Milwaukee, October 2: Mothers For Justice Film Screening

Posted on September 30, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

Mothers For Justice is a short (16 min.) documentary film about Maria Hamilton and a group of other mothers whose sons were killed in officer related incidents in the Milwaukee area will premiere at the Milwaukee Film Festival as part of the Milwaukee Show (II). The program starts at 6:30pm and will feature 8 other Milwaukee Made short films.

*** BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY, THIS WILL SELL OUT IN ADVANCE***

You can buy tickets here: http://mkefilm.org/the-milwaukee-show-ii/mothers-for-justice/

You can also purchase tickets at the Oriental Theatre
2230 N Farwell Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

photo above by: Vallen Gillett

Directed by:
Erik Ljung

Edited by:
Michael Vollmann

Assistant Editors:
Ian Anderson
Matt Prekop

Camera:
Erik Ljung
Chris Thompson
Dan Peters
Joel Van Haren

Ms. Maria A. Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton [Joe Brusky photography]

Hundreds rally at Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee August 22, 2014 to demand justice for Michael Brown, Dontre Hamilton & other Victims of police terror. [Photo: WI BOPM]

Coalition For Justice: October 2015 Events

Posted on September 30, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

Good afternoon all!

The Coalition for Justice along with the Mothers for Justice United have SEVERAL opportunities for you to come out and support us and our work beginning this weekend. Please see details below and attached flyers for our Bake Sale/Fundraiser, the Body Worn Cameras Listening Session/Public Comments Meeting, Never Forget: Remembrance and Awareness Rally for Brandon Johnson and our next Mass Meeting.

The Coalition for Justice and Mothers for Justice are hosting a Bake Sale/Fundraiser this Saturday at next at All People’s Church? We will be selling some homemade cakes, cheesecakes and other desserts.

We are also collecting adult and children hats, gloves and mittens from now until October 31st. Please feel free to drop off donations at the Bake Sale Fundraiser this weekend or next. Details below:

TIME: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

WHEN: Saturday, 10/3/2015

WHAT: Fundraiser for the Coalition for Justice and Mothers For Justice United

WHERE: Outside All Peoples Church

2600 N. 2nd Street, Milwaukee, WI

Additional drop off times & dates for hat, sock, and mitten donation drop offs:

TIME: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

WHERE: All Peoples Church

WHEN: Tuesday, October 13 & October 27, 2015

—————————

Calling all Community Members, activists, friends, and family to stand with Brandon Johnson’s family against injustice.

As the Hamilton family faced the challenges of mental health in their case for Dontre’s life, the Johnson family does the same as they fight for justice. And still – no accountability for Brandon’s death, three years later.

The stigma against mental health in this country is alive and well. Come out and stand with the Johnson and Hamilton family as we call attention to Brandon’s unjust death and remember the loving young man that he was.

TIME: 5:00 PM

WHEN: Tuesday, October 6, 2015

WHERE: Milwaukee Mental Health Complex

9455 West Watertown Plank Road

Milwaukee, WI

#JUSTICEFORBRANDON

Milwaukee, October: Coalition For Justice, ‘We Say Wait’

Posted on September 30, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

Dear Family,

Nate Hamilton along with folks from the Coalition for Justice family and many other concerned citizens came out and voiced their concerns/questions about the Body Worn Cameras last night at the Fire and Police Commission listening session. Thank you to all of you raised your voices last night. We will be sharing video of the meeting last night very soon!

If you missed your chance last night, there’s another chance THIS THURSDAY at the next Fire and Police Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall Room 301-B. They will respond to questions/concerns raised at the last FPC meeting on 9/17 about the Body Worn Cameras. There’s an opportunity to share public comments at the end of the meeting.

Hope to see you all there!

WI AFL-CIO Statement Regarding Proposed Gutting of Civil Service

Posted on September 30, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

http://wisaflcio.typepad.com/

Wow, it didn’t take long for Scott Walker to continue his attacks on Wisconsin’s working people. Just days after Scott Walker deserted his Presidential bid because his union-busting message was rejected by American voters, he is back to attacking workers by supporting legislation to destroy Wisconsin’s landmark civil service laws, impacting over 30,000 workers and the public they serve.

