Another hate crime. Three more Black victims. This time in a Dollar General store in Jacksonville, Florida. A 21 year old, White, hate-filled man. A Glock and an AR-15 style rifle purchased legally.
After each new horrible, previously unthinkable mass shooting, we ask ourselves “But what can we do?” The only thing we can do: HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE and DEMAND that they pass legislation that will make our schools and communities safe. We've had enough of their “thoughts and prayers.” Instead, we demand laws to protect us from dangerous people and their guns. Join Grassroots North Shore and partner organizations — WAVE, Moms Demand Action, and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence — in a rally and march calling for our legislature to pass sensible gun safety legislation now.
The rally — on Sunday, September 10, at 12:30 at North Point Water Tower Park (on Lake Drive between E North Avenue and Wyoming Place) — features speakers from our partner organizations, from students, and from Senator LaTonya Johnson. And we'll march up E North Avenue to Murray Avenue and back to the park carrying signs to amplify our voices. At the park we'll hand out postcards with our message printed on them to send to legislators. You'll fill out the addresses of your senater and representative; we'll apply stamps and mail them. So take action: raise your voices and come to the Keep Our Kids Safe at School rally and march.
The day after we gather to advocate for common sense gun safety laws, North Shore Fair Maps will hold an online meeting (on Monday, September 11, from 7pm to 8:30pm) to hear from Law Forward about the redistricting case the organization filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court (SCOWIS). There's another case on gerrymandering also. "Madison-based law firm Boardman Clark has teamed with lawyers from Washington, D.C. to sue the Wisconsin Elections Commission over the maps," the Cap Times revealed. This second suit "was filed on behalf of a group of 'mathematicians, statisticians and computer scientists who believe in fair districting and believe that their disciplines are helpful in drawing fair maps,'" Sam Hirsch, a lawyer with the D.C. firm, explained. It argues that the SCOWIS ruling adopting the maps passed by the GOP legislature violates the state's Separation of Powers Doctrine "because the court 'effectively put themselves in the role of the Legislature that didn't have enough votes to override the [Governor Evers's] veto and gave them enough votes to do so.'"
Tied up with the thorny gerrymandering issue, though, is the MAGA GOP threat to impeach Justice Protasiewicz for failing to recuse herself from these cases. At the heart of the matter are statements the justice made during the campaign, statements that allegedly show she's "prejudging" cases, presumably about gerrymandering and abortion rights. Yesterday PBS Wisconsin published What are the prospects of Wisconsin Republicans impeaching Protasiewicz?. The article provides important information about the circumstances under which impeachment is permissible: "public officials can only be impeached for corruption or crime." It also analyzes the political dynamics that might ensue should the Assembly in fact impeach her.
Our local paper of record, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is like the dog that didn't bark. I say that because I've seen no coverage in it of Benedict Donald's trials and tribulations yesterday. Two hearings, one on Jack Smith's election denial case and the other on the Mark Meadows hearing to remove his case from state to federal court, occurred at the same time yesterday. And they blanketed the national news. Judge Chutkan set a March 4, 2024, trial date in the federal elections case charging Boss Tweet with four felony counts. And in case you missed it, the Washington Post has published an analysis of the Meadows hearing: Mark Meadows struggles to distance himself from Trump’s plot. The hearing included testimony from Meadows, a risky and possibly ill-advised maneuver. He appears to have considerable memory loss but the prosecution came well prepared. The article notes that "one lesson from the proceedings is that Trump’s co-defendants are going to struggle to distance themselves from the alleged conspiracy."
The 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, commemorated over the weekend by a much smaller march, got scant coverage on Sunday, but Jamelle Bouie devoted his op-ed piece today to reminding us that it was really the "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, with a far more expansive vision for society than formal equality under the law. The march wasn’t a demand for a more inclusive arrangement under the umbrella of postwar American liberalism, as it might seem today. It was a demand for something more — for a social democracy of equals, grounded in the long Black American struggle to realize the promises of the Declaration of Independence and the potential of Reconstruction." We need to remember that when MLK was assassinated in Memphis, he went to support city sanitation workers in their struggle for equal pay and equal treatment from the city that employed them.
