For Immediate Release - 12-21-2010
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald Expands Witch Hunt
--FBI delivers subpoenas to four more anti-war, solidarity activists
The FBI came unannounced to knock on doors at two apartments in Chicago this morning. FBI agent Robert Parker, under orders from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office, delivered a subpoena to Maureen Murphy. Murphy, like several other individuals served subpoenas, is an organizer with the Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago.
This continues the repression unleashed by Fitzgerald on the anti-war movement since September 24th, when fourteen subpoenas were delivered to anti-war, labor, and solidarity activists in coordinated raids involving more than 70 federal agents. Armed FBI agents raided homes, taking computers, phones, passports, documents, notebooks, and even children’s artwork. A total of 23 subpoenas have been served to activists around the country.
Maureen Murphy said, “Along with several others, I am being summoned to appear before the Grand Jury on Tuesday, January 25th, in the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. We are being targeted for the work we do to end U.S. funding of the Israeli occupation, ending the war in Afghanistan and ending the occupation of Iraq. What is at stake for all of us is our right to dissent and organize to change harmful US foreign policy." Ms. Murphy is also the Managing Editor of the widely-read website, The Electronic Intifada.
In addition, three women in Minneapolis - Tracy Molm, Anh Pham, and Sara Martin - are threatened with reactivated subpoenas by Fitzgerald’s office and new Grand Jury dates. Tom Burke of the Committee to Stop FBI Repression explained, “It is likely the three individuals, like all the others so far, will continue to refuse to take part in Fitzgerald’s witch hunt. Fitzgerald can then call for putting them in jail as long as he wants.”
For more information: www.stopfbi.net
Contact: Tom Burke, Committee to Stop FBI Repression, 773-844-36
12/21/10
FBI delivers subpoenas to four more anti-war, solidarity activists
11/10/10
Palestine Solidarity in the Face of FBI Repression: With Hatem Abudayyeh
Thursday, December 16 - 7:00pm - Union Room 191
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=174924415851425
Recently targeted by the FBI and subpoenaed to a Grand Jury in Chicago for challenging U.S. foreign policy in Israel/Palestine, SDS will host Hatem Abudayyeh of the Palestine Solidarity Group. He will speak about Palestine solidarity activism in the United States, as well as the FBI harassment faced by those who speak out against Israel's criminal occupation of Palestine. Abudayyeh is also the Executive Director of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), a community based organization that helps empower Arab Americans and Arab immigrants.
Grassroots Organizing in an Era of Economic Crisis
Thursday, December 2 - 7:00pm - Bolton Hall Room 150
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110369839029970
Milwaukee SDS will host a panel discussion with members of Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP). STOP is a grassroots organization in Chicago building leadership in the fight for human rights to racial and economic justice. The event will feature Wilie Rodgers, board member of STOP and co-founder of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers.
STOP currently fights against gentrification and displacement, for better quality housing, against cuts to health care for the poor, against human rights abuses in Chicago's youth detention center, against budget cuts to and attempted closure and privatization of mental health clinics and more.
11/8/10
Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Harassment of Anti-war Activists
On September 24th, the FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force raided the homes and seized items (such as computers, cell phones, documents, etc.) belonging to anti-war and international solidarity activists in Minneapolis and Chicago in an attempt to find evidence of “material aid to foreign terrorist organizations.” These raids on members of Students for a Democratic Society, the Palestine Solidarity Group, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera are part of a trend of repression of those who disagree with the U.S. government’s international policies and the violation of our rights as part of “the war on terror.”
Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society believes that attacks on people in this country for their ideas is a gross violation of civil liberties and constitutional rights and must be ended. We call on President Obama and Attorney General Holder to immediately:
• Stop the repression against anti-war and solidarity activists
• Immediately return all confiscated materials (computers, phones, documents, etc.)
• Cancel the Grand Jury against anti-war activists
We urge everyone to call President Obama and Attorney General Holder to voice these demands.
