Madison, WI – On Tuesday, January 27, over 1000 students from UW-Madison and the surrounding area joined Madison Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) to protest the murders of Alex Pretti, Renee Good and Keith Porter by ICE agents. Students rallied for ICE out of the Midwest and demanded that UW-Madison be made a sanctuary campus.

Protesters filled Madison’s Library Mall in -10 degree wind chill, chanting “ICE ICE will be beat, when the people hit the street!” as they settled in to hear the first speech of the night from Jewish voices for Peace on the importance of Holocaust Remembrance Day and the parallels with current ICE operations. Then there was a moment of silence to commemorate the victims of ICE.

After the moment of silence were chants from the crowd, calling for “Justice for Keith Porter! Justice for Renee Good! Justice for Alex Pretti!” The explosive energy from the crowd was emblematic of a large portion of the student body, whose calls for the abolition of ICE have been heard throughout the week.

In the final speech of the night, Luca Motivala, co-chair of Madison SDS, closed his speech with the remark, “We will not forget those they murdered, those who will be murdered, the faces and names and memories will live on eternally. We will neither forgive nor forget those who perpetrated this violence; they believe they are invincible, untouchable. It will not be that way. Their day will come!”

Students ended the rally with calls to “Shut it down” if UW-Madison administration did not implement sanctuary campus policies.

#MadisonWI #WI #ImmigrantRights #ICE #KillerICE #AlexPRetti #SDS #StudentMovement #Feature

Madison, WI – As part of a Global Weekend of Action called by the BDS Movement, a contingent of about 40 peace activists led by World Beyond War-UW, including the newly formed Students for a Democratic Society-UW Madison chapter, community members and religious organizations, followed by Madison Area DSA, made the cause of Palestine impossible to ignore at the city's 48th annual Willy Street Fair, September 21.

As is tradition for the second day of the festival, a parade kicked off from the 900 block of Williamson Street, set to march about six blocks through the historic Williamson-Marquette neighborhood. Front and center, behind the sponsors, the beloved “Bubblemobile” coughed large clumps of bubbles into the air and immediately the chanting began.

In a typically light-hearted and proudly “weird” environment like the Willy Street Fair, chants of “From the river to the sea,” and “Stand up, fight back” echoed between the homes and small businesses. Ensuring that no fair-goer forget that while their funnel cakes fry, children are dying in Palestine. Not only from starvation, but from weapons provided by the U.S. government.

Later in the day, as part of the same BDS Movement call to action, World Beyond War-UW led a significantly longer walk, with 20 or so people carrying signs and banners around the entirety of Lake Monona, a 12-mile journey, to continue bringing attention to American complicity in Israel's crimes.

#MadisonWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #BDS #StudentMovement #SDS

Madison, WI – On January 18, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM) stood at the forefront of the fight for reproductive freedom, participating in two powerful marches held simultaneously in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These events were part of the People’s March National Day of Action, which drew thousands to the streets, united in their support of women’s and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, workers’ rights, global solidarity, and immigrant rights.

In Milwaukee, protesters filled the streets with chants and signs, calling for unrestricted access to abortion and an end to political interference in personal health decisions. Similarly, 75 miles to the west in Madison, marchers braved the cold to make their voices heard at the state capitol. Both events highlighted the growing outrage with the policies of the Trump administration, which many fear will intensify repression and further erode reproductive rights.

RJAM’s speakers at both events underscored the need for grassroots action, emphasizing that politicians regardless of party, cannot be trusted to protect abortion access.

“Both parties have let us down. That’s why our fight isn’t about relying on politicians – it’s about building a movement that puts power back in the hands of the people,” said Carly Klein, a founding member of Reproductive Justice Action- Milwaukee, to a crowd of 300 in Milwaukee.

“We are prepared to fight, not just for the next four years, but for as long as it takes. Because this isn’t just about one administration. It’s about building a society rooted in justice, sustainability and liberation for all of us,” stated Blake Jones, to the crowd of the hundreds of people who flooded the capitol building in Madison.

The marches were a resounding call to action, for attendees to mobilize further than just voting or attending protests. As threats to abortion access grow under the current political climate, RJAM and their allies are doubling down on their commitment to grassroots organizing, ensuring that the movement for reproductive rights remains strong and resilient in the face of mounting challenges.

The events in Milwaukee and Madison were a testament to the power of collective action, with hundreds of voices uniting to demand a future where reproductive freedom is non-negotiable.

#MadisonWI #WI #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #RJAM #PeoplesMarch #LGBTQ #Trump

Madison, WI – In a show of student power, nearly 50 protesters marched into the UW board of regents meeting Thursday, December 5, to put Palestine and divestment on the Finance Committee agenda.

This latest militant action comes after a large-scale administration failure to uphold the Madison and Milwaukee encampment agreements on disclosure and divestment from apartheid Israel.

Despite the freezing temperatures, the students opened with a rally outside the event hall. During the rally, SDS and Freedom Road Socialist Organization member Kayla Patterson told the crowd, “The simple truth is that the board of regents stands on the wrong side of history. 13% of the over $1 billion in ‘UW managed funds’ is hidden from the public, hidden from the students that make up these campuses. But the UW system’s investments in crooked companies like Palantir, Lockheed Martin and Mizrahi Tefahot Bank are no secret. Those in power at our universities choose to represent the ruling class and their bank accounts over real human lives under siege in Palestine.”

Shortly after the “Business and Finance” portion of the meeting began, protesters moved inside to occupy the room with signs and banners. After a few minutes, Gabo Samoff of Madison Young Democratic Socialists stood at the front of the room and confronted the board for its refusal to divest from genocide and its failure to deliver after promising transparency.

Once Samoff began speaking, the meeting facilitator, Regent Ashok Rai, turned off the meeting’s recording to prevent the student’s statement from being on file. Samoff said, “We will not accept this total lack of transparency and lack of willingness to even listen to students.” Campus administrators quickly tried to silence the students, calling in police reinforcements, but it was in vain. The students refused to allow business as usual and began chanting “Free free Palestine!” while police tried to shove and drag them out of the room.

UW-Madison police descended on the crowd to push and grab people indiscriminately. Many were simply holding signs when cops wrongfully detained them, with one student even being dragged out by their neck. The disruption continued throughout these police assaults, and students began chanting “We won’t leave!”, refusing to be silenced by the police. Once detained, protesters showed their resolve further during police processing, stomping and chanting “Palestine is our fight! Students of the world unite!”. Defiantly, the students disrupted the meeting for 30 minutes.

