Milwaukee, June 11: City of Milwaukee Charter School Moratorium Committee Hearing

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City of Milwaukee Charter School Moratorium Committee Hearing

The Takeover of the Milwaukee Public Schools didn’t just start with Senator Alberta Darling and Representative Dale Kooyenga’s MPS Takeover bill. It started decades ago and one of the ways it has pecked away at MPS is through the proliferation of 2R city charters. These third party operators are issued charters by the city of Milwaukee. They have a poor track record for performance and like all other schools that are not publicly run, they have no restrictions on who they educate, allowing them to push out students they deem undesirable. They are also not accountable to a public school board elected by the people of Milwaukee, but rather they are an appointed commission with a dubious record of oversight.

Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski has authored a resolution for a 5-year moratorium on any new City of Milwaukee charter schools. It’s a significant step in the right direction to start to turn back the Takeover of MPS. This resolution will be introduced at the Steering & Rules Committee hearing on Thursday, June 11. We need to turn out a large crowd for this hearing, in order to begin the process of putting Milwaukee schools back in the hands of the people, and not unelected commissions!

Parents, Educators and Staff, Students and Community members protest at Senator Darling's office June 4. Public education supporters brought petitions with 6,000 signatures demanding: Hands Off Milwaukee Public Schools! [Photo: Joe Brusky]

Parents, Educators and Staff, Students and Community members protest at Senator Darling’s office June 4. Public education supporters brought petitions with 6,000 signatures demanding: Hands Off Milwaukee Public Schools! [Photo: Joe Brusky]

Madison, June 11: Another Budget Is Possible Rally

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Another Budget Is Possible Rally
‪#‎AnotherBudgetIsPossible‬
THE DATE HAS BEEN SET–THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Gather at GEF 2 Plaza (King St. & Webster St.) at 4:30 pm for a short march or State Street Steps at 5 pm for the rally.

All out for a mass rally at the Capitol the first day either house of the Legislature takes up the biennial state budget! We know this austerity budget forces unnecessary cuts on those who can least afford it–students, the elderly, those reliant on food stamps. It also targets scientists at the DNR who help protect our land and water, extension agents who help farmers and other rural landowners, and educators at all levels. We know that ANOTHER BUDGET IS POSSIBLE and this event will help launch a participatory process to create a budget that reflects the true priorities of the people of Wisconsin, rather than those of big business.

There will be a feeder march from GEF 2 Plaza at King & Webster–in front of DNR headquarters–starting at 4:30 pm.

This event is sponsored by the Another Budget Is Possible Coalition. Endorsements are welcome and will be listed below as they come in. To endorse the event, please visit http://tinyurl.com/budgetrallyendorsements.

Endorsed by:
UW-Madison Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA; AFT Local 3220)
AFSCME Local 171
United Faculty and Academic Staff (AFT Local 223)
AFT-Wisconsin Higher Education Council
Student Labor Action Coalition
Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement

STATEMENT:
Wisconsin does not have a budget crisis. It has a political crisis. The proposed budget will make existing problems worse. It will further worsen the quality of K-12 education and make college education even less of a possibility for most Wisconsinites. It will further erode public services and diminish the quality of life for working peoples in Wisconsin, plunging those that are already excluded from access to important state resources into extreme deprivation.

Public services are already eroded and in disrepair for Wisconsin’s Black citizens. But this budget, which is a form of state sanctioned violence, will only create hostile living conditions and expand the drought of resources for our Black populations here. And we are already the worst state to live if you are Black.

We demand a budget that serves the interests of all the people of Wisconsin, not the interests of a wealthy elite.

We demand transparency and popular participation in the process of constructing the budget. Another Budget is Possible!

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Milwaukee, June 11: Justice for Rasmea Odeh! Livestream Update on Rasmea’s Case

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Justice for Rasmea Odeh! Livestream Update on Rasmea’s Case

Join us to view a live stream update from Rasmea Odeh and her attorney Michael Deutsch about her case.

Rasmea is the 68-year-old Palestinian American community leader who was tortured by the Israelis in 1969. She was targeted for political repression by the U.S. government and put on trial last year. Unable to obtain a fair trial, where she could speak about the torture and rape by the Israeli occupation army, she was convicted.

Outrageously, given the minor charges against her, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by deportation. She is at home in Chicago preparing for her appeal.

More information about her case here: http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/why-obama-administration-prosecuting-sexual-torture-victim-rasmea-odeh

and read Angela Davis’ appeal for Rasmea’s freedom here: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2014/11/04/angela-davis-free-rasmea-odea/18429933/

After the live stream, we will discuss traveling plans for a joint speaking event with Rasmea Odeh and Angela Davis at the University of Illinois – Chicago on June 28.

#Justice4Rasmea #FreePalestine

Rasmea

Milwaukee Fights For PUBLIC Education: Walk-In’s, School Defense & Other Resistance Against Wall Street Plans

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Stop the Takeover of MPS

A large gathering and Walk-In took place outside of North Division High School before the school day started June 5. It is clear, Milwaukee doesn't want their public schools taken over by unaccountable capitalist corporations, banks and their political servants [Photo: Joe Brusky]

A large gathering and Walk-In took place outside of North Division High School before the school day started June 5. It is clear, Milwaukee doesn’t want their public schools taken over by unaccountable capitalist corporations, banks and their political servants [Photo: Joe Brusky]

Baltimore PPA Organizer’s Car Shot Up: Response: ‘We will not be intimidated, silenced or stopped!’