• President Obama: (202)-456-1111
• Attorney General Eric Holder: (202)-353-1555
The Milwaukee chapter of SDS stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the country in the face of FBI repression and recognizes these searches and seizures for what they are, an attempt to silence the voice of the movement against U.S. wars and occupations and to harass and intimidate those who stand in solidarity with people around the globe who resist U.S. imperialism. We recognize that the activists involved have done nothing wrong, and we urge all citizens to show solidarity with those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government and to speak out against FBI repression.
10/21/10
U.S. Intervention in Colombia, Oct. 28
10/9/10
10/4/10
FBI Raids Spark Protest in Milwaukee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FBI Raids Spark Protest in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, along with over 30 other cities, to protest Oct. 5th
A protest is planned outside the Federal Building (3rd St. and Wisconsin Ave.) in Milwaukee, WI, on Oct. 5th, 5:45pm, as part of a national day of action against the FBI raids on seven homes and an anti-war office. The raids took place on Friday, September 24, 2010 and targeted antiwar and solidarity activists in the Midwest. Thousands have already come together across the country in protest of the FBI raids.
"Across the country, organizations and individuals are standing together to protest the United States government’s attempt to silence and criminalize anti-war and international solidarity activists," commented SDS organizer Natasha Morgan.
Morgan, a student activist in Milwaukee, was one of the activists contacted by the FBI, although her home was not searched.
The protest is planned by the Milwaukee Activist Defense Network, a newly-formed network of activists that includes members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Peace Action, MEChA, and many other organizations in Milwaukee.
Tuesday's protest will have three demands: 1) End repression of anti-war and international solidarity activists!; 2) Return all materials seized in the raid!; and 3) Stop the Grand Jury Subpoenas of activists!
For more information on the FBI raids, please see http://www.stopfbi.net.
Contact:
MilwaukeeSDS@gmail.com
10/3/10
9/24/10
Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Repression
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Repression
September 24th, 2010 - This morning, several doors were broken down at homes of well known anti-war activists across the country in a large FBI raid. SWAT teams raided the home of a Minneapolis SDS leader, and the FBI has been intimidating SDS members in Milwaukee, Chicago, Los Angeles, and North Carolina. The FBI is looking for evidence linking activists to "material support of terrorism.” Several activists have had papers, CDs, and cell phones stolen among other items; as well as being issued subpoenas to appear before a federal grand jury.
No arrests have been made – make no mistake, this is a fishing expedition by the FBI. The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to be pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or organizing against war and occupation.
Grace Kelley, an SDS leader from the University of Minnesota, said “SDS at the U of M condemns the terror tactics used by the FBI to silence activists who organize against wars and for peace here in Minneapolis as well as across the nation.”
We urge all progressive activists to show solidarity with those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government. Activists have the right not to speak with the FBI and are encouraged to politely refuse - just say “No”.
Milwaukee SDS opposes U.S. support for the occupations of Palestine, Colombia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We ask for your support in standing against this absurd government intimidation of anti-war activists. SDS will not be intimidated as we continue to call for an immediate end to the U.S. occupations!
For more information contact; Kas Schwerdtfeger, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee SDS: 262.893.2806
http://www.startribune.com/galleries/103733819.html?elr=KArks8Lcac_QE77DyPDiUeLcac_jE77DyPDiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr
http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/9/24/activists-denounce-fbi-raids-anti-war-and-solidarity-activists-homes
Join SDS for the National Day of Action to Defend Public Education.
This is a follow up to the March 4th national protest where thousands of students, teachers, and school staff took to the streets and student unions to protest budget cuts and tuition hikes. Education is a right! Join us on October 7th at 12pm in Spaights Plaza at UWM
9/18/10
Time for a New Chancellor – An Open Letter from SDS
Chancellor Santiago’s surprise announcement that he will leave UWM comes in the midst of intense public backlash over his “Master Plan” to privatize education at UWM. While the growing movement against Santiago’s corporate agenda was not calling for his resignation, it unilaterally rejected his plan to further privatize the university, and to balance the budget on the backs of students and workers. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) views the Chancellor’s decision to leave UWM as a blow to the agenda of privatization, and an opportunity for the university to pursue free public education.
