Milwaukee, WI – A crowd of nearly 700 people gathered at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee on Sunday night, January 19, in response to the news of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine (WCJP) called for an indoor rally to commemorate all the martyrs of these past 470 days and to revitalize the Palestinian solidarity movement in Milwaukee following the ceasefire agreement and release of Palestinian hostages.

The ceasefire was welcomed by those in attendance, with several speakers connecting the significance of the pressure mounted within the U.S. with the efforts of the Palestinian resistance. The agreement will provide a much needed respite to the people in Gaza and many hostages will be freed.

“The ceasefire is only the first step,” stated Janan Najeeb, co-chair of the WCJP. Najeeb continued, “We also recognize that there are many challenges ahead. One thing is certain, we, along with the people of Gaza, refuse to return to what October 6, 2023 looked like for the people of Gaza.”

Local Palestinian and Jewish poets recited their works to commemorate the tens of thousands of lives lost since October 7. A seven-year-old child also offered remarks as screens next to the stage played a video on loop that listed the names of all the Palestinian children who have been murdered in the past 15 months. The evening concluded with Mostafa Zaibaq, who grew up in Gaza, singing the Palestinian national anthem.

“We must recognize this as an achievement. The brave people of Palestine stood up and faced down the IOF, which is fueled by the supposedly wealthiest county in the world, and the Palestinian people are still standing tall!” exclaimed Alan Chavoya of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

There is much more work to be done both in Palestine and the U.S. as the Palestinian people liberate themselves. Palestine will be free, and this ceasefire agreement is a step in that direction.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #Ceasefire #WCJP

Milwaukee, WI - 700 pro-Palestine Wisconsinites gathered October 5 to honor the Palestinian resistance and condemn one year of Israel’s escalated genocide. The protest was led by the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine Janan Najeeb, co-chair and convener of the WCJP, kicked off the protest by affirming, “the resistance and the call for justice is not subsiding. It is growing.”

With recent escalations by Israel and the US bombing Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and threatening war with Iran, Milwaukee organizations have mobilized and demanded “U.S. hands off the Middle East.” Najeeb, who is also a leader of the Milwaukee Muslim Women Coalition, told the crowd, “The U.S. has over 750 bases in 90 countries to control their people and natural resources, but the people are winning!”

Since Israel escalated its genocide on the Palestinian people and stoked a regional war, the U.S. has doubled down and entrenched the war machine in support of the Zionist occupation. Locally, Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin back the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council (WDIC), which is complicit with genocide. Accordingly, the march made its first stop outside the WDIC, where Sara Onitsuka, chair of Milwaukee Anti-War Committee, stated, “Palestinians and other oppressed communities in the region will free themselves through their struggle and their resistance. But we will do as much we possibly can to weaken the U.S. war machine from the inside, build up the kind of strong organizing ecosystem here to take on our own government and its war crimes and win.”

Frida Rose Hamad, UW-Milwaukee student and second generation Palestinian- American, spoke on the direct links her family and many others have to the struggles in Gaza. She spoke of family members martyred by the Israeli occupation forces since 1948, with an aunt who was a speech therapist for children, and a great uncle who was older than the apartheid state of Israel being martyred since October 9, 2023. Hamad finished her moving speech with “We refuse to move, we will rebuild we will remain, we will return. Free Palestine!”

The march then moved on to shut down the busy Wisconsin Avenue outside of Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office. Bryan Atinsky of Jewish Voice for Peace spoke outside of Baldwin’s Milwaukee office to call out the hypocrisy of U.S. politiciansclaiming to speak for all Jewish people. Speaking on his time as a journalist covering Israel’s crimes in occupied Palestine, Atinsky said, “In 2010, my daughter, son, wife, and mother in law were killed by the criminal negligence of the Israeli Defense Forces.”

Atinsky continued, “The massacres in Gaza continue in pace - It feels like 1982, 1990, 2006, and 2016 all over again, but worse, more extreme, more ruthless. And yet, the well-funded Jewish establishment, like the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, is working tirelessly to stifle the growing Jewish voices who stand in resistance to this carnage!”

Throughout the march, chants of “Kamala Harris, you can’t hide we charge you with genocide!” and “Brick by brick, wall by wall, Zionism will fall!” rang throughout Milwaukee’s downtown. Despite the 700-person rally and the recent escalations by genocidal Israel, the mainstream media has largely ignored pro-Palestine protests.

Nonetheless, the protesters made it clear that they are not tiring out. Chris Van Valkenberg, of the Students for a Democratic Society chapter in Milwaukee, said, “After a year of genocide and nearly a century of Zionist occupation, the indisputable scholasticide is hitting students everywhere. We are inspired to rise up and fight against the billions of dollars that the U.S. has been sending to Israel to sustain the genocide The unwavering Palestinian resistance hasn't backed down, and we won’t stop either until the complete liberation of Palestine!”

