When you click “Call me”, you will receive a phone call on the number you provided and be patched through to your Assemblymember. You will be able to view a script at this time. If you don’t get through, please leave a voicemail.
The Wisconsin State legislature is considering a dangerous bill, Assembly Bill 672, which would curtail First Amendment rights, increase options for government surveillance of individuals, and unjustly target our movements for collective liberation.
Far-right actors are trying to rush a vote on the bill and the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety will likely vote on it this week.
This bill threatens freedom of speech and would undemocratically target activists, nonviolent protest, and international students. AB672 introduces a dangerous penalty enhancer that could criminalize community groups, politicians, and activists for perceived connections to a “foreign government or terrorist organization.”
This is just the latest in right-wing efforts to use the language and legal frameworks of “terorrism” to dismantle democracy. This bill threatens to chill our freedom of speech, precisely when we most need to speak out.
Since the bill has been fast-tracked, the Committee is not accepting public testimony. It’s critical our lawmakers hear from YOU. Call now and urge them to vote NO on AB672.
This bill will not make our communities safer. Instead it endangers all of us by threatening our democracy and first amendment rights.
Calls needed to Wisconsin representatives before Wednesday
The Wisconsin assembly is set to consider AB 672, a bill which would dangerously curtail freedom of speech and increase options for government surveillance of individuals in Wisconsin. The bill has been fast-tracked and will be considered by the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety in an executive session this Wednesday, January 14. No public testimony will be taken, so it is essential to contact committee members and your own representatives immediately in opposition to the bill.
If passed into law AB 672 would enhance penalties for Wisconsin citizens accused of “acting as an agent of a foreign government or terrorist organization with the intent to silence or punish persons for their political view.”
This extremely broad and vague language means that the law can be used to suppress free speech and to justify greatly expanded government surveillance of Wisconsin residents purely on the basis of their political opinions.
The bill would endanger the right to hold and express opinions that differ from those of the party currently in power, and constitutes a grave threat to democracy and freedom of speech. Passage of AB672 would end the protections of the First Amendment in Wisconsin.
Because the bill has been fast-tracked, it is urgent that as many people as possible contact their own representatives, and also contact the democrats on the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety and ask for an assurance that they will vote no. And because the republican majority may succeed in passing AB 672 it is vital that the Governor’s office hears a clear message requesting that he veto the bill and prevent it from becoming law.
To find your State Legislators: Go to https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/ Enter your home address in the search bar at the top of the page and hit enter.
Here is a sample script for calling your representative, please feel free to personalize it, and thank them for their opposition to the bill.
“Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME]. I’m calling to urge Representative [NAME] to vote NO on Assembly Bill 672.
This bill is overly broad and threatens free speech. It could be used to target legitimate activists, international students, and peaceful protesters. It’s also fiscally irresponsible – the bill will increase costs significantly with no guarantee the budget can absorb them.
I’m asking Representative [NAME] to vote NO on AB 672. Thank you.”
Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 