During his stay, Santiago stubbornly refused to meet with students and workers on serious issues such as racism, sexism, budget cuts, and his autocratic “Master Plan.” Over the summer, SDS led a successful campaign that pressured Santiago to drop the bogus charges against the 16 people who were arrested at a protest outside his office in March. In 2009, SDS pressured the Chancellor to sign onto an anti-sweatshop program for the UWM bookstore. We continue to be part of a growing student movement that has spread the education rights movement internationally, and we will participate in the October 7th National Day of Action for Education Rights with these demands for a new university Chancellor:
1 Fight for Free and Accessible Higher Education
- Reject the "Master Plan."
- End the privatization of our education.
2 Chop From the Top
- Budget cuts to UWM must come from the salaries, benefits, and perks of the Chancellor and high level administrators.
3 Transparency Now
- The Chancellor must hold quarterly open meetings with students, faculty, workers, and campus organizations.
- Have the approval of the AFSCME Local 82, MGAA, & TAUWP unions.
- The Chancellor’s tax records must be made available to the public.
4 Fight Racism & Sexism
- Side with students against openly racist, sexist members of the Student Association.
- Support the DREAM Act, and access to scholarships for undocumented students.
- Support a UWM Boycott of Arizona over the passage of SB1070 and HB2281.
- Protect resource centers for minorities, LGBTQ, women, and other oppressed groups.
- Protect ethnic studies programs and that were fought and won during the civil rights period.
5 End UWM Support for War
- No collaboration with war profiteering corporations such as Oshkosh Truck and DOW Chemical.
- Boycott university relations with apartheid Israel.
- No CIA, FBI, DHS, NSA, or Military recruiters on campus.
9/12/10
Education Rights Speak Out and Celebration
Join us as Monday as we celebrate the victory of the Milwaukee 16, and the continued struggle for Education rights! From 12-1pm SDS members will share their new demands for a chancellor, talk about recent cuts to our university, share plans for the national day of action for education rights, and celebrate the Milwaukee 16!
FREE FOOD
FREE MUSIC
Monday Sept 13th 11-2 in Spaights Plaza
8/25/10
Next SDS National Convention to be held in Milwaukee
Students for a Democratic Society will be having our next National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin the weekend of October 22nd. SDSers and students and youth from around the country interested in forming a chapter are welcome, and encouraged to attend.
The October 22nd National Convention will be the first since the historic Education Rights protests of March 4th, 2010. Dozens of chapters in states all around the country led actions on their campuses to fight corporate takeovers and make Education a right for all. Discussion on this, as well as on the anti-war, environment, labor, anti-discrimination, and police brutality movements are sure to be a part of the weekend.
While the details of the Convention are still being planned, it will be a priceless opportunity to unite with others interested in grassroots student activism. Scholarships are being awarded to help those in need and/or from faraway places to attend.
Any questions? Write to us at: students4democraticsociety@gmail.com
Build the student movement! Help build SDS in the coming year!
8/23/10
7/28/10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Milwaukee community condemns Arizona's racist law SB1070
Students, workers and community members will protest against Arizona Senate Bill 1070, as the racist law goes into effect on July 29th.
Milwaukee, WI – July 29th, 2010 – A coalition of community organizations including Voces de la Frontera, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and The New Sanctuary Movement, will protest Arizona’s racist law, SB1070 this Thursday, beginning at Zeidler Park (3rd & Michigan) at 11:00am.
July 29th has been named a national day of action of non-compliance against Arizona’s SB1070 & HB2281. Marquette student and MEChA organizer Anahà Sánchez said “We’re protesting because we’re tired of the injustices towards Latino’s and immigrants. We can no longer sit back and watch these racist attacks against communities of color, whether it’s in Arizona or Wisconsin. We will not allow a law like SB1070 in Wisconsin!”
We demand that the Obama administration and congress put an end to all collaboration of programs of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) & police, which contributes to the criminalization of hard-working people of Milwaukee and the United States. We demand an end to the unjust deportations, an end to the separation of families, and an end to workplace raids. We do not support any form of racism, whether it is social or institutionalized. Included in our demands are the passage of just and humane immigration policy that does not criminalize immigrants and the passage of the DREAM Act.