In total, 19 were arrested from both the Madison and Milwaukee campuses for showing solidarity with Palestine. Many students were released with bruises and even bleeding from the zip ties. The police repression couldn’t shake the students from their cause.

Organizations coordinating the action involved the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Young Democratic Socialists (YDSA) at UW-Milwaukee, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and YDSA at UW-Madison, and Freedom Road Socialist Organization-Wisconsin.

After demanding the police release all the arrested activists, the crowd outside celebrated as each protester was released one by one. Milwaukee student organizer Cedar Lehman best summed up the energy post-action, stating, “Despite mounting political repression, we came to show the board of regents that no matter where in Wisconsin they hold their meetings, business as usual will not continue while they maintain their policy of 'neutrality’ toward genocide. We refuse to be intimidated by the administration's crooked cops that treat protest as justification for abusing and injuring their own students and community members.”

#MadisonWI #WI #StudentMovement #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #SDS #YDSA #SJP #FRSO #Feature

The choice activists were there to oppose an anti-abortion referendum being added to Wisconsin’s April 2024 election ballot. The referendum would ban abortion six weeks earlier than the current state statute, making accessing abortion services even more challenging in the state.

Those who attended in opposition to Assembly Bill 975 were met with the harsh reality of the political climate in Wisconsin. The public hearing felt more like a reality TV show than legal proceedings. Representative Amanda Nedeweski, a co-author of the 14-week abortion ban started the hearing with her testimony, where she stated, “I’m not going to debate the science of biology here but as a mother…I have a really hard time believing that somebody who doesn’t know they’re pregnant at 14 weeks wants to know. Maybe they just don’t want to know.”

Nedeweski was supported by most of the members of the committee and the anti-abortion community members in the crowd who called those speaking out about the bill “murderers” and “heartless.” At one point in the meeting Representative David Murphy referred to an activist, from Pro-Life Wisconsin, as his “friend” and Representative Gae Dresser put her palms together as if she was praying, while a community member read verses from the Bible.

Pro-choice activists continued to testify despite the grossly apparent biases of the committee.

“We believe it is our responsibility to hold politicians accountable when they are making choices that are harmful to the community and that is why I stand before you today,” said Carly Klein, outreach co-chair from Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee (RJAM). “Even with abortion being legal again in our state, people are still being forced to carry out pregnancies due to the barriers of cost, mandatory waiting periods, and lack of access in rural communities.”

Klein encouraged committee members to, “be on the right side of history,” and to not only oppose the proposed bill but to vote in favor of the Reproductive Freedom Act (RFA), a grouping of assembly bills that would expand abortion access for Wisconsinites. Klein ended her testimony by informing the committee members, “We will be reaching out to each of you personally to discuss your support of the RFA,” letting the politicians know that they were ready to apply pressure.

“I believe that pregnancy should always be voluntary, that pregnant people should have access to safe and compassionate medical care, and that the government should not legislate the conditions under which pregnant people are allowed to access that care,” said Caitlin Benedetto, from Madison Abortion and Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare (MARRCH). “People feel we are going backward. They feel angry and dehumanized. I feel dehumanized, too.”

Benedetto ended her testimony by saying, “Please do not pass this bill. Please listen to the testimony of those here today who tell you that we do not want further restrictions on medical freedom and bodily autonomy. Please trust us to make our own choices about our health, our families, and our bodies.”

The public hearing concluded with the committee scheduling a vote for the following day, where the assembly bill passed by two votes. It will move on to the Committee on Rules.

Milwaukee and Madison-based organizers in RJAM and MARRCH are not ready to give up any time soon. They have combined efforts in their Beyond Roe campaign and plan to take the struggle statewide as they fight the uphill battle for unrestricted abortion access in Wisconsin.

They are currently gathering signatures for their statewide petition that demands no mandatory waiting periods for abortion services, access for rural communities, and access through telehealth services. Join the fight for abortion access by signing their petition here: bit.ly/thepetitionwi

#MadisonWI #WomensMovement #ReproductiveRights #RJAM #MARRCH

Madison, WI – On December 17, a crowd of 50 people marched around the State Capitol building to denounce “pinkwashing” and Democratic Party politicians using the LGBTQ+ community to justify genocide.

The action was organized by the Trans Resistance Action Committee (TRAC), a newer grassroots community organization in Madison which fights for trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people’s rights.

Pinkwashing is the attempt to pander to the LGBTQ+ community by promoting something as “gay-friendly” or progressive. In this instance, Democrats are claiming that Palestinians are homophobic or otherwise unfriendly to the LGBTQ+ community and that Israel is a safe haven for the queer community. Democrats suggesting that they support Israel because it's LGBTQ-friendly is a flimsy attempt to hide its oppression of Palestinians. Israel only recognizes gay marriage if performed outside of its borders. The repeated war crimes against Palestinian civilians are proof that human rights are not a priority for Israel; this includes human rights for the queer community or any other group.

The march began on the steps of the State Capitol, near where U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has an office, with TRAC member Zade Dallman giving opening statements, saying they will not let Democratic politicians “use the queer community to justify the heinous actions of Israel. There is no safe haven on the mass graves of children!”

In conjunction with members of Madison East for Palestine, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and the Milwaukee Anti-War Committee (MAC), the march then stopped in front of the Democratic Party’s office to hear additional speeches.

“Our politicians attack the LGBTQ+ community here in the U.S. while using our identities as tools to oppress and dehumanize people around the world,” Wolter said.

Recent hearings in the Wisconsin State Capitol building have centered on banning transgender athletes from participating in and competing in sports both at the K-12 and collegiate levels, and on banning minors from receiving gender-affirming care of any kind. The overwhelming negative response of the queer community to these bans and its continued support of the movement for Palestinian liberation is a testament to the queer community's understanding that only solidarity can bring liberation.

The LGBTQ+ community of Wisconsin made it clear that they will not be used as a reason to support a racist apartheid government in Palestine.

#MadisonWI #International #Palestine #LGBTQ

Madison, WI – 6000 people answered the call of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine (WCJP) to go all out on December 9. The action marks the largest demonstration of solidarity with Palestine in the history of the state, passing the mark set only several weeks early at an action in Milwaukee.

The WCJP comprises 60-plus organizations from across Wisconsin and continues to grow nearly every day.

The action began with a mass rally on the steps of the state capitol. Organizations tabled before attendees flocked up the steps to hear opening remarks from Janan Najeeb, the head of WCJP and a leader of the Milwaukee Muslim Women’s Coalition. After Najeeb’s remarks, the crowd was treated to performances which included poetry recitations.

