We need smaller class sizes, more support for our students, and a living wage to keep teachers in Oakland. We need the district to halt their plan to close 24 of our 86 schools and privatize our district. It’s time to take a stand. It’s time to strike. #Unite4OaklandKids
No US War, No Coup on Venezuela
Rally to oppose US Intervention and Coup in Venezuela
Not only did Washington openly engineer the attempted coup in Venezuela, they are now trying to salvage it from complete defeat with a story of sending “humanitarian aid” as a guise to instigate a war.
We must demand Washington respect Venezuela sovereignty and stay out of Venezuela. The corporate media here makes up fake news stories about starvation and chaos in Venezuela. It helps hide the fact that the OAS has recently voted that the only legitimate government in Venezuela is that of Nicolas Maduro. It helps to hide that the UN Security Council also recently voted the same way.
Sponsored by Evanston Neighbors for Peace, Chicago ALBA Solidarity, Chicago Area Peace Action, Chicago Committee Against War and Racism, Vets for Peace- Chicago, Chicago Committee Against Militarism, ANSWER Chicago,Chicago Anti-War Coalition, others
Interview with Venezuela Foreign Minister Arreaza
https://therealnews.com/stories/venezuelas-foreign-minister-washington-hijacked-guaido
https://popularresistance.org/red-cross-of-colombia-us-action-to-venezuela-is-not-humanitarian-aid/
SAY NO TO THE WALL! LOUD AND CLEAR!
Gather at Lake and State at noon, bring yourself, your friends, your family, your organizations, and your signs and banners.
At 1pm we will march up State St to the capitol, enter the rotunda, and stay until noon the following day.
No physical barrier from Trump or anyone else!!
NOW is the time to stand up to Trump’s adopted totalitarian tactics to undermine our democracy and the blatant racism fueling his fixation on this wall.
NOON, Federal Courthouse 517 E Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI
U.S. Hands Off Venezuela! Rally
Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison, Capitol Steps, 12 NOON – 2 P.M.
#23Feb Weekend of International Actions
Demanding “regime change,” this administration is laying siege to Venezuela. Washington’s deepening of sanctions, a form of economic warfare, is solely aimed at worsening an ongoing crisis in order to impose powers in Caracas favorable to US interests. US actions have served only to deepen political divisions and decrease the likelihood of a peaceful solution, as they increase hardships and suffering of the common people.
Venezuela has world’s largest known oil reserves. And that fact has more to do with US demands for “regime change” and threats of further intervention than any concerns for “democracy” or “freedom” and the “defeat of tyranny.”
US efforts to overthrow the present government will only serve to further weaken any prospects for a peaceful, democratic resolution to the crisis and leave a bitter legacy in keeping with the long history of US intervention in the region.
The revival of “Yankee imperialism” at its worst must immediately be brought to a halt. People here in the US must once again come together to counter Washington’s aggression, overt and covert, in Venezuela and elsewhere in Latin America — the necessary precondition for peace, true democracy, and security. Join in opposition and voice demands for an end to US intervention and violations of Venezuela’s national sovereignty.
JOIN US! Bring signs, banners, and your friends!
-U.S. Hands Off Venezuela!
-NO to a “Regime Change” Coup!
-NO to sanctions, oil embargo and economic warfare!
-NO to military intervention by the U.S. and its regional proxies!
Endorsed by:
Womens’ International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) -Madison; Madison Socialist Alternative; Industrial Workers of the World -Madison; Party for Socialism and Liberation – Madison; Veterans for Peace, Chapter 25 – Madison; Family Farm Defenders; Peregrine Forum; Wisconsin Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars; International Socialist Organization – Madison; Democratic Socialists of America -Madison; White Rose Anti-Fascist Forum; Madison-Rafah Sister City Project, 4 Lakes Green Party; Union De Trabajadores Immigrantes (UTI); International Marxist Tendency – Madison; Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement. More to follow…
The Committee to Stop FBI Repression is circulating the following call from the Legalization for All Network and other immigrant rights groups. We urge all progressive organizations to sign on and endorse it.
