Milwaukee, WI – On November 12th, over a hundred student organizers from across the country will gather here to participate in the 6th annual National Convention of [Students for a Democratic Society (SDS)](http://www.newsds.org). SDS was re-founded in 2006 in response to the upsurge of war in the Middle East and the need for a united, national multi-issue radical student and youth organization in the United States.
State government here is considering a bill, SB207/AB286, that will permanently economically disenfranchise over 62,000 Wisconsinites who have been convicted of felonies. The bill makes it legal for employers to discriminate against them, not only in the hiring process, but also to terminate them from jobs where they are already employed whether or not their felony conviction is substantially related to the job. It would also ban cities and municipalities from creating laws to protect constituents from this type of discrimination. The bill has already passed the Assembly and is on its way to becoming law.
Milwaukee, WI – More than 3000 people marched here, Oct. 15, as a part of the Occupy movement, which began about a month ago on Wall Street in New York. At 11:00 a.m. in Milwaukee’s Zeidler Park, protesters gathered to stand against continuing cuts to education and public services carried out by Governor Scott Walker and to stand against rampant corruption in the powerful financial sector.
Milwaukee, WI – About 75 protesters rallied outside of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s office at the Federal Courthouse here. Riot police swarmed inside and outside of the building, refusing to allow the activists to meet their representative. 19 activists who entered the building refused to leave until they were allowed a meeting with Johnson; instead they were arrested, loaded into paddy wagons and hauled off to the first precinct. Each of the demonstrators arrested was issued a $171 ticket for trespassing and released.
Milwaukee, WI – On Oct. 8, over 100 people rallied and marched against the continuing U.S./NATO occupation of Afghanistan. The event was organized to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, which began in October of 2001.
Milwaukee, WI, – Over 30 people gathered for an evening vigil, Sept. 22, the day after the execution of Troy Davis. Attendees mourned the death of Davis and denounced the death penalty and this racist execution. Davis was a Black man in Georgia who was given the death penalty for the killing of a white off-duty police officer, despite overwhelming evidence that he didn't commit the crime.
Milwaukee, WI – The fighting spirit of the people of Wisconsin can be seen once again this Sept. 3 as organizers from all over plan to confront a ‘white power’ Nazi demonstration at West Allis City Hall at 1:00 p.m.
Milwaukee, WI – About 500 protesters came out with their homemade signs to picket Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's afternoon visit to Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood, Aug. 26. Residents of the neighborhood, joined by unions and community groups such as Peace Action Wisconsin, mobilized within 48 hours. The message was clear that the people in Milwaukee want Walker out!