Thousands then took the streets, marching behind a large truck with giant speakers and with pro-Palestine video messages playing on the sides. The people chanted things like “From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever!” and “In our millions and our billions, we are all Palestinian!” Palestinian flags and signs calling for a free Palestine and an end to U.S. aid to Israel were prevalent.

Sabine Wolter, the finance chair of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee, talked about the pinkwashing of genocide by the U.S. and Israel, saying it was “unacceptable, and members of the LGBTQ+ community here in the U.S. must stand with our queer and trans Palestinian comrades and fight for an end to the Zionist occupation so that they are able to fully engage in the fight for queer and trans liberation.” Wolter added, “The oppression of the Palestinian people and the LGBTQ+ community are intertwined and inseparable. Queer and trans Palestinians won't be free until all Palestinians are able to return to their land and Palestine is free, from the river to the sea.”

Speakers from other organizations spoke over the course of the event, including Jenan Najeeb, representing the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine as a whole; Rory Donovan, representing Wisconsin Labor for Palestine, and Sarah Wunderlich from the Oneida Nation, among others.

“So when politicians fucking fail us let’s do our jobs and fight for ourselves. Let's do our jobs, as people in solidarity with one another, and continue to raise consciousness in the streets, and through our struggle in order to build a movement that will not tire, that will not waiver, until Palestine is free!” said Lo Cross, the co-chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression.

Cross continued, “As oppressed people with revolutionary optimism, we should not forget that it is through our struggle, through our fight, that progress can exist. Whether that’s to end immigration detention, ending police crimes or liberating Palestine from Zionist oppression, we can do it and we will, our struggle willing, within our lifetime!”

#MadisonWI #International #Palestine #AntiWar #MAC #NAARPR #Feature

Madison, WI – On Monday, November 6, a group of 100 people gathered at the intersection of South Butler and King Streets in Madison to demand that U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin vote against U.S. aid for Israel’s brutal attack on Gaza, stop taking money from pro-Israel lobbyists, and end U.S. financial support for the military detention of Palestinian children.

Despite supposedly being a “progressive” politician and previously promising that she would “strengthen the essential pillars of economic security for working families,” Baldwin has called for additional funding to be provided to Israel, which is currently committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed over the last month, as Israel bombs mosques, hospitals, schools and refugee camps ruthlessly and shuts off their access to the world.

Additionally, Baldwin has received $422,990 in lobbying funds by pro-Israeli organizations – more than even Ron Johnson, the Republican U.S. senator from Wisconsin. As Baldwin rakes in money for her support for Israel, working-class families in Wisconsin are seeing none of the economic security that she initially promised.

The rally was organized by the Milwaukee Anti-War Committee (MAC) in collaboration with Jewish Voice for Peace Milwaukee (JVP-Milwaukee), Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Students for Justice in Palestine at UW Madison, Students for a Democratic Society at UW Milwaukee (SDS-UWM), and Project ReCo.

Protesters gathered at the small park on the corner of the intersection. After hearing a few speeches from participating organizations at the park, the crowd walked a short distance to Baldwin’s condominium, carrying signs with messages such as “Shame on you Baldwin!” and “Baldwin has blood on her hands!”, and chanting, “Baldwin, Baldwin, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide!” Once at her condominium, they stopped to chant again and hear more speeches. At multiple points, residents of the condo and neighboring apartments stepped outside to see what was going on below.

The crowd was loud and united in their condemnation of Tammy Baldwin’s support for Israel, and the speakers re-iterated Baldwin’s utter hypocrisy.

“While Senator Tammy Baldwin sleeps in comfort, the people of Gaza have had more than 25,000 tons of explosions dropped on them. As a Jew, I decry Senator Baldwin for weaponizing Jewish grief to dehumanize Palestinians,” said Jodi Melamed of JVP-Milwaukee.

“A student at UW-Milwaukee lost 50 members of their family in the bombing of a residential building. 50 members. How can government officials like Tammy Baldwin sit idly by and even support the crimes against humanity Israel is committing?” asked Patricia Fish of SDS-UWM. “How can you, Tammy Baldwin, accept over $400,000 of pro-Israel lobbying money when one Palestinian child is murdered every 15 minutes by Israel?”

Across the country, residents of the U.S. are standing up to elected officials over their support for the genocidal regime of Israel.

“We demand Tammy Baldwin stops being so cowardly, and for her to stand up to the Biden administration on behalf of her constituents. And if she doesn’t she can expect to see us again real soon,” said Sam Charnon from MAC.

The people of Madison and Milwaukee are clear in their demands. They will keep showing up so long as their tax dollars are used to fund genocide, and until Palestine is free.

#MadisonWI #Palestine #AntiWar #MAC #JVP #SDS #FRSO #MAARPR

Madison, WI – On November 6, nearly 80 students and community members gathered outside Shannon Hall on the University of Wisconsin (UW) campus to protest the reactionary Ben Shapiro's visit. The focus of the protest was squarely on Palestine and on trans rights, both issues which Shapiro has disgusting views on and both topics which the university and the Wisconsin state government have a checkered record on.

The crowd chanted “Free, free Palestine” and “When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” Several speeches from the host organizations were sprinkled in between the chants. A key point in the speech made by Zade Dallman of the Trans Resistance Action Committee was to point of the hypocrisy of UW administration.

“Tell me, what is welcoming about letting someone who has openly and proudly supported the genocide of the Palestinian people? What is inclusive about a campus community that allows someone who actively aims to invalidate and attack the trans community?” Dallman queried. “What kind of message is the university sending when they allow someone with such hateful views to speak and spread his bigotry which in turn directly contributes to the formation of discriminatory laws and bans that inflict further harm onto already vulnerable communities, as well as also encouraging physical violence against them?”

Dallman concluded, “This is our city, our campus, and our community and we are saying no to their hate! We are strong, we are resilient, and like we have always done, we will persevere. Their hate may burn hot but it burns quick. They will eventually fade away and when that happens, we will still be here, standing strong and standing together ready to replace them.”

While the rally was going on outside, a contingent of students representing both Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at UW and the UW-Milwaukee branch of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), in addition to a few community members, infiltrated the event. While Shapiro spoke, they held up their hands which were painted red to represent the Palestinian blood on the hands of Shapiro and the UW administration.