Sign on to the call here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/legalization-for-all/no-trump-wall-no-state-of-emergency/2336613779684475/
On the campaign trail, candidate Trump said that Mexico would pay for his wall. President Trump could not get funding for his wall on the U.S./Mexico border even when his Republican Party controlled the House, the Senate and the White House. Then he shut down parts of the Federal Government for over a month. Almost four hundred thousand Federal workers were put out of their jobs and more were made to work without pay. In addition, workers for government contractors are not getting back pay. To get the funding for his racist wall, Trump is taking it a step further by threatening to declare a State of Emergency. With already thousands of U.S. troops mobilized to the border, a State of Emergency would heighten the tension of armed troops and border agents who already unleashed tear gas on refugees. We say No Trump Wall, No State of Emergency!
The only crisis at the border is the one Trump is creating. Thousands of refugee and immigrant children have been held in camps at the border, and some are dying in detention. Central American refugees, many if not most women and children, are fleeing violence so bad that even the U.S. State Department has advised U.S. tourists not to go there! We support asylum for the Central American refugees!
During his partial government shutdown, Trump had offered a temporary extension on DACA (Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals) and TPS (Temporary Protected Status) in exchange for billions of dollars for the wall. But Trump’s attempt to end DACA is already tied up in courts. What the Dreamers and TPS refugees need is legalization, not temporary extensions!
First he launched an attack against Mexicans, calling them, “Rapists, criminals, drug-dealers, and bad hombres,” then on Muslims, with his travel ban. Trump is a bigot who has demonized and dehumanized refugees, a racist who has referred to Central American and African countries as “shitholes.” Now it is Central Americans and back to Mexicans who are his main target. He claims that immigrants and refugees are coming to take jobs, but Trump was the one who took jobs away from workers in the United States!
We ask you and your organizations to sign on to this statement to oppose Trump’s Wall and protest any attempt by him to declare a State of Emergency.
NO TRUMP WALL, NO STATE OF EMERGENCY!
RELEASE THE DETAINEES, ASYLUM FOR THE REFUGEES!
LEGALIZE THE DREAMERS!
Join us as we engage in a public visibility demonstration to let Milwaukee know that we will not let trafficking survivor Chrystul Kizer be disappeared! We will be gathering at the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Locust Street in order to make some noise for Chrystul as well as gather petition signatures from our neighbors. Afterwards, we will gather at the Welford Sanders Enterprise center to build community, discuss next actions to #FreeChrystul and welcome more to this work!
Venue is wheelchair accessible and all ages!
Light refreshments will be provided. Feel free to bring a dish to pass if you would like!
UBLAC is thankful for the state legislators who used their voices and did the work to ensure we are able to acknowledge Black History month on a state level. It is EXTREMELY unfortunate that white people THINK they can dictate who and what and how we celebrate OUR history. No matter what is on paper or being said we WILL celebrate who and what we want. You don’t give Black people permission.
Thank you Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs for this message as well.
Throughout the history of this country there have been individuals who, because of their courage, sacrifice, and impact on history we celebrate or recognize. February, which is Black History Month, is a month dedicated to African-Americans doing just that… We do not know one of the people we acknowledge who was not at some point controversial.
We applaud my colleagues at the state for attempting to honor a present day history maker, and native son of Milwaukee, Colin Kaepernick. It is disturbing and out of order for the Senate Majority to try to dictate who is worthy of being honored for Black History Month. As this moment goes down in history We hope it reflects, regardless of this Senate vote, that there are many of us, here in Wisconsin, who support and/or appreciate Colin Kaepernick and the attention he has drawn to issues of injustice that have yet to be fully addressed.
“While there is a lower class, I am in it, while there is a criminal element, I am of it, and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” ― Eugene V. Debs
Dear family, friends, colleagues, and comrades,
It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of our beloved Rick Kissell on February 10, 2019 at the age of 63 from complications following surgery. A celebration of his life will take place on Wednesday, February 20, 4-7 PM, with the eulogy beginning at 5 PM, at the Bruskiewitz Funeral Home, 5355 W Forest Home Ave, Milwaukee. We request you bring your thoughts, prayers, and fondest memories of Rick over the years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Peace Action-Wisconsin, 1001 E Keefe Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53212 or Voces de la Frontera, 1027 S 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204.