We will not comply with racist laws like SB1070. We will stand up against hate and racism on behalf of those who have been intimidated to stay silent or who live in fear. We stand in solidarity with the people affected by this cruel law; they are not alone in this battle for justice.
Pass CIR & DREAM Act Now!
Boycott Racism! Say No to Arizona's SB2070 & HB2281
Contact:
MilwaukeeSDS at gmail dot com
###
7/22/10
Protest SB1070 - July 29th
Thursday, July 29th
Zeidler Park, 3rd & Michigan
11am-1pm
As part of the national day of action against Arizona's racist law SB1070 community members will come together downtown to protest SB1070 and similar laws being passed around the country.
We are demanding:
Pass CIR & DREAM ACT Now!
Boycott Racism! Say No to Arizona's SB2070 & HB2281!
End Police/ICE Collaboration!
Stop Separating Families and End the Raids!
Sponsors:
M.E.Ch.A de Milwaukee
Voces de la Frontera
New Sanctuary Movement
Students for a Democratic Society
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125860914122842#!/event.php?eid=139750592716633
7/7/10
Victory for the Milwaukee 16! UWM offers to drop charges!
http://www.fightbacknews.org/2010/7/5/victory-milwaukee-16-uwm-offers-drop-charges?utm_source=Fight+Back!+News+Service&utm_campaign=86dc2a538a-UA-743468-8&utm_medium=email
7/2/10
Arizona Freedom Summer
All out against White Supremacy! Be part of the Arizona Freedom Summer, July 23–August 5, 2010.
Join SDS this summer in the struggle against racism in Arizona! Come work alongside dozens of grassroots groups who are organizing against SB 1070 and other anti-immigrant laws.
Please join the facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=app_2309869772#!/event.php?eid=107301169320209
6/30/10
Victory for The Milwaukee 16!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Victory for The Milwaukee 16! UWM Administration Offers to Drop Charges
The 16 people who were arrested at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on the March 4th National Day of Action To Defend Education have achieved victory. The University administration has offered to drop all charges for the Milwaukee 16, and the investigation into the conduct of the UWM campus police will continue.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin June 30, 2010 -- Due to relentless pressure from the University community, including faculty, staff, and students, the UWM administration has offered to drop the charges against the Milwaukee 16. Though the charges will be dropped, SDS and the Education Rights Campaign will continue to seek justice for those who were mistreated by the police on March 4th through a formal third party investigation.
SDS member Molly Ubbesen states, “On March 4th, the University tried to silence our voices by arresting protesters, but we will continue to fight for democracy and education rights.”
Although Chancellor Santiago initially denied the request to drop the charges, he was ultimately forced to accept the demands of the campaign. As The Milwaukee 16 celebrate this victory, they attribute the success to those who demonstrated in their support.
UWM says they will drop the charges against the Milwaukee 16, but students and workers say that the fight is not over yet. As tuition rises and wages are cut at universities around the country, SDS is organizing nationally to demand that the rich pay for their economic crisis, not students and workers. Oct. 7th will be the next National Day of Action to Defend Education.
www.SDSMKE.com
Education is a Right!
###
6/11/10
Students for a Democratic Society Condemns Massacre of the Freedom Flotilla
Students for a Democratic Society condemns in the strongest terms Israel’s massacre and kidnapping of the activists of the Freedom Flotilla on May 31 that was bringing humanitarian aid in solidarity with the people in Gaza. This terroristic act of piracy on the high seas by the Israeli military resulted in the deaths of at least nine people and the wounding of many more. The surviving activists say that they were beaten and tortured with electricity before being abducted from international waters into Israeli territory, where they were jailed on the absurd charge of illegally entering Israel.
Meanwhile, as the whole world responds to these events with shock and outrage, the US government hasn’t skipped a beat in providing the usual diplomatic, political and financial support for Israel’s war crimes. This has played a critical role in enabling Israel to conduct business as usual, as can be seen by the boarding and kidnapping of another aid ship headed for Gaza, the MV Rachel Corrie only days after the massacre.