“Providing a platform to a racist like Ben Shapiro to spread hatred and bigotry directly contributes to a rise in things like homophobia, transphobia and Islamophobia,” said Patricia Fish of UWM SDS, one of the students who went inside the event, in comments made afterward. “And those ideas lead people to take violent actions, such as we've seen with the many mass shootings which target trans and other queer people and also the brutal stabbing death of the baby Palestinian boy in Illinois. UW should be ashamed!”

UW Dean of Students Christina Olstad told the crowd at the start of the speaking event that anyone who attempted to disrupt the racist Shapiro from speaking would be dealt with “swiftly and severely.” As a result, the nearly 20 protesters were constantly threatened with arrest throughout the speaking engagement despite simply standing with their hands raised. When the speaking concluded, the protesters began chanting as they filed out of the space.

The rally outside was organized by the UW Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and co-hosted by the Trans Resistance Action Committee (TRAC). A follow-up campus action for Palestine is being planned for November 9 in alignment with the National Day of Action being hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine and others.

#MadisonWI #Palestine #LGBTQ #BenShapiro #SDS #SJP #TRAC

Madison, WI – On October 27, nearly 300 protesters gathered in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol building for an emergency rally following the destruction of all communication networks in Gaza by Israel and the announcement of Israeli ground invasions of Palestine.

The emergency protest was called for by a Palestinian international student. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at the University of Wisconsin heeded the call for protest and helped to organize the march.

“There are over 7000 people confirmed dead, however, there are thousands and thousands under the rubble who are not saved yet and most probably, most of them are dead,” said an event participant. “My partner, his parents and siblings they’re in Gaza right now, and every night they call him and they tell him this is the worst night. Every night they tell him, ‘This is the most horrifying night.’”

The day before the protest, on October 26, the Palestinian Health Ministry released a list of 6474 people who have been killed by Israel’s bombardment. This list included the name, age, gender, and ID numbers of those confirmed dead in Gaza. These numbers however, do not include those unidentified and those still stuck under the rubble.

“The end of the occupation means Palestinians have human dignity. The best solution would be the liberation of Palestine. From the river to the sea, call it Palestine. We have complete authority, we have complete autonomy, we have complete control on our land,” said an event participant.

#MadisonWI #FreePalestine #SJP #UniversityofWisconsin

Madison, WI – On Tuesday, October 10, nearly 100 concerned Wisconsinites came together in Madison, joining Wisdom Wisconsin, a non-profit organization bridging the faith community with prison reform efforts, in order to demand an end to inhumane lockdowns that have been enforced in correctional facilities across the entire state.

National attention has focused on the deplorable conditions inside the Waupun Correctional Institution, which has had two deaths since a lockdown began in March. During the lockdown, the incarcerated population has been locked inside their cells for 23 to 24 hours per day, in-person visitations have been canceled, and showers have been reduced to one per week.

Pastor Joseph Jackson of Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) said, “The conditions inside the jails and prisons in the state are immoral, inhumane, unjust and unacceptable.”

The people incarcerated inside correctional facilities across Wisconsin are demanding improved conditions, such as a minimum of one hour per day for recreational activities, two free phone calls separate from the one hour for recreation, video calls, in-person visitations, restored access to libraries, and a minimum of three showers per week.

Eugene Nelson of Project Return, an organization addressing the high rate of recidivism in Milwaukee, spoke about the need to end “crimeless revocation” of probation. As Nelson said, “They tried to send me back to prison for cutting hair. I received my state certification in barbering and cosmetology at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.” Crimeless revocation is one of the main driving forces behind the increased incarceration rates in Wisconsin.

Many of the speakers challenged elected officials to take action on these demands and pass legislation that would prevent further deaths inside prisons and jails and treat the people housed in the facilities with dignity. After the press conference, many in attendance split by districts in order to speak with their assigned representatives. Members of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression accompanied Kerrie Hirte, mother of Cilivea Thyrion who died inside the Milwaukee County Jail, to speak with the office of Michael Shraa, chair of the Committee on Corrections.

The particular conditions inside the Milwaukee County Jail are part of a more general trend across the state, and elected officials must take action. Hirte lost her only child, and there were many others in attendance at the event who have also lost or feared losing a loved one currently in the system. The conditions in Waupun, Green Bay, and Milwaukee aren’t the result of staffing issues or budgeting shortages. The narratives elected officials promote around staffing shortages in jails and prisons and crime obfuscate how the decades of increased public spending on law enforcement and corrections have diminished public services that could actually keep people out of these institutions. As the people in attendance at the event explained, elected officials need to get creative in how they respond to these issues rather than simply throw more money at the problem.

#MadisonWI #PoliceBrutality #Incarceration #ProjectReturn #MAARPR

Madison, WI – On Saturday, September 23, activists and allies from the Trans Resistance Action Committee (TRAC) demonstrated outside the Capitol building in Madison to demand that Dane County drop the Dean Health insurance plan.

Dean Health is an affiliate of SSM Health, a Catholic, not-for-profit health system. SSM Health stopped providing gender-affirming surgeries at its Aesthetics Center in Middleton, Wisconsin in July. This came after increasing pressure from the Catholic Church for Catholic health care organizations to stop providing gender-affirming care to transgender people. This move is part of a continued increase in anti-trans legislation, rhetoric and policy across the United States.

Logan Bitz, a founding member of TRAC and co-organizer of the rally, said, “I’m trans and I had gender-affirming surgery at the Aesthetics Center before they discontinued treatments. The obscene medical hurdles I’ve faced have always left me irate for everyone else who needs access to this kind of care. It’s always been my hope that things will only continue to get easier for others than it was for me, but the SSM decision is a perfect example that that’s not where things are heading.”

The chants, speeches and signs of TRAC activists got the attention of hundreds of people who were walking around Capitol square for the weekly Dane County Farmers Market.

TRAC is a grassroots organization that was founded to advocate for trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people’s rights in the Madison area. Cae Dallman, an organizer with and founder of TRAC, spoke about the demand for Dane County to drop SSM: “This summer, Dane County became a transgender sanctuary. Dumping SSM Health as a result of their bigoted decision to stop providing gender-affirming care would demonstrate that this resolution wasn’t just words on paper.”

#MadisonWI #SSMHealth #TransRights #GenderAffirmingCare

Madison, WI – On August 19, more than 60 people rallied and marched during the weekly Dane County Farmers Market to demand that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put an end to Line 5. The DNR holds the authority to approve or deny the permit that Enbridge, the Canada-based corporation that owns the pipeline, needs in order to continue its operations in the state. The actions were organized by students and youth with Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE) and drew support from many organizations and community members.

