Like the virus itself, our crises seem to metathesize. It's easy to feel despair, or even just discouraged. So it's important to keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on. Militarizing the police was a disastrous policy begun in the 1990s, ended by the Obama administration, and resurrected by the bully-in-chief. His administration considers the people protesting injustice to be enemy combatants who occupy a "battle space" the heavily armed and armored police must "dominate." Keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on. For sustenance coming from an unusual place, try reading George Will's op-ed in the Washington Post yesterday. The headline reads Trump must be removed. So must his congressional enablers. And keep your eyes on the prize. HOLD ON.

As you have probably heard, the WI Supreme Court has now agreed to hear the case for purging voters immediately — and that now means before the November election. When this case was presented to the court in February, Dan Kelly recused himself because he was on the April 7 ballot. As a result, the six justices deadlocked on the case, 3-3, with Brian Hagedorn voting with the two liberal justices to let the appeals court ruling stand. Now Kelly is back on the court until July 1. Of course he tipped the balance so that the vote to hear the case became 4-3. Luckily, he will be replaced by Jill Karofsky when the court hears oral arguments. Meanwhile, our effort to contact voters on the purge list continues. Our purpose is not just to find voters who might need to re-register or to fix whatever problem landed them on the list in the first place. Our purpose includes making sure voters can vote safely. We're urging them to request absentee ballots. We're urging them to check their registration. And we're demonstrating that we care about their vote and their health.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has recently taken up this project in a helpful way. Instead of researchers having to look up each name individually, the data team in Madison is using its technologies to find all the strong and leaning Democrats on the list and compiling them into one or more virtual phone banks. They're also able to remove the 80,000+ people from the list who have already communicated about their voter registrations and therefore do not need to be contacted again for the purpose of making sure they're registered. So the list has been reduced to about 150,000 names. Still, a large number of those who remain are undoubtedly in Milwaukee. And that's where you come in. We will need all the help we can get to contact every one of them. If you have not done so already, please sign up to phone.

And in the Wisconsin tradition of moving forward, here's a "save the date" announcement of our Annual Picnic. Grassroots North Shore’s annual picnic will return, but not this year. Instead we're going virtual! So is it really a picnic? Well, it's the next best thing. Mark your calendars now so that you can tune in on September 13th at 4:30pm to Meet Our Candidates.

We're offering a virtual event to introduce to you Wisconsin’s future legislators, running against entrenched Republicans who ignore the needs and desires of their constituents. Featured candidates include: Deb Andraca, who is running against Jim Ott in Assembly District 23; Emily Siegrist, running against Dan Knodl in Assembly District 24; Neal Plotkin, running against State Senator Alberta Darling in State Senate District 8; and others. Each candidate will give a short presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A with moderator Edgar Lin.

You are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to Shirley Horowitz. Whenever possible, preferences for assigning questions will be given to people who live in that candidate’s district. (NOTE: Please keep questions relatively short.)

The list of events has more virtual ones than ever. For any events that are not virtual, please check with the organizers if possible. I know everyone is trying to keep up with all the novel arrangements put in place to deal with the pandemic but an automatic listing on a calendar may be overlooked in some cases. And in any case, be safe. If you do go to in-person events, practice good social distancing, wear a mask and avoid touching your face. Meet with others outside if possible. And make sure you wash or sanitize your hands often, especially as soon as you return home.

EVENTS

Tue Jun 2, 2020

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom Like the virus itself, our crises seem to metathesize. It's easy to feel despair, or even just discouraged. So it's important to keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on. Militarizing the police was a disastrous policy begun in the 1990s, ended by the Obama administration, and resurrected by the bully-in-chief. His administration considers the people protesting injustice to be enemy combatants who occupy a "battle space" the heavily armed and armored police must "dominate." Keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on. For sustenance coming from an unusual place, try reading George Will's op-ed in the Washington Post yesterday. The headline reads Trump must be removed. So must his congressional enablers. And keep your eyes on the prize. HOLD ON.