#MilwaukeeWI #SDS #FreePalestine #WCJP

Milwaukee, WI – On September 25, roughly 100 people gathered to demand an end to the U.S.-funded attacks on Lebanon and Palestine and an arms embargo on Israel. Protesters gathered at City Hall Square as a rally began at around 5 p.m. The rally, led by the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee and cosponsored by ten other local, national, and international organizations, had ten speakers, who connected the resistance in the Middle East to U.S. imperialism and the way it impacts us all.

After the initial gathering and speeches, the group marched and chanted down Kilbourne Avenue to Juneau Park. The target of the protest was the Raytheon board member George Oliver, who lives in a condominium tower across from the park. The march was met with enthusiasm, honks and shouts of “Free Palestine!” by onlookers. The entire event was recorded by WISN 12 News and followed by reporter Erika Finke.

At Juneau Park, the protesters called out George Oliver for his part in the ongoing genocide in Palestine and the terrorist attacks in Lebanon.

“Israel is not targeting military bases or combatants. They are bombing apartments, homes and schools,” said Hayley Thomson, outreach chair for the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee.

Brian Verdin, of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, spoke about the similarities between propaganda against Vietnam and how the media covers the genocide and terrorist attacks by Israel today. The link between state violence at home and U.S. imperialism abroad was further highlighted with a reading of Marcellus Williams’ poem The Perplexing Smiles of the Children of Palestine, only days after his state-ordered death penalty for a crime he did not commit.

Protesters marched back to City Hall while chanting “Free, free Palestine!” and “Hands off Lebanon!” The event wrapped up with a speech by Kayla Patterson, of Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she said: “We will only double down in standing with the Palestinian resistance, the Lebanese resistance, and the Yemeni resistance. Hands off Lebanon!”

The Milwaukee Anti-war Committee will be marching as a member of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine on October 5, 2 p.m. at Zeidler Union Square, to answer the national call from the Anti-War Action Network to mark one year of genocide, and one year of resistance.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #MAWC #SDS #WCJP #Feature

Milwaukee, WI – On Tuesday, July 23, Vice President Kamala Harris made her first stop as a presidential candidate in Milwaukee, less than a week after the Republican National Convention. For four hours straight, members of the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine (WCJP) chanted outside of Harris’ campaign rally.

Protesters were heard for blocks around the site where Harris was speaking. For months, the people of Milwaukee have made it known that genocidal policies will be met with resistance – whether those policies are pushed by Biden, Harris, Trump, or some other elected official.

Notably, no top Democrats could be seen joining the thousands of protesters in Milwaukee during the RNC. As protester Joe Jones put it: “The Democratic Party’s platform for the last 20 years has been ‘We’re not as bad as the Republicans, so you have to vote for us,’ rather than taking action on their words.”

Wisconsin is a sought after electoral arena by Republicans and Democrats alike. The Republicans chose Milwaukee as the site for their convention, with Trump making visits to Green Bay, Racine and Milwaukee in the last six months. However, the real will of the people can be seen in the streets, with over 3500 protesting the RNC and their agenda, and hundreds routinely protesting the Biden administration’s visits at a moment's notice.

When asked why he was out protesting Kamala’s visit, Russell Cutter, a rank-and-file trade unionist and letter carrier, responded, “One reason I came out, as a union activist, is to be in solidarity with the Palestinian trade unions and answer their call to action in October to stop arming Israel.” Cutter continued, “I want Kamala Harris to know that the truth about Palestine can't be hidden anymore.”

Similarly, protester Joe Jones said the facade is off for the ruling class parties. “They claim to be anti-racist while being fully complicit in the genocide in Gaza at the same time. Domestically, Kamala Harris spent her time as DA in California unfairly prosecuting her people while Joe Biden was a strong supporter of the 1994 crime bill which led to mass incarceration of Black people.”

As the demonstration was wrapping up, protesters made it known that they will march on the Democratic National Convention on August 19. There, they will once again bring the people’s agenda within sight and sound of the Democrats and their likely presidential candidate, Kamala Harris. This DNC will be an important one, but the real change will happen in the streets.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #Palestine #Harris #DNC #WCJP

Milwaukee, WI – Another visit to Milwaukee by President Biden resulted in a protest by the Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine (WCJP) to denounce him. On Wednesday, March 13, Biden made multiple stops across Milwaukee, issuing promises to improve the living conditions for Black residents and visit the new Democratic Party headquarters.

The WCJP called for an emergency rally at Dontre Hamilton (Red Arrow) Park and led a crowd of hundreds within sight and sound of the Democratic Party headquarters. Chants of “Free Palestine” and “Genocide Joe” reverberated throughout downtown Milwaukee while the crowd waited for Biden to arrive. The crowd, proudly lifting Palestinian flags and displaying signs demanding an end to the genocide, was met by dozens of cops and members of the Secret Service.

For over two hours, the crowd led chants and sent a clear message to Biden and the rest of the Democratic Party – end U.S. aid to Israel and end the genocide now. Khaled Abukhamireh of the US Palestinian Community Network stated, “Rafah stands as the final sanctuary for the people of Gaza. There is an imminent threat as the genocidal Israeli army prepares to advance, posing a great danger to this beautiful city.”