“We’re so excited to have so many people out here to show support for the Bad River Band of the Greater Chippewa Indians to urge the DNR to shut down the Line 5 pipeline,” said Marco Marquez, the Program Manager for Wisconsin ACE.

After the rally at the market, the assembled crowd marched around the State Capitol building before breaking away and heading to the state offices of the DNR to deliver a petition for them to deny the permits to Enbridge for their Line 5 pipeline.

“I’m 16 and I can't remember a time when I wasn't involved in the pipeline fight. I was 11 running around at camps in northern Minnesota where we were there to protest Line 3. I visited communities in the Dakotas that were impacted by the Dakota Access Pipeline,” said Xanthi Salman, a student leader with ACE Madison and a member of the Dane County Youth Environmental Committee. “After fighting pipelines for so long I’m very aware of and absolutely enraged by [these corporations] disregarding frontline communities. And now the pattern is repeating itself in our state with the Line 5 pipeline.”

Line 5 transports millions of gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids from Superior, Wisconsin to a refinery in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. The pipeline cuts through the heart of the Bad River Reservation, the home of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and then runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac, the waterway that serves as the dividing line between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Built in 1953, the 70-year old pipeline has spilled more than 1 million gallons of crude oil over its lifetime.

The struggle over Line 5 has been decades in the making, led primarily by members of the Bad River Band. A watershed moment occurred in 2013 when many of the legal agreements that allowed Enbridge to operate their pipeline on the reservation land expired. The tribe moved at once to expel the corporation from their lands in order to protect their cultural and natural resources, but early negotiations went nowhere.

The Bad River Band ultimately passed a resolution not only to remove the pipeline from their lands but from the entire watershed. Enbridge proceeded to disregard the wishes of the tribe in spite of the expiration of the easements which allowed them to operate on their land, and so the struggle went to the courts. In June 2023, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled in favor of the Bad River Band, stating that Enbridge needs to shut down the segment of their pipeline that runs through the reservation within three years and to pay the tribe $5 million. However, Enbridge filed an appeal on June 30 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. While the legal battle carries on, the movement in communities across Wisconsin is beginning to pick up.

#MadisonWI #EnvironmentalJustice #line5

Madison, WI – On July 29, members of the OPEIU Local 39 took to the streets once again to demand a better contract from their employer TruStage, formerly known as Cuna Mutual Group.

The union conducted a strike in May after TruStage refused to bargain in good faith and retaliated against the union by illegally terminating their chief steward, Joe Evica, who is still waiting for review of the unfair labor practice charge that was filed in response to his termination.

The strike proved effective, as TruStage returned to the bargaining table in the middle of the strike and started bargaining again. Hopeful that this meant the end of their almost 500-day struggle for a new agreement, the members of Local 39 returned to work. However, as soon as they returned, TruStage canceled the next two bargaining sessions and refused to move on the significant priorities that the union proposed. The company continued threatening to cut pensions for new hires, offering wages that are far below inflation, and salary ranges that haven’t kept up with inflation for 20 years.

“I believe they were trying to demoralize us,” said Liz Kidder, one of those that spoke at the rally. Kidder is a senior claims professional at TruStage and an OPEIU Local 39 member. “They have lied, they have tried to intimidate us, and they have retaliated against us. It didn’t work. We are still here, and we are still fighting, and we are going to get what we deserve and that’s a fair contract.”

The rally took place in the heart of Madison. Marching towards the State Capitol building, the union members and their supporters raised their voices proudly, making their way around Capitol Square. Accompanied by the Forward Marching Band, a community-based and democratic 30-piece activist street band, they garnered attention from the hundreds of people attending the farmers market that morning.

After a few laps around Capitol Square, the march ended at the steps of the Capitol building, where various speakers from the union itself as well as from around the community spoke and stood in solidarity with the workers.

Among the many speakers was the daughter of a Local 39 member, Lilly Anderson, who is in seventh grade. She talked about her perspective as a family member of one of the union members. Her father, Mark Anderson, is a software engineer at TruStage and has been very active in the fight for a better contract, causing him to be busy most Saturday mornings and even weeknights. Anderson talked about how she missed spending time with her dad and how frustrated she was when time and time again she would come home from school and there would still be no new updates about the struggle.

She also commented on how during the strike, though her family was able to get by financially, with her mother taking on a full-time job, there were others who were not so fortunate. “During the strike I heard about other families that don’t have enough money for food. It should have never gotten to the point where people had to make a choice between food and getting treated fairly. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with respect, everyone.” Then she called on TruStage to, “be fair. These are people’s lives here, it's not just about profit.”

Mike Jones, president of the Educators Chapter of the Madison Teachers Incorporated (MTI), a union representing more than 3000 members across three bargaining groups, spoke about how even though his union is considered a public sector and Local 39 is considered private, they are one in the same. They fight for the same things and should always be there to support each other when the time comes.

“As employees and members, you have stood and come through for your community time and time again. You are one of the reasons why my unit and our employees were able to get our cost of living adjusted, because you showed up with the community to support educators in Madison. It is high time that our community shows up and supports you for your fight for what’s right,” said Jones.

Representatives from Voces de la Frontera, who advocate for immigrant workers’ rights in Madison, were also present standing in solidarity with OPEIU as well delivering speeches at the rally.

One of them, Stephanie Salgado Altamirano, said, “It is important that the Madison community sees labor practices or people defending the workers’ rights because we have not seen this much outrage for a company that we pass by every day on Mineral Point. I think that this should not be normalized but instead sensationalized even more and further out so we can be loud and speak louder. Unionizing is something that not a lot of people have knowledge on, but if we see others and how they do it you can definitely learn from them.”

Another representative of Voces de la Frontera, said in her speech during the rally, “We will keep fighting for what is best no matter how many times they change their names. We will not stop marching, not stop organizing, not stop mobilizing. Through our collective work and showing up through compassion and kindness; through our solidarity, through the intersectionality of our work, we will not be divided. Together we will overcome, thanks to you all – the workers, union leaders, allies and families who keep the workers united and fighting against unfair labor practices.”

OPEIU Local 39 has set up a strike fund to help raise additional funds for a potential future strike, so that members don’t feel pressured to cross the picket line for financial reasons even if they support the union. The community can support them by donating to this fund which can be found on their various social media pages as well as sharing Local 39’s story on social media.

