Foro Comunitario con Madres y Padres de Ayotzinapa / Community Forum with the Ayotzinapa Parents

Wednesday, April 1, 7pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (613 S. 4th St. in Milwaukee)

On September 26, 2014 a group of teaching students was attacked by the police and other people in the city of Iguala, Guerrero, Mexico, leaving 6 dead, 25 or more wounded, and 43 disappeared. The Mexican federal government has said that the mayor of Iguala and his wife ordered the police to repress the students and that they in turn turned them over to a gang called Guerreros Unidos (United Warriors) which killed them and burned their bodies alive. The problem is that Mexico has a long history documented by Mexican and foreign human rights organizations, other governments, and international organizations of using torture to extract confessions which are then used to construct narratives to protect criminals, the police, military officers, government officials, and politicians. Consequently, many people have no faith in the government’s account and have demanded that the investigations continue.

The principal demand of the Ayotzinapa solidarity movement has been, “They were taken alive, and alive we want them back.” The other major demand has been for the continued investigation into the killings and kidnappings to continue. At the same time, the solidarity movement which involves many organizations has raised variety of other demands from the call for the resignation of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to a halt to U.S. military support to Mexico. There has also been a call by Archbishop Raúl Vera for a “constituent congress” for the “refoundation of Mexico.” The movement has become very large and broad and no single organization speaks for it.

Now 16 of the parents and colleagues of the students are touring the United States to tell their story and lift up their demands, and next week 3 of them will be visiting Milwaukee. Join us the evening of April 1st at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (613 S. 4th St. in Milwaukee) for a community forum at 7pm. There will be a mass at 6pm. The event will be in Spanish but we will have translation.

Training for Solidarity and Mobilization: Workshops on tenant organizing, mental health and building safety nets. Free lunch.

Free, public and participatory workshops that provide immediately practical techniques for combating power and supporting solidarity. This event is in the large meeting room of the Center Street Library, 2727 W Fond Du Lac Ave, Milwaukee, on Saturday, April 11.

11-12 PM. “Tenant Organizing: Conducting Research on Landlords” led by Jacob Glicklich.

12:00-1:00. Free lunch.

1:00-1:55 PM. “Fundamentals of Mental Health” led by Sara-Marie Rachel Rahn

2:00-2:55 PM. “Are We Ready? Preparing for an Emergency and Building Safety Nets” led by Ruba Khader

3:00-4:00. “Breakout Groups: Organizing for Winnable Campaigns in Milwaukee.” Facilitated by Colleen O’Conor Rocky Getters and Hilary Wilson

This is the monthly Resistance Skillshare, organized by the Milwaukee branch of the IWW, with sessions led by IWW speakers and allies. Each workshop stands alone, there’s benefit to attending all sessions but if you can only come to some, you can still attend. To respect people’s commitments we will not be running on “activist time,” each workshop will start when scheduled. Childcare is available upon request, to arrange this contact us at iww.milwaukee@gmail.com

Protesters demanding an end to right-to-work-for-less legislation and other austerity in Madison Feb. 28, 2015 [Photo: Joe Brusky]

http://april15.org/

In Wisconsin: https://www.facebook.com/RaiseUpMKE and http://wisconsinjobsnow.org/

EMERGENCY ALERT: Mumia Abu-Jamal was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center in Pottsville, PA today (March 30). He is in ICU. Mumia’s spouse is not being allowed to see him. The only information we are receiving now is that he’s receiving an insulin drip for his diabetes. People should call the prison superintendent at Mahoney-SCI, John Kerestes at 570-773-2158 IMMEDIATELY, to demand that his family get to see him. When prompted, give this information for asking about Mumia: #AM 8335.

International day of solidarity with Venezuela! U.S. Hands Off!

April 19th, 6pm, corner of Humboldt and Locust.

Rally followed by social and discussion over drinks at Riverwest Public House Cooperative at approx. 7pm.

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132 political parties from 40 countries are calling for an international day of solidarity with solidarity with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela following the March 9 threats made by President Barack Obama.

Recent coup attempts have been thwarted by the progressive government of Venezuela, like the one staged by the U.S. in 2002 which temporarily kidnapped President Hugo Chavez. Now the U.S. is amping up rhetoric against Venezuela in an attempt to overthrow the progressive, democratic government.

Obama’s “Executive Decree” baselessly declared Venezuela “an extraordinary and unusual threat” to the national security of the U.S.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks at a public event in Caracas Feb. 12, 2015. A coup plot against the Venezuelan president was thwarted that day. | Photo: AVN