Youth Climate Activists – Fox Valley

https://www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation (GMF) likes to present itself as a “community foundation” looking out for the needs of all in southeastern Wisconsin. Similar to the right-wing Bradley Foundation, the GMF is sure to sprinkle a few crumbs to community organizations which is touted as “philanthropy.” (Note: The GMF receives “grants” from Bradley: https://www.bradleyfdn.org/grants ).

The reality is, that like the Bradley Foundation, the GMF (which was founded by bankers and the extreme anti-union zealot Patrick Cudahy) exists to ensure capitalist mechanisms are in place to oppose worker’s rights, regulations, anti-discrimination laws/policies and safety measures in industries and works to keep wages low and bosses in power.

The GMF Board is full of representatives such as bankers, corporate, insurance and other finance capital executives along with union-busting attorneys. Many of these individuals represent entities that are responsible for Act 10, Right–To-Work and other horrendous attacks on unions, are responsible for the 2008 capitalist crisis that resulted in devastating consequences such as millions of workers losing their homes through sub-prime loans and similar Wall Street schemes etc.

Many of the GMF’s Board members represent financial interests that are responsible for the ongoing plundering of Puerto Rico and other nation-states through mechanisms such as “debt service,” and working with the U.S. military in various neo-colonial ways. In the case of Milwaukee, the GMF, Bradley and others are responsible presently and historically for the city and state having some of the worst conditions for people of Africa descent. And for Milwaukee being the most segregated city in the United States.

Another focus of the Bradley, GMF and similar foundations, think tanks etc. is to neutralize if possible independent labor, community and faith based organizations or to hinder the credibility of, to co-opt and/or turn the leaders of people’s organizations into compradors (servants and the “eyes and ears”) for the rich.

In periods of worker unrest such as a strike or other people’s rebellions, foundations such as the GMF work with repressive state mechanisms such as local and state police, sheriff’s departments, the national guard and the U.S. military if necessary to attempt to smash any uprisings. The GMF also works to have a stable of servant politicians in place at the local, state and national levels to do the work of having laws in place that protect and expand their profits.

See GMF Board Members here: https://www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/about-us/board/

https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2017/05/31/bradley-foundation-funds-right-wing-media-machine/

ATTEND THE HEARING! SPREAD THE WORD! POST & SHARE! 

Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 11 A.M.

417 North (GAR Hall in the State Capitol

An ALEC-inspired bill has been introduced in Wisconsin. These bills have been popping up around the country as a response to the large public outcry over the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock. These bills have been opposed by environmentalists, anti-racist activists, labor leaders and more.

The bill would make it a felony to “trespass” or “damage property” used or owned by an electrical, gas, water, oil, petroleum, or renewable energy company. This includes headquarters or buildings, and even property “owned” by someone who was forced to allow a pipeline to travel through it. The bill could mean anyone helping to organize, fund, or join a protest like this could go to prison.

This is a violation of the people’s right to protest, and it punishes people who are fighting for their water, communities and livelihoods.

__________

ALSO: Call the legislative sponsors of this bill and tell them to remove their support and to oppose the bill: http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/ab426http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2019/proposals/ab426

At Milwaukee Climate Strike action September 21, 2019 / Photo: WI BOPM

Moratorium NOW! Coalition

Friends:

Please make a donation to help fund our legal appeal (the filing fee is $400) and to help build this struggle to expose billion dollar tax give aways to GM. Send a donation to Moratorium Now Coalition, 5920 Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202 or use VENMO to David Sole (note it is for FOIA appeal). Read more below –

All eyes are on General Motors with the start of the UAW strike against the giant corporation. The Moratorium Now Coalition has been in court since GM announced the planned closing of the Hamtramck Assembly plant. In addition to not paying federal taxes and having been bailed out of bankruptcy by the federal government, General Motors also pays little to no state taxes.

In the past 10 years GM has received several  MEGA tax credits from the State of Michigan where GM gets billions of tax credits over the next 20 years, in exchange for vague promises to maintain jobs and not relocate plants. For every year that GM makes profits in Michigan, they can claim this credit and pay no state taxes.

Last February the Moratorium Now Coalition submitted a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request to the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), a quasi-governmental agency filled with corporate representatives, to expose the amount of these credits. Our FOIA was denied by Judge Christopher Murray of the Michigan Court of Claims saying it was “private proprietary information.” We don’t think how our tax dollars are used (or misused) should be kept a secret from the public.

We want to take the case up on appeal. The Michigan Strategic Fund also doles out hundreds of millions in “tax captures” to developers like Gilbert, Ilitch and Ford. So we have a government agency privately giving billions in tax breaks to huge corporations while our schools, roads and services deteriorate.

We are confident we can win this appeal which would shed light on how, every day, corporations, banks and developers, are being given billions in tax breaks, incentives and captures. These tax giveaways are administered by shadowy government agencies shielded from the public view at the same time there are no funds to repair the schools, insure safe water or fix our roads.

Moratorium NOW! Coalition

https://bit.ly/2kYN9Tl

Students protesting climate change in Manila, Philippines. Photo: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

https://fighting-words.net/2019/09/19/zimbabwe-proclaims-former-president-mugabe-1924-2019-a-national-hero/

By Abayomi Azikiwe

During the early morning hours of September 6, a news item shook the international community saying that President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, known affectionately as “Gushungo”, had passed away at the age of 95.

Former President Mugabe had been receiving medical treatment in Singapore for several months. While he was president in his later years, Mugabe would travel to Singapore for his annual medical examinations.

In the immediate aftermath of his transition, the current President Emmerson Mnangagwa, declared his predecessor as a “National Hero”, an important designation reserved for the leading founders of the Republic of Zimbabwe, those who fought for the national liberation of the Southern African state. Zimbabwe won its independence from British settler-colonialism in 1980 having been under occupation since the latter years of the 1890s….

Zimbabwe President Robert G. Mugabe casket carried by soldiers to Rufaro Stadium on September 12, 2019. | Photo: Pan-African News Wire

ATU Local 998

There is a transit emergency! Today we Fight for the Future of Transit!

#RestoreTheRoutes #BackPayNow

ATU Local 998 Informational Picket September 20, 2019 in Milwaukee 

AFL-CIO affiliates from across the country have pledged their support for striking UAW-GM workers. #StandWithUS

UAW International Union

https://aflcio.org/