For those in the community who belong to credit unions there are also ways to help support there as well. Most credit unions use TruStage products and services (group life insurance, short term disability, etc.) so another way to support the Local 39 struggle would be to reach out to your credit union. Whether you happen to be using those or are offered those services you can ask for the TruStage sales representative at your credit union and tell them that you refuse to use or buy any TruStage products until they start bargaining in good faith with their workforce.

“We know our destinies are interlinked with each other. So, solidarity today, solidarity tomorrow, and solidarity forever,” said Mike Jones of MTI.

#MadisonWI #OPEIU

“We have called the board, sent letters, we have done rallies like this one at board meetings; we feel like we are doing something then we keep getting shut down. The morale for our unit is getting bad because we don’t feel like they value our positions as custodial even though we are the ones that make sure the buildings are safe to go into and are ready for use anytime of the year,” said Norma Vela, a custodian from West High and the secretary of AFSCME Local 60.

Vela continued, “If there was an emergency in our building, we are the ones that must come and clean it up. If there is a break in, we are expected to go and investigate what happened, not security, because we are the ones that maintain and secure the buildings.”

Bryan Lynaugh, another custodial worker in attendance, recounted that one winter, around 6 p.m., the power went out at his school. One custodial worker had to stay until nearly 2 a.m. when Lynaugh came in to relieve him. The power didn’t come back on till about 8 a.m., leaving Lynaugh to wait all that time in a building with no heat. The custodial department is the only department that, if any weather-related event closes schools, are still required to attend work.

When COVID shut everything down, the custodians were there every day making sure the buildings were sanitized so that kids could continue learning in a clean and safe environment. They were the ones cleaning up the COVID clinics, the nurse’s office, and decontaminating and sanitizing rooms after someone got COVID. When raises were being given out to the employees considered the “frontline” of COVID, they were passed over.

Custodians and trade workers – employees with a particular skill set, like electricians, carpentry, plumbing, or painting – have had to continuously work overtime to accommodate the massive staff shortages. With about a million dollars made in overtime this year, the district saw the highest year of custodial overtime to date. Not only are they having to pull staff from other schools to help get the work done, but they are struggling to attract new hires that would help alleviate the immense workload that they are expected to complete every day.

Another reason the gaps are not being filled is that the hiring process is too long for any applicants to get hired. They would conduct interviews and then expect applicants to wait three months to even offer the positions. By that time most would have already accepted jobs elsewhere, leaving the district back at square one.

Custodians work themselves to the bone to try and complete their work, resulting in a high number of burn outs, injuries and workers comp claims. One worker in attendance, Tina Mourna, said she developed carpal tunnel from her work. Another custodian in attendance said that one summer she consistently worked 12-hour days, resulting in her getting so burnt out that she got physically sick.

“The bottom line is students cannot learn without the lights working, cannot learn if the room is not properly sanitized or clean, they cannot learn if the school lacks safety or prevented routine maintenance, and they cannot learn and focus if there is no heat in the building,” said Travis Thomas, treasurer of AFSCME Local 65.

Christina Morna, a building custodian 2 at East High School and a substitute teacher in the Monona School District, remarked during the meeting on how she has had to work two jobs to afford to support herself and her two sons. “There are days where I work 16 hours: eight hours subbing and eight hours as a custodian. Before I didn’t have to do that. We put in so many hours for the kids because we want to make sure that the classroom that they go to is conducive to learning,” Morna said. “I have got two boys to support, as a single mom, and all of a sudden, I have to get a second job just to support my boys.”

“The increase is an investment in us and will give MMSD the ability to hire quality employees who are here for the long haul, for a career. People who care about our kids, our staff and our community. Most importantly, though, it will show our current employees that we are valued, not to mention getting back to a place where in these economic times we can fully support our own families,” said Rob Larson, president of AFSCME Local 60. “Not just with monetary values but getting back to the one thing that you can never get more of, time. Time with our families, time with our own children. Show us that we are valued, let’s get this done tonight and start moving forward to a better tomorrow.”

After further comments and deliberation, the board ultimately decided on a $3.20 per hour raise that went into effect on July 1 and will extend until June 30 of 2024. While this was not the raise the AFSCME Local 60 leaders and rank and file were demanding, it does make it so that no custodial workers are making less than $20 per hour.

If the district wants to continue having quality employees putting out quality work, they need to pay them a quality wage, and though this increase is a step in the right direction, there is still plenty of work that could be done to better support these extremely vital employees of the district. The community can show their support for the custodians and trades by calling or sending letters to the Madison Metropolitan School District board.

#MadisonWI #AFSCME

Madison, WI – Milwaukee organizations rallied inside the state capitol in Madison on Monday, June 12, to voice firm disapproval of the shared revenue agreement between Governor Tony Evers and Wisconsin Republicans. According to reports, the latest shared revenue proposal is scheduled to pass through both the state assembly and senate on Wednesday, June 14. From there, Governor Evers is poised to accept it.

When the original proposals for the shared revenue appeared last month, Governor Evers vetoed them, claiming he wouldn’t support the conditional strings attached. However, late last week, Governor Evers changed his stance. Rather than continuing to fight against the pressure of the GOP who've been seeking to strip Milwaukee’s democratic gains, Governor Evers seems to have succumbed.

“This most recent example of ‘reaching across the aisle’ to come to a ‘compromise’ is in reality a complete betrayal of the masses of people, with those in Milwaukee getting the shortest stick,” said Nadezdha Young of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. “It would be more accurately characterized as an historic setback, only further proof that 'compromise' is code for 'moving backwards.'”

The compromise represents major assaults on several fronts. The Republicans are getting what they want, which includes the reinstatement of police in Milwaukee Public Schools, forcing more cops in communities, gutting of public services, the elimination of the Fire and Police Commission’s power to create policy, an end to the ability for the people to put forward referenda on issues of political importance (for example, abortion access), an historic increase in the state funding of private schools, the inability for communities to utilize state funds for DEI initiatives, and other backwards policies.

“The action to take away the democratic rights of working-class people, specifically Black and brown working class people, is a trend among the national Republican Party,” said Omar Flores, one of the spokespeople for the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024. “There is no doubt in our minds that Evers bending to the will of the Republicans is being influenced by the fact that they are visiting Milwaukee in 2024.”

Milwaukee is under attack from multiple fronts, and Democratic leadership appears to have willingly sacrificed Milwaukee. This includes both Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee County Supervisor David Crowley, who met and reached a backroom deal with Wisconsin Republicans prior to the decision by Evers. It’s becoming increasingly evident that democratic gains will not come from or be protected by elected officials regardless of the party that they are representing.