As you have probably heard, the WI Supreme Court has now agreed to hear the case for purging voters immediately — and that now means before the November election. When this case was presented to the court in February, Dan Kelly recused himself because he was on the April 7 ballot. As a result, the six justices deadlocked on the case, 3-3, with Brian Hagedorn voting with the two liberal justices to let the appeals court ruling stand. Now Kelly is back on the court until July 1. Of course he tipped the balance so that the vote to hear the case became 4-3. Luckily, he will be replaced by Jill Karofsky when the court hears oral arguments. Meanwhile, our effort to contact voters on the purge list continues. Our purpose is not just to find voters who might need to re-register or to fix whatever problem landed them on the list in the first place. Our purpose includes making sure voters can vote safely. We're urging them to request absentee ballots. We're urging them to check their registration. And we're demonstrating that we care about their vote and their health.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has recently taken up this project in a helpful way. Instead of researchers having to look up each name individually, the data team in Madison is using its technologies to find all the strong and leaning Democrats on the list and compiling them into one or more virtual phone banks. They're also able to remove the 80,000+ people from the list who have already communicated about their voter registrations and therefore do not need to be contacted again for the purpose of making sure they're registered. So the list has been reduced to about 150,000 names. Still, a large number of those who remain are undoubtedly in Milwaukee. And that's where you come in. We will need all the help we can get to contact every one of them. If you have not done so already, please sign up to phone.

And in the Wisconsin tradition of moving forward, here's a "save the date" announcement of our Annual Picnic. Grassroots North Shore’s annual picnic will return, but not this year. Instead we're going virtual! So is it really a picnic? Well, it's the next best thing. Mark your calendars now so that you can tune in on September 13th at 4:30pm to Meet Our Candidates.

We're offering a virtual event to introduce to you Wisconsin’s future legislators, running against entrenched Republicans who ignore the needs and desires of their constituents. Featured candidates include: Deb Andraca, who is running against Jim Ott in Assembly District 23; Emily Siegrist, running against Dan Knodl in Assembly District 24; Neal Plotkin, running against State Senator Alberta Darling in State Senate District 8; and others. Each candidate will give a short presentation followed by a 10-minute Q&A with moderator Edgar Lin.

You are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to Shirley Horowitz. Whenever possible, preferences for assigning questions will be given to people who live in that candidate’s district. (NOTE: Please keep questions relatively short.)

The list of events has more virtual ones than ever. For any events that are not virtual, please check with the organizers if possible. I know everyone is trying to keep up with all the novel arrangements put in place to deal with the pandemic but an automatic listing on a calendar may be overlooked in some cases. And in any case, be safe. If you do go to in-person events, practice good social distancing, wear a mask and avoid touching your face. Meet with others outside if possible. And make sure you wash or sanitize your hands often, especially as soon as you return home.

Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. More info.

Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm
Zoom
We're at a time when emotions are running particularly high and it would be nice to talk to some friends, so I thought I'd open up a Zoom chat at our regular meeting time, Tuesday, 6/2 at 6:30, for all who care to participate. Here's a link to join the conversation.

Wed Jun 3, 2020

Amanda Stuck Virtual Fundraiser, 6pm - 7pm
Zoom
Amanda Stuck, candidate for Congress in the 8th District (NE Wisconsin), along with Democratic State Chair Ben Wikler, will have a Zoom fundraiser for her campaign. Learn more about Amanda, the state party, and how we can adapt our campaigns in 2020. Donate.

Info: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
This event is canceled for now. Bounce is currently open for delivery and carryout. More information.

Emily Siegrist Virtual Fundraiser, 7pm - 8pm
Zoom
Please join the virtual fundraiser for Emily Siegrist, candidate for Assembly in District 24 (against Dan Knodl). A special guest will be the newly elected Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson. To RSVP, please contact [email protected]. To join the fundraiser, please use the Zoom link. To donate to Emily’s campaign, please use this link.

Thu Jun 4, 2020

Postponed: DPMC Issues Committee Meeting, 4:30pm - 4:30pm
Amalgamated Transit Union, 734 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
The Democratic Party's Issues Committee holds its meeting on the first Thursday of each month. All Democrats are welcome to participate.

