Appleton WI – On Saturday April 5, 2500 protesters convened at Houdini Plaza as part of the national “Hands Off” day of action. The demonstration spread throughout downtown Appleton, encompassing the sidewalks of several whole city blocks.

This event comes after the one-sided defeat of Brad Schimel in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Schimel campaigned on banning abortion, stripping union rights and attacking immigrants, and his loss came despite the millions of dollars that Elon Musk personally poured into the campaign. Schimel’s loss is a clear indication that the people are against Elon Musk, Donald Trump and the reactionary Republican agenda expanding in Wisconsin.

The demonstration began with a short rally at the center of Houdini Plaza, which was overflowing with protesters. Hate Free Outagamie member Tanner Ziebell addressed the crowd, stating, “It is not just Trump who got us in this position, it’s a system which allows an administration like this to get into power, where establishment politicians’ best strategy to resist is holding up signs on television and doubling down on the status quo. This is not a system that serves the interests of the people.”

Ziebell continued, “I won’t sugarcoat it, the road is going to be a long one, but we are more than capable of paving it. Trump and this system are not omnipotent, they can be defeated!”

Appleton Area National Organization of Women President Irene Strohbeen then addressed the crowd, stating, “While we have won the battle in our supreme court, the war is still ahead of us!” Concluding her powerful address amidst loud cheers, Strohbeen chanted, “Hands off our healthcare! Hands off our Jobs! Hands off our education! See you on College Ave!”

Protesters then dispersed outwards along the sidewalks stretching over many city blocks. Downtown Appleton became a symphony of chants, cheers and honks from passing cars. From cardboard Tesla car cutouts, to signs reading “Fight trump” and “Down with the rich,” a powerful message was displayed all throughout Appleton.

When asked about why they were in attendance, Appleton SDS member Julie Kelly said, “As much as the direction to turn seems muddled, I came to support the more radical direction this movement is headed in, we can’t go back to the status quo, we must fight for something new.”

The April 5 protest was cosponsored by many organizations, including Appleton Area National Organization of Women, Hate Free Outagamie, 50501, Democratic Socialists of America, Forward Fox Valley, and Appleton Students for a Democratic Society.

This historic day of national actions found a strong presence in the Fox Valley. It is clear that with each executive order, each attack on the people, the resistance to Trump only grows. From hundreds against Musk in Green Bay last week, to hundreds protesting for the postal workers, to thousands in the street today, the movement in the Fox Valley seems to only grow larger and larger.

#AppletonWI #WI #PeoplesStruggles #HateFreeOutagamie #NOW #FFV #SDS #50501 #DSA #Trump

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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