Wisconsin has a proud tradition of fairness, openness and impartiality in our civil service system that allows for hiring based on skill and merit, not political connections. We believe that people should be hired based on what they know, not who they know. Currently, numerous safeguards are built in to the system to ensure integrity and public trust. A bill drafted by Sen. Roger Roth (R-Neenah) and Rep. Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) calls for the destruction of Wisconsin’s long standing, landmark civil service laws.

These changes to our civil service system open the flood gates for political payback and favoritism. The GOP plan will no longer requirement government employees to take a test to prove their knowledge. This will allow Scott Walker and his buddies to hire their friends, relatives and political cronies. The move promotes corruption and malfeasance in hiring of governmental personnel.

Changes to our civil service law include:

Removing entrance exams for new job applicants and replacing them with a resume only based system;
Giving hiring authority to the Department of Administration, a direct extension of Walker’s office;
Extending the probationary period for new hires from 6 months to two years.
Changing the layoff process from seniority-based to subjective performance analysis.

Remember, Scott Walker never once mentioned changing the civil service system while campaigning for Governor and he even touted its importance while defending Act 10. Since taking office in 2010, Gov. Walker has repeatedly eroded workers’ rights, wages and protections in the both the public and private sector. Gov. Walker’s record is clear: he does not have the best interests of workers in mind.

Do you trust Scott Walker to hire the best, most qualified person for the job?

Stripping working people of their rights and rigging the system so it is easier to hire candidates with political connections does nothing to help Wisconsin.

In Solidarity,

Phil Neuenfeldt, President

Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer

Milwaukee, October 5: Speak Up for Pulaski Students

Posted on September 29, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

Speak Up for Pulaski Students

MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver and School Board director Bonds have scheduled two meetings at Pulaski High School to try and sell their Takeover of Pulaski. We know that no matter how much they try to dress up this Takeover as a good thing that Pulaski will not be handed over to privately-run charter schools that operate outside the democratically elected school board. Let’s show up and show out for our students and the future of public education in Wisconsin. Not one student, not one school takeover!

STOP THE MPS TAKEOVER!! 6-9-15 — at Story Elementary. [Photo: Joe Brusky]

November 6-8: Racial Justice in Madison: Incarceration and Segregation in the “Creative City”

Posted on September 29, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

Racial Justice in Madison: Incarceration and Segregation in the “Creative City”

On November 6-8, Comparative US Studies, YGB Ferguson To Madison and the Havens Center will host a FREE symposium on racial justice in Madison. The symposium will kick off with a keynote lecture by the legendary Cedric Robinson (author of Black Marxism and Black Movements in America) on Friday, Nov. 6 at 5:30 pm in Elvehjem L160.

The rest of the symposium will be on Saturday, Nov. 7, starting at 9 am with a keynote with the incomparable Jamala Rogers (author of Ferguson is America) in the Pyle Center on UW’s Campus.

Panels throughout the day will be on the following themes:
1. Incarceration and State Violence
2. Segregation
3. Ethnic and Indigenous Studies in the University

They will feature local community experts.

On Saturday evening at 8 pm and Sunday afternoon at 2 pm, Tī S. Banks and Sara McKinnon’s performance, “We the 350: Stories of Poverty, Racism and Incarceration in Wisconsin” will close out the symposium. The performances will be in the Promenade Hall of the Overture Center. $5 suggested donation, but no one will be turned away.

The events are accessible. If you need childcare, please email krchavez@wisc.edu by Friday Oct. 30.

Revolutionary Medicine

Posted on September 28, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

http://revolutionarymedicine.org/

Revolutionary Medicine, true to its title, is a provocative, 45-minute documentary by Beth Geglia, an independent, activist documentarian based in Washington D.C., and Jesse Freeston, a film maker based in Montreal, who had been a key member of the Real News Network.

