Would you believe that the 2022 election cycle has begun already? Well it has. Several Republican Senators have already announced that they will not be running again in 2022 when their current terms expire. Let's make sure Ron Johnson is among them! After all, when he was first elected he promised to serve only two terms. Let's hold him to that promise. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has been helping, first with an editorial declaring Johnson, along with Representatives Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald, unfit for office. When Johnson wanted to provide a rebuttal to the original editorial, the Journal Sentinel followed up by giving him his wish. However, the editors also annotated his piece and exposed all his lies! Go read and enjoy the whole piece.

Now is a good time to pile on by writing a letter to the editor. To find out what is needed to submit a letter to the Journal Sentinel, go HERE. To send one to the Ozaukee press, go HERE. Progressives, liberals, moderates, Democrats of all kinds — we need to be loud and clear about defending our government, one that is the outcome of our votes. And we need to combat a tyranny of the minority and call out the GOP effort to suppress the votes of ANYONE in the hopes that Republicans can win if they can keep enough of the "wrong people" from participating in elections. That means working to undo partisan gerrymandering (join our Fair Maps and Voting Rights team and attend the meeting on Monday, February 8), for one.

And about that false claim that there were substantial and consequential irregularities in our state's election: the Wisconsin State Journal has an excellent article investigating the thousands of complaints that "top Republicans in the legislature said they were reviewing" about the Wisconsin election in November. "There were indeed thousands of complaints.... The majority of them, however, were mass-generated form letters making nonspecific claims about alleged irregularities, a right-wing fraud-finding effort and a clip from Fox’s Sean Hannity show." In the end, the Wisconsin State Journal was able to "identify just 28 allegations of election fraud or other irregularities that were specific enough to attempt to verify, but could only partially substantiate one, involving 42 votes." The article, first published Jan. 25 and updated today, is full of important information to counter the BIG LIE that the election was "rigged" or "stolen" in our state.

Despite all the sturm und drang about the election, Joe Biden is now President, Kamala Harris is now Vice President, Chuck Schumer is now Senate Majority Leader, and Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House. Come celebrate our victory, both here in Wisconsin and across the nation, with Grassroots North Shore! We did it!! And not through wishing and hoping, but through hard work and persistence. On February 28, at 7pm, we will gather on Zoom with our special guest, newly elected Assembly Representative Deb Andraca, and a host of musical and comedic guests. I hope you will join us.

Finally, don't forget to make plans to vote in the spring primary on February 16 and the spring election on April 6. There's a statewide election for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Seven people will be on the ballot for that important post. You can find out who they are and where they stand by visiting our web page for that race. You can also see a list of who is running for various municipal offices in the North Shore and in Ozaukee County. Information about candidates for judicial offices should be ready soon. Meanwhile, you can request your absentee ballots at myvote.wi.gov. When you have filled out your absentee ballot, you can deposit it in a dropbox for your municipality. See a list of them HERE.

EVENTS

Social Tue Jan 26, 2021

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. More information.

Wed Jan 27, 2021

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

Drinking Liberally Port Washington, 6:30pm - 8pm
Schooner Pub, 114 N Franklin St, Port Washington
TBA

Incarceration and Environmental Justice, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Zoom
ACLU of Wisconsin will present a conversation exploring the overlap between criminal justice reform, incarceration, and environmental justice. More information and registration.

Info: Drinking Liberally Glendale, 6:30pm - 9pm
TBA
More information on whether the event will take place.

Thu Jan 28, 2021

Youth Social Justice Forum, 4pm - 4pm
Zoom
Community leaders Rick Banks and TeAngelo Cargile will discuss Black empowerment in a forum especially for high school students. Hosted by ACLU of Wisconsin. More information and registration.

Info: Mental Health Board Meeting, 4:30pm - 4:30pm
TBA
This meeting is posted as a Teleconference Meeting (see Agenda for details). Public Comment: General. More information.

Sat Jan 30, 2021

Voces de la Frontera Annual Meeting, 9:45am - 12pm
Zoom
Voces members are invited to attend the virtual Annual Assembly. The event is FREE, but only members can vote in Voces elections. More information and registration.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Howard Avenue & Howell Avenue, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace is at this time resuming in-person events. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Feb 1, 2021

Black Lives Matter at School, 9am - 5pm
Online
The Milwaukee community will have opportunities to listen, learn, and add their voices to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) narrative in order to bring about positive change. Leading off Black History Month in February, the National Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action, February 1–5, is designed to engage the community in topics that address four national demands and foster discussions and solutions to current issues. All events will be virtual and are free and open to the public. Registration is required to participate. More information.

Virtual Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
TBA
Drinking Liberally Waukesha may be held virtually with Zoom. Check for updates.

Tue Feb 2, 2021

Black Lives Matter at School, 9am - 5pm
Online
See listing for Monday, February 1 above.

Wed Feb 3, 2021

Black Lives Matter at School, 9am - 5pm
Online
See listing for Monday, February 1 above.

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 8:30pm - 9:30pm
TBA
For information on the latest Laughing Liberally offerings go here.

Thu Feb 4, 2021

Black Lives Matter at School, 9am - 5pm
Online
See listing for Monday, February 1 above.

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.

Fri Feb 5, 2021

Black Lives Matter at School, 9am - 5pm
Online
See listing for Monday, February 1 above.

Sat Feb 6, 2021

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
TBA
Stand for Peace is at this time resuming in-person events. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Feb 8, 2021

Fair Maps Issue Team, 6pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Grassroots North Shore's Fair Maps Issue Team is holding its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. RSVP to get the Zoom link.

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.

Tue Feb 9, 2021

Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm
Water Street Brewery, 1251 Gateway Dr. Grafton
TBA

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. More information.

350 Milwaukee Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
350 Milwaukee is part of the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee usually meets every month on the second Tuesday. Check for information on whether a meeting will occur. More information.