Sad. Angry. DETERMINED!

Friday's Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade has left many people angry and demoralized. The anger is righteous, but we cannot afford despair. Read Rebecca Traister's article The Necessity of Hope In New York Magazine for inspiration and direction.

A New England Journal of Medicine editorial is a blockbuster. It ends with this paragraph: “By abolishing longstanding legal protections, the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade serves American families poorly, putting their health, safety, finances, and futures at risk. In view of these predictable consequences, the editors of the New England Journal of Medicine strongly condemn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision.”

Governor Evers spoke strongly in his response to the immediate resumption of an 1849 law banning abortion in Wisconsin. Here's Channel 3000 in Madison coverage: "Gov. Tony Evers said he will grant clemency to any abortion providers who are convicted under the state’s 1849 abortion ban, during a rally Saturday ahead of the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention in La Crosse."

And here's a quotation from Governor Evers published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel online on June 25, 2022: "I don’t think that a law that was written before the Civil War, or before women secured the right to vote, should be used to dictate these intimate decisions on reproductive health."

In spite of everything, Grassroots North Shore must persevere. And as I remind you frequently, the organization cannot continue to do its work without you. One thing you can do to help: make a donation to support our election work.

Just a reminder: absentee ballots for the August 9 primary are being sent out already. I received mine on June 25! But it's not too late to request one at MyVote.WI.gov. COVID-19 is not the only or even the chief reason to vote absentee or early in person (see info about early voting). One vital thing you can do voting absentee or early allows you to do: apply to be a poll worker (i.e., an election inspector). In Milwaukee County, residents can find the qualifications and an online application at the Election Commission. In Ozaukee County and elsewhere, check with your municipal clerk. (Find contact information on our website.)

Just as important: Voter Protection. The Voter Protection Team for the Wisconsin Dems sends out a newsletter listing volunteer opportunities:

answering voter's questions on a hotline (use the "contact the organization" button to send email inquiring about the possibility);
making phone calls to recruit people to help protect voters;
becoming a poll observer (at a polling place on election day).

Getting out in force to protect voters has never been so important, given what the GOP is doing to undermine elections at local, state, and federal levels. Here's what we know about GOP plans in an article by Heidi Przybyla on June 1, 2022: ‘It’s going to be an army’: Tapes reveal GOP plan to contest elections. "Video recordings of Republican Party operatives meeting with grassroots activists provide an inside look at a multi-pronged strategy to target and potentially overturn votes in Democratic precincts: Install trained recruits as regular poll workers and put them in direct contact with party attorneys." We need to help protect voters and that means stepping up to do our part in these crucial elections.

Another way to turn out voters is to participate in voter registration at MATC in the fall with the American Federation of Teachers Local 212, representing the faculty of MATC. We need volunteers. We are in need of volunteers to help students register to vote at all four campuses. We will be conducting registration from 11:00-1:00 several days of week from the end of August through election day. Part of the role is to help students understand the importance of voting as well. We are asking volunteers to pick one or maybe two days per week to help. We understand that some weeks you might not be there but it is easier to coordinate if we have you on a specific day. If you are interested or have questions contact Dave Weingrod.

Say No to RoJo
My Goodness! Does Senator Ron Johnson prevaricate?

Here's a brief account of a string of events that began with last Thursday's January 6 hearings: Ron Johnson now says he helped coordinate effort to pass false elector slates to Pence, but his new explanation drew a quick rebuke.

"After initially claiming to be 'basically unaware' of an effort by his staff to get fake presidential elector documents to Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said Thursday he coordinated with a Wisconsin attorney to pass along such information.... [He] acknowledged he coordinated with Dane County attorney Jim Troupis and his chief of staff by text message that morning to get to Pence a document Troupis described as regarding 'Wisconsin electors'" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 23, 2022).

A glimmer of welcome news? A Politico article June 26, 2022, is headlined "Trump fatigue sets in: ‘Some donors are getting sick of the sh--show'." "As the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riots lays out Donald Trump’s obsessive efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, Trump allies have responded with the political equivalent of a collective eye roll." The SCOTUS decisions on gun safety, abortion, and religion in public schools haven't helped either. Here's the Daily Kos roundup of weekend polls on the impact of the Dobbs decision: Abbreviated Pundit Roundup: The fallout continues as the GOP's regressive plan comes into focus.

Bottom line: We need every Democrat, Independent, and disaffected Republican — all those who support women's rights — to elect Democrats at all levels to mitigate the damage that the GOP plans to do to the social fabric of this country. We're counting on you to help us get all like-minded voters to the polls in August and November. And to support our election work. We're the majority. We need to act like it and win like it!