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https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baltimore-Peoples-Power-Assembly

http://peoplespowerassemblies.org/

For Immediate Release:
The Baltimore Peoples Power Assembly and Southern Christian Leadership Conference Call for Friday, June 5, 2015 Press Conference at 1 P.M. at 2011 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 to Announce and Release the Following Statement in Response to Organizer’s Car Being Shot Up –

“To the Baltimore City Police Department and all concerned: We will not be intimidated, silenced or stopped! Our organizations and organizers will continue to stand strong until justice is won for Freddie Grey and all of the victims of police terror. We look forward to a strong and united Peoples Assembly and Tribunal on Police Terror called for this Saturday on June 6th.”

This past Tuesday, Sharon Black’s car was shot up with what appears to be a 357 magnum weapon, bullets went through several layers of steel from back to front, aimed at the driver’s head rest. The rear window was also shot up. Black, her son Steven Ceci, a guest from South Central Los Angeles, John Parker, were at her East Baltimore row home when all three heard 5 to 6 gun shots several yards from their residence at approximately 11 P.M. Tuesday night as they returned from work at the PPA’s nearby offices.

This attack is combined with a series of threatening phone calls to both the PPA’s phone line and Black’s personal phone, including a barrage of robotic attacks to both phones and disruptions to the organizations communications systems.

Sharon Black, PPA organizer and Rev CD Witherspoon, SCLC President jointly stated, “We take this attack and other threats very seriously and want to send a clear message to the Baltimore Police Department, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and any and all forces that may wish us harm, that we will not be intimidated, silenced or stopped in our continuing fight for justice for Freddie Grey and all victims of police terror. We want to say to all of our concerned friends and supporters: We are stronger than ever and look forward to a vibrant and productive assembly this Saturday, where we will not only hear from the victims of police abuse but plan our next steps toward ending police terror and winning jobs and livable wages now.”

Saturday’s June 6 Assembly will take place at New Unity Church, 100 W. Franklin Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 (corner of West Franklin & Cathedral Streets) 2 P.M. to 7 P.M.

Tribunal & Peoples Assembly on Police Terror and Structural Racism
Baltimore_PPA_June_6Baltimore_Tribunal_June_6_2015

Milwaukee, June 11: Out of the Pews and Into the Streets to Stop the Takeover

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Out of the Pews and Into the Streets to Stop the Takeover
We will gather at Bethesda Baptist Church for a prayer vigil to move out of our faith communities and into our larger community to confront the proposed takeover of our civil right to a voice in our public schools. We will emerge from prayer to join our Schools and Communities United partners to lock arms in the struggle. We will march to Hopkins Lloyd Community School to surround our beloved community school with our support. This school belongs to its hard-won community, not to those who would strip our rights and our legacy.
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Madison, June 11: Another Budget Is Possible Rally

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Another Budget Is Possible Rally
THE DATE HAS BEEN SET–THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Gather at GEF 2 Plaza (King St. & Webster St.) at 4:30 pm for a short march or State Street Steps at 5 pm for the rally.

All out for a mass rally at the Capitol the first day either house of the Legislature takes up the biennial state budget! We know this austerity budget forces unnecessary cuts on those who can least afford it–students, the elderly, those reliant on food stamps. It also targets scientists at the DNR who help protect our land and water, extension agents who help farmers and other rural landowners, and educators at all levels. We know that ANOTHER BUDGET IS POSSIBLE and this event will help launch a participatory process to create a budget that reflects the true priorities of the people of Wisconsin, rather than those of big business.

There will be a feeder march from GEF 2 Plaza at King & Webster–in front of DNR headquarters–starting at 4:30 pm.

This event is sponsored by the Another Budget Is Possible Coalition. Endorsements are welcome and will be listed below as they come in. To endorse the event, please visit http://tinyurl.com/budgetrallyendorsements.

Endorsed by:
UW-Madison Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA; AFT Local 3220)
AFSCME Local 171
United Faculty and Academic Staff (AFT Local 223)
AFT-Wisconsin Higher Education Council

STATEMENT:
Wisconsin does not have a budget crisis. It has a political crisis. The proposed budget will make existing problems worse. It will further worsen the quality of K-12 education and make college education even less of a possibility for most Wisconsinites. It will further erode public services and diminish the quality of life for working peoples in Wisconsin, plunging those that are already excluded from access to important state resources into extreme deprivation.

Public services are already eroded and in disrepair for Wisconsin’s Black citizens. But this budget, which is a form of state sanctioned violence, will only create hostile living conditions and expand the drought of resources for our Black populations here. And we are already the worst state to live if you are Black.

We demand a budget that serves the interests of all the people of Wisconsin, not the interests of a wealthy elite.

We demand transparency and popular participation in the process of constructing the budget. Another Budget is Possible!