Happy Constitution Day!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been feeling particularly overwhelmed this week. The authoritarian playbook is rolling out more and more quickly in real time.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH Our First Amendment right to free speech is under attack. – targeting universities, private businesses, and law firms. We are at a particularly fraught moment with respect to escalating political violence – and most importantly, how the latest such incident with the tragic death of Charlie Kirk has been turned on its head and directed toward “the radical left,” with explicit threats from Attorney General Pam Bondi that the government will go after “hate speech,” loosely and broadly defined. Trump has threatened reporters who ask critical questions – like the Australian reporter asking about his wide-ranging business dealings while in office, and ABC’s Jonathan Karl for having the temerity to ask about Bondi’s "hate speech" threats.

Senator Ron Johnson can be counted on to never to pass up an opportunity to hop onto the most odious aspects of the MAGA bandwagon. This is what he sent out today:

https://secure.winred.com/ron-johnson/poll-free-speech-sms

What you can do – Don’t take the poll, since it’s impossible to answer it correctly (yes, freedom of speech is under attack – by the regime). Instead, please call or email Ron Johnson RIGHT NOW.  

DC office: (202) 224-5323 Milwaukee office: (414) 276-7282

Email form:  https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/email-the-senator

1. Demand that he explain how “The Left is …silenc[ing] conservatives and rewrit[ing] the rules of public debate.”
2. Demand that he explain exactly who “The Left” is.
3. Ask when it became constitutional for the government to threaten individuals and organizations based on their viewpoint.

It is well established that offensive, even despicable speech is fully protected by the First Amendment. “Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. set out the settled view, saying the government had no business “preventing speech expressing ideas that offend…That idea,” Justice Alito wrote, “strikes at the heart of the First Amendment. Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability or any other similar ground is hateful.” Quoting a classic 1929 dissent from Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Justice Alito added that “the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express ‘the thought that we hate.’”

When does speech cross into unprotected territory? “The First Amendment does not protect incitement, but the Supreme Court has defined that term quite narrowly, requiring a likelihood of imminent violence. Mere advocacy of violence, terrorism or the overthrow of the government is not enough; the words must be meant to and be likely to produce violence or lawlessness right away.” (What to Know About ‘Hate Speech’ and the First Amendment, NYT, 9/17/25) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/us/politics/what-to-know-hate-speech.html?unlocked_article_code=1.m08.qbiN.p7aIgMlf0CJ-&smid=url-share

Speaking of free speech violations, as I was writing this newsletter, the news broke that ABC is “indefinitely pausing” Jimmy Kimmel Live for his monologue about Charlie Kirk’s killing. Governor Pritzker is calling for widespread public pushback against ABC for this action. Send an email condemning their decision from this link. Send ABC Primetime Entertainment and Daytime programming Feedback PLEASE FLOOD THE ZONE!

On this Constitution Day, it can be said that the district courts are continuing to do their job. Parties who have challenged the myriad legal encroachments of the regime have won stays or favorable opinions in the vast majority of cases. And it’s important to note that, although the Supreme Court has so far refused to hold the administration to account for its actions through the “shadow docket,” these cases await actual briefs, arguments and decisions. Only a small handful of cases are taken by the Supreme Court for review. Thus, most of the lower court decisions will stand. Nonetheless, it’s also important to acknowledge that democracy won’t be saved through litigation alone.

The best way to protect our rights is to exercise them! As Ezra Levin, Co-Executive Director of Indivisible wrote recently, “I know the threats are real and the opposition is shameless and unrepentant. The way we triumph is by demonstrating courage with our actions. By standing up in defense of democracy and in opposition to violence, we spread the courage for more to do so. We get out of this together -- each of us doing our part. That’s how we win. And we will win.”

So let’s get to work!

FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT

Last week I wrote about the need to pressure our Democratic representatives and the minority leaders of the House and Senate to refuse to provide the votes needed to pass the continuing resolution – at least without significant concessions. If you haven’t taken action yet (no worries – I haven’t yet either; but I will this week!) here’s another resource for contacting our reps and holding their feet to the fire.

Toolkit -- Power of the Purse: A Big Bold Beautiful Plan to Stop Funding Fascism   https://docs.google.com/document/d/15j9DMjvQA7M-hdmx6AZNWJJ38RRLVZeGas9zAazYLWI/edit?tab=t.0

Here’s a graphic of what the last continuing resolution did to taxes. Let your blood boil, and contact your legislators!

PROTECTING ELECTIONS

We can’t just sit back and wait until the elections next fall to take back our government. We have to work to protect them now. At a time when our democracy faces unprecedented challenges, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure voters are registered ahead of elections. Help register voters at Milwaukee DMVs. Go to https://www.milwaukeevoterproject.com/ to sign up for a shift (or two) and access training materials.

Thank you for doing your part to save our democracy!

CELEBRATING GRASSROOTS NORTH SHORE’S 20^TH ANNIVERSARY Here is a feel-good video with inspiring speakers from our birthday party last Sunday. https://youtu.be/ZL_pKDyjjuQ

Touch grass, touch another human being. Take a break. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself, so you can do your part!

EVENTS

Wednesday, September 17

Thursday, September 18

Friday, September 19

 WEEKLY NONVIOLENT VIGIL FOR THOSE PERSECUTED BY ICE, 9:00 - 10:00am 
   Milwaukee Ice Office, 310 E Knapp, Milwaukee

Saturday, September 20

Sunday, September 21

Save the Date

other important links

Become a Member of Grassroots North Shore	Visit Grassroots North Shore on Facebook and Like Us!
Support Grassroots North Shore	Join us on BlueSky