Going to our rally/march and/or tuning in to the North Shore Fair Maps meeting on the gerrymander lawsuits are not the only ways to stay engaged with the issues that matter most. Vote Forward recently launched their issue focused campaigns. Have a look at their instructions and guidance for participating. "In these campaigns, we are sending 'please vote' letters to young voters with messages focused on specific critical issues: either reproductive rights, climate change, or gun violence prevention. The messages we write in these letters will focus on these issues as a way to motivate young voters in Virginia to turn out in their state legislative elections this year." The election in Virginia will take place in November.
On the local front, especially for all of you who live in Ozaukee County, don't miss the "There's No Stopping Us Now" event to support the Democratic Party of Ozaukee County. It's on Thursday, September 14, from 5 to 8:30pm at Shully's in Thiensville. There's more information about the price of tickets in the events list. But you can click right here to buy yours. (Also —hint, hint) Oz county is where we can have the greatest impact!)
Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. You'll hear from me next, as they say, on the other side.
EVENTS
Tuesday, August 29
WISDOM 5 Week Fall Training Series, every Tuesday from 6:30 - 8:00pm
Online
Please join us for our 5-week Fall Training Series every Tuesday night from August 29-September 26. We are excited to cover a variety of topics about community organizing. Whether you're a new WISDOM member, an old timer or need a refresher - we welcome you to come learn from our leaders within our network! Once you register, you will recieve your Zoom information within a few minutes. It is the same Zoom link for all 5 sessions. You can choose to attend one or all sessions. If you have any questions please contact Amanda Ali, WISDOM's Digital Organizer.
Wednesday, August 30 - Tuesday, September 5
The Golden Rule, an historic sailboat, docks in Milwaukee
The Golden Rule, a storied sailboat that helped bring about an end to atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, will stop in Milwaukee Aug 31 - Sep 5 as part of a 15-month, 11,000-mile voyage to inform and educate the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons proliferation. A number of public events will be held, and speakers / crew members will be available for presentations at schools, churches or other venues during the four-day visit. Boat tours and visits with the crew will be offered every afternoon. (See a real-time map of the boat's journey.) The Golden Rule is a project of Veterans For Peace.
Friday, September 1
WisDems Back to School Giveaway, every Tuesday from 2:00 - 6:00pm
WisDems Field Office, 8405 W Lisbon Ave. Milwaukee
Join WisDems and the Milwaukee County Democratic Party as we celebrate Back-to-School by giving away school supplies and having good time before the studying begins! Backpacks filled with supplies will be available for all K-5 grade levels and are free to grab. There will also be additional supplies separate for those who are in need of specific items. We will also have snacks available! If you or anyone you know is in need of school supplies this year, share this event with them. We hope to see you there! RSVP is required to reserve a backpack!
Monday, September 4
Enjoy Labor Day with Family, Friends, and Communities
Saturday, September 9
Wisconsin Coalitions Candidate Summit, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location TBD, Milwaukee
The National Democratic Training Committee — in partnership with WisDems and their Coalitions (Black, Native American, Pride, Latino), Wisconsin Progress, Emerge Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Senate Democratic Committee, and Assembly Democrats — is offering an in-person event designed for candidates of color and LGBTQIA+ candidates. This summit will prepare you for your run for office and provide you with the tools you’ll use from now to Election Day! Register, Not a member of one of these communities? Fill out our candidate interest form to stay in the loop about other training and resource opportunities.
Sunday, September 10
Keeping Our Kids Safe at School Rally, 12:30pm
North Point Water Tower Park, 2288 N Lake Dr, Milwaukee
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SHOOTING: After each new horrible mass school shooting, we ask ourselves “how can we demand that our elected officials pass common sense gun safety legislation?” If you’re tired of hearing about “thoughts and prayers” as if they were solutions, join Grassroots North Shore together with WAVE, Moms Demand Action, and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, at a rally on Sunday, September 10th, at 12:30, at North Point Water Tower Park. State Senator LaTonya Johnson and speakers from WAVE, Moms Demand Action, students, and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence will fill us in on upcoming Lobby Days and recently introduced legislation. We’ll briefly march along North Avenue to Murray Avenue and then loop back to hear our speakers. After that, you can address already printed postcards to your legislators. We will stamp and mail them. RSVP.