Channeling the unified energy of the crowd, Audari Tamayo of Students for a Democratic Society at UW-Milwaukee and Freedom Road Socialist Organization said, “Today we’re here to tell Genocide Joe that he’s not welcome here, that he’s not welcome anywhere, and that there’s people here with a conscience. Just as the revolutionary socialist leader Hugo Chavez said, ‘Fuera de aquí yanqui que aquí hay un pueblo unido!’”

The WCJP brought together multiple movements that have become increasingly angrier with the ineptitude of the Biden administration, including the immigrant rights movement. Executive director of Voces de la Frontera, Cristine Neumann-Ortiz, stated, “We’re calling on President Biden to support a ceasefire in Gaza and to use executive action to fulfill campaign promises he made to the Latinos and immigrants here in Wisconsin – to end 287g that makes our communities less safe by deputizing local law enforcement to act as immigration and to expand access to work visas for essential workers and their families and asylum seekers, including Palestinians.”

Biden’s team made it clear that Wednesday’s visit is the first of many he plans to make to Wisconsin in the coming months. As proven by the WCJP’s action, no matter where Biden goes in Wisconsin, there will be a crowd there to confront him.

#MilwaukeeWI #WI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #WCJP #SDS #SDSUWM #USPCN #VDF #Biden

Milwaukee, WI – The Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine (WCJP) responded to the call for a International day of action on Saturday, March 2. This incredible day of action began with morning banner drops across Milwaukee, led into a press conference to call out the brutal attacks on Rafah, continued with a massive march, and culminated with an International Women’s Day celebration.

The sun shone brightly as the crowd slowly amassed at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s main center. Janan Najeeb, co-chair of the WCJP, welcomed the crowd and spoke to the significance of the day of action. Najeeb stated, “We have power in our unity, and we will continue. We will continue until this genocide ends, Gaza and Palestine is free, and our government develops a conscience and stops arming the racist apartheid state of Israel!”

Ahead of the day of action, Israeli Occupation Forces attacked Palestinians standing in line for flour in an unconscionable massacre that killed and wounded hundreds. The genocidal efforts in Palestine are intensifying, and people in the U.S. continue to mobilize in order to put an end to U.S. aid to Israel. In Milwaukee, the crowd of around 2000 marched through the streets calling out Joe Biden and all the Democrats who are helping fund this genocide.

With every day the people’s disapproval of the Democratic Party increases. Despite the pleas of elected officials to vote for Biden in an effort to keep Trump away from the White House, Najeeb expressed the sentiments of the crowd when she stated, “We refuse to hold our nose and vote for the better of two evils because they are both evil!”

The movement for Palestine is only growing stronger in Milwaukee. Being able to coordinate an entire day of action and carry out each component successfully should speak volumes to the WCJP’s capacity to lead the movement locally. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #WCJP

Milwaukee, WI – The bright sun rose above Milwaukee during the early afternoon on Sunday, February 18, as a crowd of over 1000 people gathered outside of the Milwaukee County Courthouse to demand “Hands off Rafah” and an end to U.S. aid to Israel. The Wisconsin Coalition for Justice in Palestine brought together people from across the state to march through downtown Milwaukee in a message of unity and solidarity with the people of Palestine.

The resilient spirit of the Palestinian community was in full display on Sunday. Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, stated, “The words ‘give up’ are not in our dictionary. The people of Gaza don’t raise the white flag. They stand tall!”

The participants at the march stood tall with Palestine, calling out the elected officials who refuse to listen to the movement and continue to fund the genocide. Lo Cross spoke on behalf of Freedom Road Socialist Organization, stating, “It’s very on brand for senators to move forward with the $9.5 billion aid package to Israel when the U.S. is making headlines at home about how the top 10% of this country own over 66% of all wealth! Do you all struggle every day to put food on the table just so that the U.S. can go bomb innocent people in Rafah? Is that right?”

The first stop of the march was at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC). The MMAC has recently formed part of an advocacy group that is working side by side with weapons manufacturers in the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council (WDIC).

Sara Onitsuka, chair of the Milwaukee Anti-war Committee stated, “The WDIC aims to broaden the influence of the defense industry in Wisconsin on a national scale, to strengthen the relationships between small and large defense corporations, and in their words, ‘give defense contractors and suppliers a unified voice.’ They are organizing, and so we must, too!”

Defense contractors in Wisconsin have been producing some of the vehicles that are transporting murderous Zionists across Palestine and surveil the Gaza/Israel border. Alan Chavoya, Outreach Chair of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, spoke to the connections between the Mexico/U.S. and Gaza/Israel border. Chavoya stated, “The ruling class loves to divide us with borders, so it’s up to us to tear down those walls and unify our movements. When I saw the people of Gaza tear down that wall, I knew that so will the Chicanos, the people of Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa tear down the walls that imperialists built on our homelands!”

The movement for Palestine remains steadfast in Milwaukee. The WCJP has multiple actions planned for the upcoming week. As the genocide intensifies, so too will the movement for Palestine.

#MilwaukeeWI #AntiWarMovement #International #MiddleEast #Palestine #WCJP #FRSO #MAC