“Our democratic gains have come because working class people and grassroots organizations came together and mobilized around demands that come from our people,” said Alan Chavoya, the outreach chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression. “We must have a direct say into how our communities function. Students clearly didn’t want police in their schools, and communities wanted greater transparency from the police. Governor Evers must respect those demands and throw away this garbage proposal.”

Regardless of a short turnaround period, eight Milwaukee organizations were able to show up with good numbers to the state capitol to demand that Governor Evers draft a new shared revenue deal with no strings attached. Although the proposal is highly likely to pass on Wednesday, these organizations will continue to voice a firm condemnation of the proposal and urge people to call Governor Evers and demand he throw it away.

#MadisonWI #MilwaukeeAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression

Madison, WI – The OPEIU Local 39 union workers, 500 strong, started their strike against CUNA Mutual Group, now formally rebranded as TruStage, this past Friday, May 19. The action is making history not only as their first strike in their 80-year long relationship with TruStage, but also as being the largest strike in the city of Madison since the Act 10 protests on the capitol a dozen years ago. After over 400 days of stalled bargaining processes, refusal to provide information, retaliation against union leaders, and TruStage’s bargaining in bad faith, workers were left with no other option but to strike.

 “We have done absolutely everything we can to open every line of communication, made every movement we could possibly make. They’re not coming to the table,” said Joel Bryhan, a software developer that has been working with TruStage for nine years. “The majority of unfair labor practice charges that we filed are related to not bargaining in good faith.”

It wasn’t until two weeks ago that OPEIU 39 was able to engage a federal mediator to get the company back to the bargaining table. The last time TruStage had bargained with them was in January. Four months went by with the company refusing to bargain. TruStage has been doing everything that it can to prevent OPEIU 39 from being able to reach a decent contract.

The company is also currently using hundreds of contractors to perform bargaining unit work, violating the collective bargaining agreement that they have with OPEIU local 39. In an attempt to keep the information about what the contractors are doing a secret, the company is purposefully withholding that information from the union workers in order to try and bust the union.

“Over the last 20 years we have had 1200 of our jobs outsourced and people have received layoff notices as a result,” said Joe Evica, the elected chief steward, who was illegally terminated in retaliation by TruStage. “They have backfilled many of the positions with temporary contractors who get no benefits and far less compensation for performing the same work.”

Offering “wage increases” that are below inflation, TruStage is still threatening to cut the pension plan for new hires, refusing to stop outsourcing the work, and even going as far as to send out emails falsely accusing OPEIU 39 of being the ones that pulled out of bargaining. Additionally, TruStage has been reaching out to former employees trying, unsuccessfully, to get them to cross the picket line, to which they declined, refusing to scab.

Even with the maneuverings of TruStage, the determination of the union workers was tangible along the picket line. Picketers stood tall and strong as their chants blended with the chorus of honks from supporters that drove by. Support from the community and other organizations has been pouring in at both the picket line and online, scoring the number one spot on the Madison sub-Reddit as of Friday morning. The Dane County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed 2022 RES-371, a resolution supporting the OPEIU 39 strike, along with a majority vote in their favor from the City Council and an overwhelming amount of support from other local organizations.

“NAACP, Workers Justice Wisconsin, AFSCME, SEIU, Smart locals; I would be here all day if I was naming all the different unions that showed up on our picket line. They recognize that what’s happening for CUNA Mutual workers has far-reaching effects on the rest of the city of Madison because if we are successful in our strike, it provides confidence and inspires people to do the same,” said one a striking worker.

To show your support for the strike you can come join the picket line, drive by and honk, or spread the word on social media. Donations in the form of snacks, water, coffee, or even just ordering a pizza to them are all welcome. There is also a GoFundMe page where you can donate to help with the expenses of running a strike if you are unable to attend in person.

Support in any form is appreciated even if it is just liking a Twitter post to help boost the algorithm. It is important that we show the OPEIU 39 workers that we stand with them in their fight against corporate greed and oppression.

As one striker stated, “An injury to one is an injury to all, so when corporations like CUNA Mutual Group come after workers, it’s not just about the employees at CUNA Mutual. It’s about them trying to set a precedent for other employers in Madison and beyond to be able to do whatever they want with their workforce.”

The Linktree page set up by OPEIU Local 39 with more information and various links to help support the strike is at https://linktr.ee/opeiucsc.

#MadisonWI #OPEIU

On Monday, May 15, Fight Back! interviewed Michael Jones, president of the teachers’ unit with Madison Teachers, Incorporated (MTI), which represents nearly 2700 educators employed by the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), to discuss current conditions and a recent week of action where teachers worked to rule. Fight Back!: How long have you been working in Madison schools?

Michael Jones: I'm finishing up my 14th year in education, my ninth year in MMSD.

Fight Back!: What are the general conditions of work for educators in Madison right now?

Jones: Like many education workers nationally, statewide and locally, our working conditions are extremely challenging and demoralizing. Sometimes, it's building infrastructure, such as being in spaces without proper air conditioning, heating or ventilation. We're also facing a significant shortage of workers in education, from custodial or food service, to education assistants and teachers, to mental health services.

As conditions like increasing class sizes, reduced protected break and prep times, and increasing workloads persist, our veteran workers are leaving either the district or education altogether. And we're not recruiting and retaining new workers because the conditions are so inequitable. On top of all of that, our employer seems to have given up on trying to support and retain workers, rather refusing to invest money because it's seen as a lost cause. This is one of the long-term intended impacts of Scott Walker and Robin Vos’s plan to destroy public education when they undemocratically pushed through Act 10 in 2011.

Fight Back!: You mentioned Act 10. What impact has this and Right to Work legislation had on your union and the workplaces in general?

Jones: In many ways, it's decimated our workers' morale and ability to sustain a livable lifestyle in Wisconsin and Madison. There's the tangible costs of being underpaid tens of thousands of dollars in a late-stage capitalistic society, so people have made unfortunate choices like dropping union membership or leaving the profession for pure financial reasons. Then there's the emotional harm Walker and the Republicans have caused our schools and unions that seems irreparable, at times.

Right or wrong, one's wages reflect how they are valued in their society as a human being. And the messages – through Act 10, through union-busting actions at the state and local levels, and the racist, homophobic, transphobic, misogynist, ableist actions pursued by leaders – to education workers have been clear: you are hated in the very communities you are trying to support and improve. It's not surprising that our system is in crisis — look at the messages we receive!

Fight Back!: What recent conditions specifically led to the week of action during Teacher Appreciation Week?