SDS is mobilizing across the country to protest Israel’s criminal aggression against the Freedom Flotilla as well as its occupation and oppression of Palestine in general:
On June 1 and June 4, the UW-Milwaukee and UW-Waukesha SDS chapters, alongside MEChA, the Arab-American and Jewish communities brought out hundreds to protest at the Milwaukee Federal Building.
Chicago SDSers joined with a picket of more than 3000 at the Israeli consulate in Chicago on June 1.
On June 3, UNC-Chapel Hill SDS mobilized for a rally in Durham, North Carolina.
UNC-Asheville SDS called for an emergency protest on June 7.
SDS calls on students everywhere to join us in protest of Israel’s war crimes and the United States government’s complicity in them. We are calling for the following:
Release the activists with the MV Rachel Corrie
Lift the siege of Gaza
Dismantle the Jewish settlements in the West Bank
End all US aid to Israel
Campus divestment from businesses profiting from Israeli apartheid
For more information about Students for a Democratic Society, visit http://www.newsds.org
6/9/10
MEET AT THE LIBRARY - 11am Thursday
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129192813776250&ref=mf#!/event.php?eid=129192813776250
The UW Board of Regents will meet at UWM this Thursday and Friday to vote on a proposed 5.5% tuition hike (nearly $400 a year.)
The Regents have refused to allow students, workers, and staff from the Education Rights Campaign ONE minute to speak at the meeting regarding tuition hikes and budget cuts. Where is the democracy?
We will protest the regents meeting on Thursday June 10th at 11am to demand NO MORE TUITION HIKES! MAKE THE RICH PAY FOR THEIR ECONOMIC CRISIS!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Education Rights Campaign Confronts the UW Board of Regents: "Education is a Right! No Tuition Hike!
The Education Rights Campaign at UWM will confront the UW Board of Regents meeting this Thursday to demand administrators vote “No” to the proposed 5.5% tuition hike.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - June 7, 2010 -- Students, faculty, and staff will protest the UW Board of Regents meeting at UWM this Thursday to demand an end to tuition hikes and budget cuts. They will also demand that administrators give amnesty to students who speak out for education rights, including the 16 education rights activists arrested in March.
The protest will be outside the Board of Regents meeting in the UWM Union Wisconsin Room on Thursday June 10th at 11am. The regents have refused to allocate even one minute for students and faculty to speak before the regents as they attempt to raise tuition.
The Education Rights Campaign will confront the Board of Regents because they are responsible for doubling tuition at the UW system in just ten years. As the UW system faces $174million in cuts, students and staff who are forced to take the burden of the cuts are demanding that high paid administrators take cuts from their six-figure salaries instead of approving yet another tuition hike.
"The 16 students who were arrested for protesting outside Chancellor Santiago’s office have not been silenced, and we will take our message to the Board of Regents" said Paul Sickel, of the Milwaukee 16. "The administration is focusing their efforts on tackling students who protest tuition hikes instead of tackling the financial problems facing our university."
The Education Rights Campaign is a coalition of over 20 student and faculty organizations at UWM who demand an immediate end to budget cuts, a tuition freeze, and increased money for need based aid.
Education Rights Campaign
http://www.educationrightscampaign.com
Education is a Right! No Tuition Hike!
6/8/10
Protest: NO 5.5% TUITION HIKE!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129192813776250&ref=mf#!/event.php?eid=129192813776250
The UW Board of Regents will meet at UWM this Thursday and Friday to vote on a proposed 5.5% tuition hike (nearly $400 a year.)
The Regents have refused to allow students, workers, and staff from the Education Rights Campaign ONE minute to speak at the meeting regarding tuition hikes and budget cuts. Where is the democracy?
We will protest the regents meeting on Thursday June 10th at 11am to demand NO MORE TUITION HIKES! MAKE THE RICH PAY FOR THEIR ECONOMIC CRISIS!
Demands of the UWM Education Rights Campaign
Education First!
We demand a tuition freeze and increased money for need-based scholarships. This includes investing in the students before expanding infrastructure. Students are continuing to pay a greater percentage of their educational costs. The university is raising tuition by 5% for 2 years. Thousands of students are struggling to figure out a way to remain in school. On average, students at UW-Milwaukee work more hours than all other students in the UW system. Education should be available to all young people, and our urban university must reflect the urban community.
