Freedom Youth Squad

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Weekly Climate Strike

We are climate striking every Friday to raise awareness about the climate crisis. By doing this we are putting pressure on our state government and Appleton City Hall to take action. We demonstrate at Houdini Plaza in Appleton from 5-7 pm. Everyone is welcome, everyone is needed.

12 Noon – 1 P.M.

Chase & Wells Fargo
Wisconsin Ave. at Water St.

We believe there can be a future for the next generations!

Chase ($63.9 Billion 2018) & Wells Fargo ($61.4 Billion 2018) are the 1st & 2nd LARGEST funders of Fossil Fuel (Arctic exploration, drilling, pipelines, fracking, mountain top removal coal, and more) companies in the WORLD!

You can’t join us on Fridays, but you do want to do something? Read Bill McKibben’s article linked below, then, if you bank with Chase, Wells Fargo, BofA, Capital One, etc., make a plan to move your accounts to institutions that don’t fund fossil fuels.  Yeah, it’s a headache…  For tips on moving your bank, see the Moving Your Money section at 350MKE.

Want to Do Something About Climate Change? Follow the Money – Bill McKibben, New Yorker

Please join us – rain, snow or shine. (Unless it’s a serious blizzard or below zero!)  Just dress in layers for the weather.  There are many pedestrians over the noon hour and we pass out flyers and talk to lots of folks.

We have signs and banners, but feel free to bring your own

All over the country, young people and adults have already begun organizing for the biggest climate strike yet. From Wednesday, April 22 to Friday, April 24 we will join together and use our collective voice to demand climate action.

Time is not on our side — this must be the decade of climate action, and it has to begin in this critical election year. From April 22-24, young people are once again asking adults to back us up as we take our movement to the next level.

Here’s a quick rundown of what organizers are planning for each day:

DAY 1: Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22, is a day of mass mobilization. We will kick-off the three days with a demonstration of our collective power and unity with millions of young people and adults participating in thousands of strikes and Earth Day events across the country. On this historic day of climate action, we are centering Indigenous people and people of color, reflecting on our personal connections to the Earth, and recommitting ourselves to the movement.

DAY 2: Stop The Money Pipeline Day of Action; Thursday, April 23

On Thursday, April 23, we will target financial institutions across the country. Many students have given their universities until Earth Day to divest from fossil fuels and many campuses will be having a day of accountability to demand their schools comply. Adults across the country will also be organizing actions at branches of JP Morgan Chase, Black Rock, and Liberty Mutual to demand they take money out of fossil fuels and stop the funding of the destruction of our planet. This day of action will bring urgent public attention to the fact that banks, insurance companies, and asset managers are complicit in funding, insuring, and investing in the climate crisis, and that stopping this money pipeline is one of the most important ways we can address the climate emergency.

DAY 3: Day of Political Action, Friday, April 24

On Friday, April 24, we focus on the urgency of political change. We need leaders who will address this existential threat, and for this to happen, we need people to show up at the polls this year. On Friday we will be conducting a massive, targeted voter registration effort across the country as we ask people to commit to using their voice and vote to bring about a safe and just future. Nationwide, strike actions will focus on elected officials and government leaders to demand bold and immediate climate action.

There will be millions of concerned young people and adult allies participating in thousands of climate actions across the country, including rallies, marches, teach-ins, protests, and strikes.

We need everyone on board to show the momentum of this movement. Can you forward this message to a friend who you hope to take action with from April 22-24?

In solidarity,

US Youth Climate Strike Coalition

strikewithus.org

#strikewithus

This is really a modern-day David vs. Goliath tale: about 2,000 of our siblings have been out on an unfair labor practice strike against ASARCO, LLC, a Grupo Mexico subsidiary, for more than three months now. It’s a tough fight but we’re willing to stand up for what’s right for as long as it takes. This video explains what we’re up against – can you please watch and share to let us know you have our backs?

USW ASARCO Strikers

Photo: PSL Milwaukee from Feb. 5, 2020 protest at UW Parkside, Kenosha

#freechrystul

The Students For a Democratic Society sponsored a protest Feb. 5, 2020 at UW Parkside joining with several other groups today to condemn the decision by the Kenosha County DA Graveley, to continue pressing charges against Chrystul Kizer, a victim of sex trafficking who had killed her captor. The Kenosha police and DA Graveley knew that the man was a sex predator and pedophile and failed to act to make sure he did not prey on any more children. We demanded and will continue demand that the charges be dropped and Chrystul be freed immediately! No justice, no peace!

#freechrystul

Supporters of Chrystul Kizer will also pack the Kenosha Court Feb. 6: Pack the Court! Bond Reduction Hearing

District Attorney Michael Graveley is an occasional instructor at UW Parkside and is teaching Criminal Law this semester.

He is also remorselessly prosecuting Chrystul Kizer, a young Black teenager who was defending herself from rapist and child trafficker Randy Volar, a 35 year old white man. Volar threatened, sexually abused, and trafficked Chrystul and she ended up killing him in self defense. She is now facing a life in prison.

Graveley has the power to drop charges, but he continues to press on, slandering Chrystul on social media and in the court room. Join us for a rally at UW Parkside, on the first day of Graveley’s class, to demand that he drop the charges.

More info: Free Chrystul Kizer

#freechrystul

https://bit.ly/398yFDR

The Milwaukee Public Museum and the union that represents their employees have entered a pitched battle over the terms of their new contract, which includes a unusual provision that would require employees to have their private medical data tracked and financially penalize them for falling behind in a wellness program.

Negotiations started this fall, and members of AFSCME Local 526 were shocked by the initial contract offer they received from the museum. The union’s president, Jaclyn Kelly, said she’s never seen a contract offer like this.

For a three year contract, according to the union, the museum proffered: no raises, no cost of living adjustments and an elimination of 1.5 percent of 401k benefits, while tripling the workers’ health care deductible and capping pay for employees that make it to the top of their range. Since then, during the ensuing negotiations, the museum has offered a raise of 0.85 percent annually, which doesn’t even keep up with inflation, Kelly said.

The union represents workers at all income levels: from part-time employees to ticket collectors, educators, maintenance staff and scientists. For the lowest paid employees, the raise wouldn’t bring their hourly pay above $11, Kelly said….

AFSCME Wisconsin Council 32

AFSCME Local 526 members hold an informational picket outside Milwaukee Public Museum, fighting for a fair contract on 1/18/20

2020 Annual Fundraiser

Internal Organizing 101

Whether it be membership recruitment, contract or issue  campaigns, or mobilizing around legislative fights,  Internal Organizing is the cornerstone of a strong local and
the labor movement.

At the end of the day, Internal Organizing is our best offense.

Join us for a FREE and insightful workshop with National AFL-CIO  Internal Organizing Coordinator, Charles Handel Lundy.

Contact Emily with questions or to RSVP- 414-771-7070, emily@milwaukeelabor.org