Dear {{recipient.first_name_or_friend}} — 

So the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals has finally ruled and the results are terrible. The unanimous decision rules that voting laws can be fashioned to discriminate against a particular party as long as those laws are not intended to discriminate by race! So laws restricting early voting, requiring voter IDs, witnessing absentee ballots and the like are okay (or at least not "justiciable") as long as the intent is to disadvantage a political party. If those laws also have a disparate impact on protected groups (i.e. races or ethnic groups), c'est la vie. For a more informed and detailed analysis of the ruling, you can't do better than to read Richard Hasen's post.

You can help Governor Evers retain his veto power over the maps the GOP dominated legislature is sure to draw next year by attending a July 1 Zoom meeting to "Save the Veto." It's essential that the state break the gerrymandered (i.e. rigged) electoral maps for the state senate, assembly and US congressional districts if the state is ever to move Forward! again. In light of the decision by the 7th Circuit Court yesterday, the only way to do that is by preventing the GOP from gaining a veto-proof majority in the legislature this fall. And by supporting the governor's efforts to unrig the maps. You can RSVP here. The Zoom link will be sent to you once you sign up.

On the positive side of the judicial ledger, as I am sure you're aware, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana TRAP law (targeted restrictions on abortion providers) that would have left Louisiana with only one abortion provider for the entire state. Chief Justice Roberts cast the deciding vote in the 5-4 decision and he based his position on the fact that the law in question was a carbon copy of the Texas law the court had struck down four years ago. The rub is that Roberts considers the Texas case wrongly decided! He just thought that the court could not reverse itself so quickly. For a fuller account of the decision and Roberts's role in it, see the editorial in today's New York Times.

The distressing verdict from the Appeals Court and the tenuous (and probably temporary) ruling from the US Supreme Court should make it plain that the composition of the judiciary is a fundamental concern in every election, but especially perhaps in this one. And we have our work cut out for us.

Other volunteer opportunities will be coming along — our own "fast and furious" efforts as well as those of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. This past weekend was the first Weekend of Action for the Dems and several Grassroots North Shore supporters are leading neighborhood teams that help get the word out about Democratic issues and candidates. Join one of the teams! If you live in Shorewood, the person to contact is Paul Geenen. If you live in Whitefish Bay, the person to contact is Shirley Horowitz. If you live in Glendale, contact Cheryl Maranto. For Bayside, Fox Point and River Hills, contact the field organizer, Jack Ave. In Brown Deer, reach out to Nijeria Boone. And in Ozaukee County, get in touch with Bayley Connors.

In a sign that the Democratic Party is alive and well, both the Milwaukee County party office and the Ozaukee County party office are opening and are staffed. The Milwaukee County party office, at 2999 S. Delaware Ave, is open Monday - Friday from 1pm to 6pm. Biden yard signs are available there as of July 1 (tomorrow!). The Ozaukee office, located at 1930 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 030 (lower level), Grafton, is opening on July 7 and will be staffed on Tuesdays 4-6 p.m., Thursdays 1-3 p.m., and Saturdays 1-3 p.m. Volunteers will distribute signs and campaign literature and can help people register or sign up for absentee balloting. In both offices, everyone is expected to wear a mask.

The events list this week is sparser than usual, due I suppose to the 4th of July holiday. As a result, I want to end this part of the newsletter with a link to a thought-provoking article published in the New York Times on June 28, 2020. In it Charles Blow argues that we cannot excuse any slaveholders, including George Washington and other founding fathers, just because they were simply creatures of their times or were "kind" to their slaves. Blow strikes back at these justifications:

It's tough to reconsider our idealized myths about the founding of our country. But we live blinkered lives if we do not take this moment in history to confront our past and consider our future. Blow's piece is a good place to start.

Save the Veto, 5pm - 6pm
Zoom
Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature are just 3 seats away in each chamber from a veto-proof supermajority. Save the Veto is an unprecedented initiative by Governor Tony Evers and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to win state races and restore representative democracy by preventing a Republican supermajority ahead of redistricting. Please RSVP and receive your zoom link.

Info: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Refuel the Resistance is canceled for now, but Bounce is currently open for delivery and carryout. And check out "Apocalypse Drive-In" when movies are shown every Friday and Saturday in the parking lot and food and beverages can be brought out to your car (more information on this new program).

Thu Jul 2, 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 Jul 4, 2020

Info: Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Canceled for the holiday
Stand for Peace will not be held because of the holiday. Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee ordinarily occurs every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Jul 6, 2020

Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Former US Attorney James Santelle will talk about the results of upcoming anticipated Supreme Court decisions, some of which may be extremely consequential. The meeting will be on Zoom. More information.

Wed Jul 8, 2020

Info: Grass Roots South Shore, 6pm - 8pm
Probably online
Grass Roots South Shore is likely to have a virtual meeting. Check.

Info: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Refuel the Resistance is canceled for now, but Bounce is currently open for delivery and carryout. And check out "Apocalypse Drive-In" when movies are shown every Friday and Saturday in the parking lot and food and beverages can be brought out to your car (more information on this new program).

Thu Jul 9, 2020

Canceled: Drinking Liberally West Allis, 6:30pm - 9pm
Canceled
For information on whether the event will take place, check here.

Sat Jul 11, 2020

UN Assn of MKE, 10am - 12pm
Suspended
This meeting is suspended for the time being. More information.

Info: Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
51st Street & Sliver Spring
Stand for Peace is resuming their presence with careful precautions (more information on this). 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 Jul 13, 2020

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr. , Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.