Chop from the Top!
We demand the Chancellor and high level administrators of the university take at least a 5% pay cut from their six-figure salaries before deciding to cut salaries of faculty and staff. Currently, the Chancellor is making over a quarter of a million dollars. The Chancellor is also accepting other benefits that include money to pay for his luxury condo, a car, and $20,000 a year from the UWM Foundation. The Chancellor accepts all this and more while cutting all faculty and staff pay by 3%, a net 5% loss after a 2% salary increase was canceled. *According to the Chancellor’s office, The Journal-Sentinel, and The UWM Red Book.
Transparency Now!
We demand that staff, students and faculty be part of the decision making process. The Chancellor called for all Deans to cut their departments by 5%. Students and faculty have the right to know exactly what is being cut and who is making these decisions. We demand the Chancellor publicly lists all cuts by university email.
Academic Freedom!
We demand free, fair, and open discussion of issues on campus. Students and employees have the right to organize unions and other associations at the university. The university administration must not try to influence or interfere with the rights of students and employees to organize on issues affecting us.
Drop All Charges Against the Milwaukee 16!
We demand that Chancellor Santiago drop all charges against the students and community members who were arrested for protesting at the chancellors office on the National Day of Action to Defend Education. We demand a legitimate third-party investigation into police actions on March 4th.
Campaign Sponsors:
Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association (MGAA), The Association of University of Wisconsin Professionals (TAUWP), Students Equalizing Rights Forever (SERF), Students United for Immigrant Rights at UWM (SUFRIR), Progressive Students of Milwaukee (PSM), UWM Association of South American Students (ASAS), Black Student Union (BSU), Jews for Justice, Systematic Peace Project, Colombia Action Network at UWM, Latin America Solidarity Committee, Latino Student Union (LSU), Black Graduate Student Alliance, National Society of Black Engineers at UWM (NSBE), Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA MKE), Community Education Organization, English Education Association, Sierra Student Coalition, RSA.
6/1/10
Two Rallies This Week
Tuesday, June 1st:
The Middle East Committee of Peace Action will be hosting a protest
against the Israeli massacre of the Freedom Flotilla aid convoy TODAY
at 5:00pm in front of the Federal Building on 3rd and Wisconsin Ave.
This convoy, heading to Palestine, was carrying 600 activists,
supplies such as cement to rebuild Gaza, and vital medicine. It was
ruthlessly attacked by Israeli war ships in international water and
then seized. Many activists died.
Please spread the word. Protests are taking place internationally. It
is vital that we hold a large demonstration here in Milwaukee and show
our solidarity with the people of Palestine and to condemn U.S.
support for Israel.
Wednesday, June 2nd:
Join hundreds of other students in a march and rally for the DREAM
Act! We need everyone's support to encourage students who are
undocumented and unafraid to come out and share their story and to
show our senators that there is an URGENT NEED for change!
Wednesday, 3:30pm, Federal Courthouse, 517 E. Wisconsin Avenue
EDUCATION NOT DEPORTATION!
Because Everyone Deserves To Dream
Pass the Dream Act as a Standalone Now!
5/24/10
SDS MKE - Events in the past year
Speaker: Rosemary Williams: Fighting Foreclosures and Evictions
Speaker James Jordan: The War on Colombian Farmers
Movie: "Che" Part I
Celebration of International Worker's Day - May Day
March for Education, Not Deportation - MEChA and SDS join the Voces de la Frontera Immigrant Rights march.
A Forum on Education Rights - with the Education Rights Campaign and UW Administrators
Rally: Biden and Geithner: Fund Education, not Bailouts!
Play: Marx in SoHo by Howard Zinn
Movie: "Wounded Knee" on the AIM occupation of Wounded Knee, SD.
Milwaukee 16 Fundraiser/Concert
Protest: 7th anniversary of the Iraq war
Silent Vigil: For supporting the Milwaukee 16 - outside Chancellor's office.