Rick was an intelligent, passionate, and caring person filled with purpose and a great sense of humor. His generosity, respect for all, and quick wit will be deeply missed. A graduate of South Milwaukee High School and a former student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he was a pioneer in court interpreter services in the Milwaukee Area and dedicated three decades to his chosen profession. He was active in setting guidelines and training to improve interpreting and translation throughout the Wisconsin Court System. He was also very activein the peace, socialist, civil liberties, immigrant, civil rights, and labor movements. An avid reader, Rick loved discussing leftist politics, educating others on Milwaukee’s socialist heritage, communicating on his ham radio, enjoying live guitar concerts with his wife, and sharing donated books and documentaries with libraries and jails.
He is survived by his loving wife of 29 years Anna Maria “Annie” Espinoza, children René and Paul, stepson Lucas Alvarez, cousin James (Evelyn) Spice, aunt Virginia (the late William) Thomas, along with cousins, extended family, and friends.
“Signing off, WB9GYT.”
René: (414) 687-8457 or kisspinoza@gmail.com
__________________
Angela Walker, 2/14/19
When I was legislative director for ATU Local 998, I met a fellow who was an absolute treasury of information on Milwaukee’s socialist history. I believe my former union endorsed him in his bid for County Treasurer. This fellow, whose wit and plain speaking endeared him to me, convinced me to run against then-Sheriff David Clarke in 2014, which I would have never considered, had he not suggested it. He’s the reason a whole lot of y’all know me now, and his suggestion and support changed the course of my life.
My mentor and friend, Rick Kissell, passed from this life last Sunday. With his passing, an intelligent and fiercely justice-oriented spirit left this plane. May your family be wrapped in love, support and comfort, my friend. And may your fiery spirit be surrounded by light and joy. Journey well.
__________________
Latin American Solidarity Committee, 2/14/19
Today we mourn the loss of a good friend and activist who did a lot for us at LASC. Rick was a gifted interpreter and gave us many hours of his time interpreting for us when we had guest speakers from Latin America. He had a strong commitment to social justice. For that and many other reasons he will be missed. His death was a shock and he leaves behind a wife, a daughter and a son, and many friends. Rick Kissell, presente!
Contacts re the Yale event:
Felipe Hernández.
Felipe.dhernandez@gmail.com
Anneke Dunbar-Gronke
onnieg@gmail.com
Nye Fort
nylefort@gmail.com
(NOTE: Media coverage of what to some has been a surprising appeal by Krasner of Tucker’s decision, and grassroots protests of Krasner’s move, has been extensive)
Suzanne Ross, International Spokesperson, International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal
UNDER PRESSURE, YALE REBLAW CONF RESCINDS KEYNOTE OFFER TO PHILLY D.A. LARRY KRASNER: Instead Invites Political Prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal
Organizers of the Rebellious Lawyering (RebLaw) conference at Yale Law School rescinded a speaking invitation to Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner (see attached). The celebrated “progressive” DA was scheduled be one of the keynote speakers at the 25 year-old conference on the weekend of Feb. 15-16, 2019. But earlier this week a coalition of Harvard law students and lawyers wrote to conference organizers saying that Philadelphia prosecutors could not be counted in the tradition of rebellious lawyers. Their impassioned letter condemned DA Krasner’s decision to appeal a recent court order that granted Mumia Abu-Jamal the right to re-appeal his conviction. The letter also challenged the notion that a prosecutor could hold that title.
In their letter to RebLaw, they said, “The so-called progressive Larry Krasner is hell-bent on keeping [Mumia’s case] out of the appellate process. Larry Krasner was voted into office by the Black, working-class people of Philadelphia, but in the hour of truth he has upheld the rulings of racist judges [in this case] and is doing the bidding of one of the country’s most corrupt and homicidal police forces.”
The signers added: “Prosecutors, those managers of the oppressive state, regardless of the rhetoric they may espouse during a campaign, should not be invited to speak at a conference for Rebellious Lawyering.”
Harvard Law student signator Anneke Dunbar-Gronke noted “Krasner will go down in history as the well-meaning, “progressive” DA who opposed justice in the case of the Nelson Mandela of our time.”
Another Harvard Law student signator Felipe Hernández concluded, “The lesson here is that in the mind of a progressive DA, justice is doled out selectively and only when there is no real political risk involved. Thankfully the conference participants will hear from Mumia, an actual jailhouse lawyer—and pinnacle of rebellious lawyering.”
More info: Mobilization4Mumia