Monday, September 11
Phonebank/Friendbank for Voter Protection, 5:00 - 7:00pm
Virtual
Join our brand new Phonebank/Friendbanks! Protecting voting rights in Wisconsin starts with us. You’ll start by making calls to people in your region to talk about why voting rights matter and to get them involved as a Poll Worker, and then we’ll give you the tools to engage your own community in the fight for voting rights. Right now, our focus is recruiting Poll Workers to nominate for the 2024 elections to ensure that every polling place in the state is open. Training is offered at every event, and no need to prepare anything in advance--we’ll provide scripts & resources, so all you need is a computer and a phone. We welcome Wisconsin residents and out-of-state volunteers in all our Phonebank/Friendbanks! Sign up. (This event recurs every Monday evening.)
North Shore Fair Maps Meeting, 7:00 - 8:30pm
Zoom
It's the Maps, stupid! By this time there could be movement on maps and otherwise in Wisconsin's Supreme Court. If so, our friends at Law Forward will explain it all to us. Sign up.
Thursday, September 14
Ozaukee Dems Gala: No Stopping Us Now, 5:00 - 8:30pm
Shully's, 146 Green Bay Road, Thiensville
Join us at our 5th annual FUNdraiser at Shully’s. Your ticket will include hor devours, dinner, dessert, and entertainment. The guest speakers will inspire, the auction will be good fun, and great people – like you – will make it fun. We hope you’ll attend and bring a friend! Click here for tickets. Price levels: VIP Table Seating $200 each | Table for 8 $800 | Rgular $75 each.
SAVE THE DATE
Saturday, September 16
Whitefish Bay/Shorewood Bridge Building Canvassing! 12 - 3pm
4845 N Newhall St, Whitefish Bay
Join the Whitefish Bay and Shorewood Dems for a volunteer meetup and neighborhood canvass! We'll be talking to voters about the issues that matter most to them ahead next year's crucial elections. First time canvassing? No problem! Our organizer will walk you through everything you need to know to knock doors. All you need to bring is yourself, your best walking shoes, and a fully charged phone. sign up!
Team VoPro’s first Fall Weekend of Action! 10am - 12pm
Online
We will have our first Voter Protection Weekend of Action event of this fall! We will host a special poll worker recruitment phonebank from 10am-12pm CT and a poll worker info session from 12:30-1pm CT. We would love for you to join us — and bring a friend! You can sign up for our Weekend of Action Phonebank here and our series of Info Sessions here! (Info Sessions generally take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.)
Thursday, September 21
Bay Bridge: Investing in Segregated Black Neighborhoods, 6:45 - 8:25pm
Virtual
This is the 3rd of a 4 part discussion and action series. But each segment is also a stand-alone event. This is an opportunity to hold action oriented conversation around what we can do to desegregate Milwaukee. Author Leah Rothstein will attend our September discussion. You do NOT have to attend all sessions nor do you have to read the book. Please come for important problem solving & opportunity building. Register.
Saturday, September 23
Grassroots Glendale Deep Canvassing, 12pm - 3pm & 3pm - 6pm
6563 N Crestwood Dr, Glendale
Join Grassroots Glendale to knock doors and talk to voters about the issues that matter most to them! The Dems are undertaking these canvasses now in preparation for next year's super important elections, both state and national. So please sign up!
Riverwest/Harambee Dems Weekend of Action Canvass, 12pm - 3pm & 3pm - 6pm
Art Bar: 722 E Burleigh St, Milwaukee
Weekend of Action Canvass to lay the groundwork for robust and successful elections in 2024. We're talking to people to get a feel for the issues they care about and thus to craft the right messages to reach them and turn them out. Sign up. The event repeats on Sunday, September 24.
Westside MKE Dems September Weekend of Action Canvass, 12pm - 3pm & 3pm - 6pm
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Milwaukee Field Office: 8405 W Lisbon Ave, Milwaukee
Join us the weekend of September 23rd/24th as we talk to folks in the community about the issues at the front of their minds heading into the pivotal 2024 election cycle. This is a great opportunity for new canvassers to get a feel for knocking doors, so bring a first-time canvasser along with you and get to know your Dem neighbors and the issues they care about! Sign up. The event repeats on Sunday, September 24.
Wednesday, September 27
Housing, Race, & Equity Workshop, 6:30 - 8:00pm
Bayshore Lutheran: 1200 E Hampton Rd, Whitefish Bay
Through the examination of primary sources & data maps, we will gain a better understanding of how intentional institutional choices resulted in segregated housing in the greater Milwaukee area. We will also make a commitment to affordable housing and learn practical ways to take informed action. Sign up.
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