Protest: Jeb Bush
Milwaukee 16 Fundraiser
Movie: Leila Khaled: Hijacker - for International Womens Day
Rally/Protest: March 4th National Day of Action to Defend Education
Speaker: On the Assassination of Fred Hampton
Movie: Walkout (with MEChA)
Midwest SDS Winter Skillshare
Movie: The Bader-Meinhof Complex
Protest: Karl Rove - War Criminal
Speaker: Richard Berg - President of Teamsters 743
Protest: Afghanistan troop surge
Speaker: Ashraf Casseim (Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign) - Fighting evictions in South Africa
Speaker: SDS member Natasha Morgan reports back from a labor rights delegation to Colombia
Rally: Education Rights Rally hosted by Education Rights Campaign - ft. Michael Parenti
Speaker: Michael Parenti: Author "Against Empire"
Speaker: Ala Jaradat: "Israel's Palestinian Prisoners: America's Other Guantanamo"
Protest: 8th anniversary of occupation of Afghanistan
Speaker: Father Simon Harak - Who Profits from War?
Speak-out for Education Rights - "they say cut back, we say fight back!"
4th of July Parade hopping
Protest Karl Rove at the MMAC
Midwest SDS convention in Miwlaukee
5/2/10
Friday: War on Colombian Farmers
James Jordan will be speaking at UWM on Friday, May 7th at 6pm. He is a member of the Alliance for Global Justice, and their project: Campaign for Labor Rights. He has been on, and led, delegations all over Latin America. He was in Haiti just before the earthquake, on his return to the states, he was detained by the Department of Homeland Security.
He has led a number of delegations to Colombia (he will be returning to Colombia in August), where he has met with rural farmers, labor union activists, and labor leaders. He will be speaking on the state of the labor struggle in Colombia, and his experiences in a country which has been at the center of the struggle against U.S. Imperialism.
James Jordan is being brought to UWM by Students for a Democratic Society.
Links:
http://www.fightbacknews.org/search/node/james%20jordan
clrlabor.org
4/30/10
"Che" Movie Night with SDS
Thursday, May 6, 2010
7:00pm - 9:00pm
UWM Union Fireside Lounge
2200 E Kenwood Blvd.
Che and a band of Cuban exiles (led by Fidel Castro) reach the Cuban shore from Mexico in 1956. Within two years, they mobilized popular support and an army and toppled the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Benicio Del Toro
Steven Soderbergh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqTw2dtVQzw
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=309852166839&index=1
4/22/10
4/21/10
Celebrate International Worker's Day with SDS
Monday, May 3, 2010
11:00am - 1:00pm
Spaights Plaza
Join SDS in Spaights Plaza to celebrate International Workers' Day (May Day) on Monday, May 3rd.
We will celebrate the history of the labor movement, as well as recent labor and education rights struggles in our community.
- Food
- Music
- Art
- Labor leaders speak
- Education rights Leaders speak
*All donations and proceeds benefit the Milwaukee 16*
Cosponsored by MEChA
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114571145232650&index=1
March for Education Not Deportation!
SDS will join Voces de la Frontera on Saturday May 1st to march for immigrant and workers' rights!
* We will carpool from the UWM Union - Meet at 11:30 am to catch a ride to the event with SDS *
We will meet at 12pm at Voces de la Frontera (1027 S. 5th St.), then continue on a march through Milwaukee to fight for:
Just legalization now!
No more deportations!
Driver's Card!
DREAM Act!
Good Jobs!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
11:15am - 3:00pm
1027 s. 5th st Milwaukee wi
For more information call (414) 643-1620
Pat Gowins of Welfare Warriors Speaks
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
7:00pm
Bolton 150 UWM Union
Pat Gowins is a long-time activist and mother, working on issues of welfare and poverty here in this city of Milwaukee for many years.
She is a leading member of Welfare Warriors, an organization that brings together single mothers and people of all ages living in poverty in Milwaukee, and an organization that produces and distributes the Internationally known publication "Mother Warriors Voice"
Thousands of organizations of urban poor receive and write for this publication and share ideas, stories, and education on the issues of people living in poverty on welfare or otherwise.
Pat will be educating us on the issues of big business in welfare and the great problems all of us face in Milwaukee and across the country while decades of slashes have been made to the social safety net.
