back on the events February 9 and laugh. One of the pigs that day covered his ears because we were chanting so loud, prompting ‘prohibited noise’ charges. We had them scrambling, and it makes it clear that the police don’t anticipate us to fight back and use our first amendment rights on campus.”

Patterson finished by saying, “We give them power when we accept their fear tactics, so we need to keep up the same energy and make them fear us instead!”

The students and community made it clear that rain or shine, on or off campus, they will stay active in the struggle to cut ties with genocide.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #StudentMovement #AntiWarMovement #International #Palestine #SDS #SDSUWM #MAC

Milwaukee, WI – To end the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine’s (WCJP) Day of Action with an exclamation point, the Milwaukee International Women’s Day Coalition convened hundreds for the celebration of this important working-class holiday.

Artists, vendors, and coalition partners showcased their work and goods inside the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s Community Center as the crowd trickled in to listen to two stellar panels of speakers.

The focus of this year’s celebration was twofold: fighting back against political repression and building a liberated future. Both themes, represented by separate panels, were unified by various threads, but the struggle for Palestinian liberation played the central bridge connecting them.

When participants in the first panel, which focused on fighting political repression, were asked about how their organizing relates to the repression that Palestinians face, they offered insightful remarks that connected the student movement, reproductive justice movement and police crimes movement with the Palestinian liberation movement.

Blake Jones, propaganda chair of Reproductive Justice Action – Milwaukee, spoke about protesting Vice President Kamala Harris when she kicked off her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour in Big Bend, Wisconsin this January. Concerned about Harris’ hypocritical tour, Jones rhetorically asked, “How can you have reproductive freedom without a free Palestine?”

The other panelists, Aurelia Ceja of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR) and the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024, Jamilah Arabiyat of Students for Justice in Palestine, and Allux Arellano-Motoxen of Students for a Democratic Society, also touched on the connections between policing in the U.S. and the Israeli occupation forces. Ceja emphasized the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) program, which as they stated, “is an exchange program between the U.S. and Israel for cross-training. They train the exact same tactics here and there. We’re facing the same kind of violence and torture by the police.”

The speakers in the second panel discussed one of the main reasons why organizers often face political repression: we are fighting for and building a liberated future. Janan Najeeb, president of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition and co-chair of the WCJP, spoke to the conditions in Palestine and the need to materially change these conditions in order for Palestine to be free.

Najeeb stated, “Liberation for Palestinians means a free Palestine. It means the liberation of my people, self-determination [and] to be able to decide their future. To live as human beings, raise their children and their families like everyone else in the world, be able to travel without restrictions, not have to go through 700 checkpoints, not to have their water controlled, not to have their schools and their medical accessibility controlled. So as a Palestinian, liberation means total liberation for my people.”

Christy Breihan of the Wisconsin Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba criticized the current contradictions with the “two-party system.” The Democratic Party’s involvement in the Palestinian genocide has stripped away the liberatory facade of the “vote blue no matter who” slogan, showing that liberation will not come simply through a vote. Breihan called out these false choices that Democrats are pushing on their constituents, stating, “the way that they’re telling us to protect reproductive rights is by voting for a president that sends bombs that murder women and children in Palestine. That’s the tradeoff I have to make, because genocide Joe will not be as bad as the racist, xenophobic, misogynist, other guy? That’s the recommendation about how women in the U.S. should liberate ourselves? I say that’s crap!”

Sara Onitsuka, chair of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee, also spoke to the internationalism necessary for building a liberated future. As Onitsuka explained, there is a significant hypocrisy when advocates of the U.S. war machine justify imperialist domination by claiming to defend the rights of women.

Onitsuka stated, “Protecting women is also often used as an excuse for the U.S. to get involved in stuff abroad and invade countries. It’s been called pink washing and purple washing specifically for women, but that’s a huge issue that we need to be fighting against here. It’s really kind of ironic considering that we’ve overturned Roe v. Wade here, there are many transphobic laws that are being passed all across the country, and somehow the U.S still sees itself as a moral beacon of the world, to be spreading freedom around the world, but they’re using that as an excuse.”

As the movement for women’s liberation unfolds abroad, we must establish those firm connections with the movement inside the U.S. itself. Lo Cross, co-chair of the MAARPR and member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, provided this framework by emphasizing the need to put an end to police crimes in order to build a liberated future. Cross stated, “When we’re thinking about liberation, Black liberation, Palestinian liberation, we need to fight oppression in all forms it takes. Whether that’s misogynist violence in the workplace, attacks on people because of their gender in the community, or police crimes. [When] we talk about getting justice for victims of police crimes, we’re not just talking about George Floyd, we’re talking about Breonna Taylor, we’re talking about Ta’Kiya Young, a pregnant woman murdered by police, we’re talking about Maya Hall, a trans woman murdered by police, and we need to unite with everyone we can.”

The Milwaukee International Women’s Day Coalition’s third annual celebration showcased the ongoing struggles that various organizations are leading in Milwaukee to end gender-based oppression. It also demonstrated that through these incredible organizations the liberated future we all fight for is bright! Long live international solidarity!

#MilwaukeeWI #WomensMovement #InternationalWomensDay #MAC #RJAM #MAARPR #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #AntiWarMovement #ReproductiveRights