Finally, I want to leave you with a view of our political present and future by Ronald Brownstein in The Atlantic, June 24, 2022:

What’s becoming clearer over time is that the Trump-era GOP is hoping to use its electoral dominance of the red states, the small-state bias in the Electoral College and the Senate, and the GOP-appointed majority on the Supreme Court to impose its economic and social model on the entire nation—with or without majority public support. As measured on fronts including the January 6 insurrection, the procession of Republican 2020 election deniers running for offices that would provide them with control over the 2024 electoral machinery, and the systematic advance of a Republican agenda by the Supreme Court, the underlying political question of the 2020s remains whether majority rule—and democracy as we’ve known it—can survive this offensive.

....

The Trump model, in other words, is more the South in 1850 than the South in 1950, more John Calhoun than Richard Russell. (Some red-state Republicans are even distantly echoing Calhoun in promising to nullify—that is, defy—federal laws with which they disagree.) That doesn’t mean that Americans are condemned to fight one another again as they did after the 1850s. But it does mean that the 2020s may bring the greatest threats to the country’s basic stability since those dark and tumultuous years."

The whole article is worth a read.

EVENTS

Tuesday, June 28

LaTonya Johnson Fundraiser, 5:30 – 7:00pm
Vennture Brew Co., 5519 W. North Ave., Milwaukee
State Sen. LaTonya Johnson will have a Birthday Fundraiser, with Mayor Cavalier Johnson as a special guest. Sponsorship levels: Host $1,000, Co-Host $500, Sponsor $250, Friend $100, Suggested $50. RSVP

Wednesday, June 29

Grassroots Germantown Action Team, 11am - 12:30pm
Address available on sign up
Join Grassroots Germantown and the Wis Dems for our upcoming Grassroots Organizing Meeting! We need all hands on deck for the 2022 Midterms, and we need your help to make a plan to win this in Germantown. Sign up.

Peng Her Fundraiser, 5:00 – 6:30pm
An Ox Café, 7411 W. Hampton Avenue, Milwaukee
Peng Her, candidate for Lieutenant Governor, will have a fundraiser for his campaign. Host Committee: $1000, $500, $250, $100 Suggested contribution at the door $50. All contributions gratefully accepted.

Campaign Kickoff for Judge Judge Janet Protasiewicz, 5:00 - 7:00pm
Milwaukee Public Market
You are invited to a Happy Hour in Support of Judge Judge Janet Protasiewicz for Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Darrin Madison Fundraiser, 5:30 – 7:30pm
Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St., Milwaukee
Darrin Madison, Democratic candidate for State Assembly for District 10, will have a meet & greet fundraiser. More information.

Thursday, June 30

Redistricting/Voting Rights Act, 12:00 - 1:30pm
Webinar
This webinar will explore hot topics in redistricting law, with emphasis on the Voting Rights Act, and consider the proper role of courts and other federal and state institutions in the redistricting process. Registration.

Dan Larsen Campaign Kickoff, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Cedarburg Public Library, W63N589 Hanover Ave, Cedarburg
Join us for our campaign kick-off event & grassroots volunteer meeting here in AD60 to talk to our neighbors about our plan to elect Dan Larsen, Tony Evers, Josh Kaul, and Dems up and down the ballot! Sign up!

Saturday, July 2

Stand for Peace, 12:00 – 1:00pm
East Lincoln Ave. & South Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Dan Larsen Campaign Kickoff, 12:30 - 2:00pm
Java Dock Cafe, 16 W Grand Ave ste 101, Port Washington
Join us for our campaign kick-off event & grassroots volunteer meeting here in AD60 to talk to our neighbors about our plan to elect Dan Larsen, Tony Evers, Josh Kaul, and Dems up and down the ballot! Sign up!

Wednesday, July 6

Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
The Tap Yard - Waukesha, 1150 W Sunset Drive Waukesha
Drinking Liberally Waukesha meets on the first Wednesday of every month. The Tap Yard is located in the parking lot of the Shoppes at Fox River shopping center on Sunset. For the beer fans, we can enjoy a Central Waters tap takeover! We do ask that all attendees be vaccinated. With COVID numbers up, we want to be as safe as possible outside.. More information.

Saturday, July 9

Kletzsch ParK Cleanup, 10:00am - 12:00pm
The Pavilion at Kletzsch Park, 6560 N Milwaukee River Pkwy, Glendale
Join the Grassroots Glendale Team and the Milwaukee Riverkeepers to clean up Kletzsch Park! We'll provide the supplies, just bring yourself (and a friend!) to pick up trash after the holiday weekend. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and give back to Kletszch Park! Sign up.

Stand for Peace, 12:00 – 1:00pm
LaFayette Hill & Lincoln Memorial, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace has resumed in-person events with masks and social distancing. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Monday, July 11

Founders Day (Democratic Party of Wisconsin), 5:00 - 7:00pm
Deer District, 333 W Juneau Ave Ste B, Milwaukee
Founders Day is back after a two-year hiatus! We hope you'll join us for one of WisDems' most exciting events of the year. Doug Jones, former Senator of Alabama, will be the Keynote Guest with Chair Ben Wikler and Featured Guests to be announced. Funds raised through this event support Democratic Party of Wisconsin Operating Account. For questions, contact . Buy a ticket or a table . If you can't attend, please make a donation .