Sat Jun 6, 2020

Online Forum: DACA Recipients/Asylum Seekers, 10am - 11:30am
Zoom
The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County will sponsor a forum on current realities for DACA recipients and asylum seekers, moderated by Kathleen Dunn. Speakers: Erin Barbato, Immigrant Justice Clinic, UW-Madison Law School; Uzoamaka Emeka Nzelibe, Immigration Law Clinic, Northwestern University Law School; Aissa Olivarez, Community Immigration Law Center, Madison. Registration.

Info: Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Suspended
In light of the governor's Stay at Home Order, Peace Action Stands for Peace have been suspended until the order is lifted. Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Tue Jun 9, 2020

Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm
Water Street Brewery, 1251 Gateway Dr. Grafton
At 6:30, Peter Kruger will talk about "The Politics of Resentment — What Liberals Don't Understand". This talk will cover some of the material from Katherine J. Cramer's book, which explains the appeal of Scott Walker and Donald Trump along with Peter's additional research and comments. Join us.

Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St., Milwaukee
Now, more than ever, Drinking Liberally is a space to gather, support each other, and form the progressive community we need. Come share a pint with your fellow progressives! Drinking Liberally MKE meets on the second Tuesday of every month, hosted by Matt Filipowicz.

350 Milwaukee Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Pl., Milwaukee
Presumed to be postponed due to Covid-19. See Facebook for more information. 350.ORG is the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee meets every month on the second Tuesday.

Wed Jun 10, 2020

On the Issues: David Crowley, 12:15pm - 1:15pm
Online: Marquette University, Eckstein Hall, 1215 W. Michigan St., Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley will discuss his vision for the state’s largest county as well as the realities that will help shape it. (This will be prerecorded.) Click on the words “Watch Now” on the website anytime beginning on June 10 at 12:15 p.m.

Info: Grass Roots South Shore, 6pm - 8pm
Zoom
Grass Roots South Shore will have a Zoom virtual meeting. Please check the Facebook pageor contact Jim Balk, 414-218-5944, for more information.

Info: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Canceled: This event is canceled for now. Bounce is currently open for delivery and carryout. More information.

Thu Jun 11, 2020

Canceled: Drinking Liberally West Allis, 6:30pm - 9pm
Studz Pub Sports Bar & Grill, 6833 W. National Ave., West Allis
Drinking Liberally West Allis is presumed to be canceled because of the coronavirus situation.

Fri Jun 12, 2020

Our Wisconsin Revolution Virtual Chapter Meeting, 6pm
Zoom
Due to the COVID-19 shut down, we had a difficult time organizing and knowing what direction to take. Now we have regrouped, and are ready to get to work. For this meeting we will be discussing medicare for all actions, forming a Milwaukee chapter, local protest, and how to organize during a pandemic. I hope you can join us. Join Zoom Meetin. Meeting ID: 842 7589 7776; One tap mobile: +13126266799,,84275897776# US (Chicago) or +13017158592,,84275897776# US (Germantown).

Virtual Democratic State Convention, 7pm - 9pm
Online
Due to the public health risks caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, theDPW’s Administrative Committee has decided to limit the 2020 StateConvention to a one-day, virtual convention on the evening of Friday,June 12th. Specific convention details will be announced soon. More information.

Sat Jun 13, 2020

UN Assn of MKE, 10am - 12pm
Redeember Lutheran Church, 631 N. 19th St., Milwaukee
This meeting is presumed to be postponed for the time being. More information.

Info: Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Suspended
In light of the governor's Stay at Home Order, Peace Action Stands for Peace have been suspended until the order is lifted. Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Canceled: Laughing Liberally Milwaukee, 8pm - 10pm
Comedy Sportz Theater, 420 S. 1st St., Milwaukee
Laughing Liberally Milwaukee is presumed to be canceled for the time being. More info.

Mon Jun 15, 2020

Canceled: Milwaukee Dems Meeting, 6pm - 6pm
Amalgamated Transit Union, 734 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Democrats meet monthly to discuss party business, hear speakers on current topics, pass resolutions, and network with other progressives. All interested Democrats are invited.