Jones: Over the past three years, MMSD has underpaid workers below the rate of inflation. Last year, the [Consumer Price Index] was 4.7% and the district only gave 3%. That means all workers took a pay cut since their wages weren't keeping up with inflation, even if the number on paper looked higher. Add to that the deteriorating conditions and the lack of district leadership empathy to our concerns, our workers decided to publicly take a stand on the unpaid, unrecognized and unsupported labor that educators are expected to do outside of our contracted day.

Because our system historically undervalues and underpays educators, because our workers are primarily people with uteruses and they are systemically underpaid in America, society just assumes that all those tests, quizzes, papers, lesson plans, parent and student communications, and professional development tasks can be done after school hours and on the weekends. Our action is to send a loud and clear message that you cannot take workers' labor for granted just because the system historically and culturally does so.

Fight Back!: What are the current demands of the rank-and-file educators?

Jones: We have 3 demands.

A cost-of-living adjustment to the full 8% that the state allows.

That MMSD produces a budget that is student-centered, so cuts or adjustments are not at the cost of cutting school-level positions and increasing class sizes and workloads, which they have proposed in their initial budget.

That workers' autonomous time – breaks and preps – are protected instead of workers being forced to do unnecessary and time-consuming tasks that do little to improve student achievement and are meant to leverage power from the top to the bottom.

Fight Back!: So what's next for the educators with MTI?

Jones: We are still in the planning stages of subsequent actions, but given the district's lack of interest in moving forward on a just budget, we anticipate our job actions to continue throughout the summer and fall, when students will be coming into school. A lot of unpaid and unrecognized labor goes into preparing for the next school year. If workers set limits on that unrecognized work, it would throw a wrench in administration's plans.

Fight Back!: How can people support MTI in its present and future struggles?

Jones: Thank you for asking. We are asking community members to engage the five actions in the online document that has been posted. This includes signing our petition, contacting the MMSD Board of Education, subscribing and sharing our social media outreach, and speaking up for workers.

Fight Back!: Looking ahead and beyond these immediate fights, would MTI be interested in collaborating with other unions and progressive community and student organizations from across the state to renew the fight against anti-labor laws like Act 10 and Right to Work?

Jones: We are ready and willing to work with all stakeholders for a more just society! We lead an education justice coalition to address school food security with community and student groups. And we financially and systemically support social justice organizations and unions allied with our values. We can do this work when we are connected and know we are not alone in the struggle!

#MadisonWI #TeachersUnion #TeachersUnions

Madison, WI – 400 people braved snowy conditions to join the Day of Resistance to Trans Genocide rally on March 18. The rally, organized by a grassroots coalition from southern Wisconsin, was held to demonstrate stalwart opposition to the recent flood of anti-trans legislation, rhetoric and violence across the United States.

Earlier this year, far-right commentator Michael Knowles announced at the Conservative Political Action Conference that “transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely.” Since the beginning of 2023, over 400 bills have been introduced into state legislatures across the country, including bills that would legally define womanhood via biology, ban gender-affirming care for minors, block insurance companies from paying for gender-affirming care, and in some cases even allow the removal of children from parents for allowing access to gender-affirming care.

Connolly, going by an alias for personal protection as one of the event organizers in light of the present conditions, said, “A lot of people just aren’t aware of the extent of the anti-trans legislation and how bad it is. The right likes to frame it as protecting children, but a lot of actors on the right have stated openly that their end goal is banning transition-related care for everyone of all ages. We are trying to make a visual impact that can’t be ignored so people have to at least be aware of what is happening.”

They hope that this can help prevent Wisconsin from taking the same path as other states, saying, “It is also important for the trans community to come together with allies and to see that there are people that do care and who are trying to stop this absolutely horrifying legislation from coming to Wisconsin.”

The rally started at Library Mall on the UW Madison campus. The crowd marched down the middle of State Street chanting “Defend trans lives!” and “Protect trans kids’ right to exist!” Volunteers linked arms to block busy intersections, allowing marchers to pass through on their way to the state capitol building. The march was led by a group of young people which included members of the Gay-Straight Alliance from a nearby middle school. The head of the march saw people carrying coffins representing deaths that will occur due to recent legislation.

“Banning gender-affirming care will lead to deaths. It will lead to deaths by suicide,” said Connolly. “If you withdraw hormone replacement therapy from someone who is on it, it leads to health problems plus psychological problems associated with having to be forcibly detransitioned.”

The march ended at the Lady Forward statue in front of the state capitol. Several speakers, including poet, activist and drag queen SunShine Raynebow, and Dina Nina, candidate for alderperson in Madison, focused on the joy of trans lives, the rights of trans people to exist publicly, and the need to recognize the scale and intent of anti-trans legislation.

“The Lemkin Institute, which was founded by the person who coined the word genocide, has said that this is a genocide in progress. So we are not exaggerating when we use the word genocide,” said Connolly. “I have seen people say, ‘I agree with you but you shouldn’t use the word genocide.’ If you support us, you have to support us without that ‘but.’”

#MadisonWI #Madison #antitransgender #antiLGBTQLegislation

Madison, WI – On the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, January 22, Reproductive Justice Action-Milwaukee (RJA-M) joined the Madison Area Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare (MARCH) for a march and rally of thousands in Madison, the Wisconsin capital city. The event called on people to vote in the spring primary Wisconsin Supreme Court election, but it also heavily emphasized that this fight is “Bigger Than Roe.”

The fight for reproductive rights has always been at the forefront of healthcare efforts, and access to free abortion for all is just a fraction of the healthcare coverage that people deserve.

During a speech, Kate Bushmann, outreach chair for RJA-M said, “This past summer we pressured the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors for a resolution, similar to Dane County’s, demanding that Wisconsin State Statute 940.04 be repealed. This resolution passed with our amendment added to it, as well as an advisory referendum on the upcoming spring ballot, weighing the opinion of Milwaukee County on repealing Wisconsin State Statute 940.04.”

Bushmann also urged people to call Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm to sign RJA-M's pledge, agreeing that he and his team will not prosecute abortion cases. Alongside this she reminded the crowd of RJA-M’s demand of community control of the police.

The march was a great reminder that the fight for codifying abortion rights into law and access to free abortion on demand is not stopping until we get what the people need. Grassroots efforts are vital to the people’s movements, and RJA-M joining MARCH for this event was a great testimony to that.

#MadisonWI #AbortionRights #ReproductiveJusticeActionMilwaukeeRJAM