Dr. Luther Harry Castillo, a Cuban-trained Garifuna doctor is our lively guide. He retraces the journey of the people of Ciriboya, a town in northeastern Honduras, to self-determination and empowerment, through the building of a community hospital. It is a heroic and inspiring struggle, told with intelligence, strength and humor, through the power of story, song and dance—and with an ever present historical context. The music of Aurelio Martinez and the Garifuna Soul Band provides the film’s ‘trilling wire.’

Madison, October 5: #HandsOffBrandi! JAM Chief Koval’s/City Attorney’s Phones/Emails

Posted on September 27, 2015 by wibailoutpeople

#HandsOffBrandi! JAM Chief Koval’s/City Attorney’s Phones/Emails

Madison Police target Black Lives Matter Organizer Brandi Grayson
CALL for National and International Solidarity
TELL MPD and the City Attorney to
STOP the HARASSMENT and drop the citations!

On OCT 5, 2015 1PM-3pm Central Time show your solidarity by calling/emailing Madison Police Chief Koval and City Attorney Michael May.

JAM their phone lines and emails to say #HandsOffBrandi!
Spread this NATIONWIDE. We must protect each other!

TARGET PHONE/EMAILS

The City Attorney’s Office – Michael May
608-266-4511
mmay@cityofmadison.com
Madison Police Chief Mike Koval
608-266-4022
mkoval@cityofmadison.com

NOTE: Suggested phone script and email template will be posted here in the next few days.

The Madison police department is targeting and harassing one of the most visible leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement in the city. Brandi Grayson, a founding member and leader of the Young, Gifted and Black Coalition has had cops park outside her house regularly, visit her home to talk with her children, charge her with citations without notifying her, pull her over for minor violations, and target her for the actions of huge groups of people protesting. They are targeting her because YGB has already had demonstrable success. It’s a classic attempt to intimidate a movement which has become far too successful for the taste of the police and political establishment.

– We demand the City Attorney’s Office dismiss YGB founder Brandi Grayson’s citations. We recognize that this attack on YGB founder Brandi Grayson is a tactic used by the Madison Police to quell the local movement for Black liberation led by Young Gifted and Black.

– We demand the Madison Police Department put an end to the harassment and terrorizing of Brandi Grayson and of all Black people in Madison, WI. The means an immediate end to the racial disparities in arrests and incarceration in Dane County.

– We demand Community Control of the police. In order to stop police violence we need to shift power from the state to the people. If we have community control Brandi would be protected from prosecution by Madison Police Department.

By building a powerful grassroots racial justice movement in Madison, YGB has so far stopped cold a project to build a new $150 million dollar jail, forced the county to pass a jail alternatives resolution and has pierced the veil behind the false pride of Madison as some sort of progressive Mecca – a city where the black to white arrest rate is 11 to 1 and the black to white child poverty rate is 75% to 5%!

Calling all anti-racists, Black Lives Matter and social justice activists and anyone who agrees that fighting for your rights should not lead to harassment and intimidation by police:

Activists in the city are rallying behind Brandi but we need solidarity action from folks across the city, country and beyond who care about racial justice and for our right to fight without undemocratic, police intimidation.

Let’s jam up the phone lines and email in-boxes of Madison Police Chief Koval and City Attorney Michael May on Monday, Oct 5th 2015 (from 1pm – 3pm Central Time) with the message that we will not accept police harassment and intimidation of our activists, we will continue to fight for Black Freedom and will not be silent in the face of repression.

For more information:
Visit YGBCOALITION.ORG
Find us on Facebook by searching “YGB Ferguson to Madison”
Phone – (608) 618-0942 (618-0YGB)
Email – info@ygbcoalition.org

Brandi Grayson of the Young Gifted and Black coalition, speaking to hundreds of protesters at the state capitol in Madison Feb. 14, 2015. Grayson linked the struggles of the the Black Lives Matter movement and the fights to fully fund public education characterizing both as state violence on the people. [Photo: Joe Brusky]