Come learn more about a rarely discussed topic: the realities of welfare workers, and learn it straight from people who know first-hand what poverty in this city looks like.
This event is brought to you by Students for a Democratic Society in conjunction with Progressive Students of Milwaukee
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119479328069056&index=1
4/6/10
Marx in Soho - A Play by Howard Zinn - Coming to UWM
UWM EVENT (THURSDAY) IS FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Thursday, April 15, 2010
7:00pm
UWM - Curtain Hall Room 175
Howard Zinn’s “Marx in Soho” portrays the return of Marx. Embedded in some secular afterlife where intellectuals, artists, and radicals are sent, Marx is given permission by the administrative committee to return to Soho London to have his say. But through a bureaucratic mix–up, he winds up in SOHO in New York. From there the audience is given a rare glimpse of a Marx seldom talked about; Marx the man. The Play offers an entertaining and thorough introduction to a person who knows little about Marx’s life, while also offering valuable insight to students of his ideas.
Howard Zinn’s Marx alone occupies the stage. “Marx has different voices. The actor has to show Marx’s outrage at social injustice, express the pedantic Marx, the vindictive Marx, Marx, the loving family man, Marx as Humorists, and a Marx that can laugh at his enemies”
Jerry Levy, who teaches sociology at Marlboro and plays Marx, says the one-man show examines not only the political issues of Marx’s day, but also his interpersonal ones with his wife and daughter. It points to the relevance of those issues today, in modern life, according to Levy. Karl Marx is alive, well, and on his way to talk about the fall of communism, his life, and the relevance of the collapse of the Soviet Union to today’s world through this play.
Sponsored by Progressive Students of Milwaukee, UWM Students of a Democratic Society, Peace Action Wisconsin and Jews for Justice
FRIDAY NIGHT SHOWING:
Friday, April 16, 7:30 PM
Friends Meeting House, 3224 N. Gordon Place, Milwaukee
Directions: Turn east on Auer, off of Humboldt Ave., to Gordon Place, just west of and overlooking the Milwaukee River.
$10 General - $ 2 Off Advance Purchase
$ 5 Student/limited income
A benefit for Peace Action–Wisconsin
For more information: 414/964-5158 • info@peaceactionwi.org
www.peaceactionwi.org • www.levyarts.com
SDS Movie Night: "Wounded Knee"
April 6th - Bolton Hall rm b52 - 7pm
On the night of February 27, 1973, fifty-four cars rolled, horns blaring, into a small hamlet on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Within hours, some 200 Oglala Lakota and American Indian Movement (AIM) activists had seized the few major buildings in town and police had cordoned off the area. The occupation of Wounded Knee had begun. Demanding redress for grievances—some going back more than 100 years—the protesters captured the world's attention for 71 gripping days.
With heavily armed federal troops tightening a cordon around meagerly supplied, cold, hungry Indians, the event invited media comparisons with the massacre of Indian men, women, and children at Wounded Knee almost a century earlier. In telling the story of this iconic moment, the final episode of We Shall Remain will examine the broad political and economic forces that led to the emergence of AIM in the late 1960s as well as the immediate events—a murder and an apparent miscarriage of justice—that triggered the takeover. Though the federal government failed to make good on many of the promises that ended the siege, the event succeeded in bringing the desperate conditions of Indian reservation life to the nation's attention. Perhaps even more important, it proved that despite centuries of encroachment, warfare, and neglect, Indians remained a vital force in the life of America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoiLDXdSa0k
3/12/10
Report from Rally/Meeting with Chancellor
Over 70 students, professors and teachers assistants picketed outside the chancellor’s office, as four organizers met inside with the chancellor to demand that he drop the threat of academic punishment for the 16 student protesters who were arrested during the March 4 National Day of Action for Education Rights.
“15 police in riot gear were inside the building protecting the chancellor,” noted Students for a Democratic Society organizer Rachel Matteson who met with the chancellor. “We won two basic demands today, which were to have the chancellor participate in a public forum about the demands of the UWM Education Rights Campaign and to have more investigation into the excessive use of police force on March 4, but the academic punishment of the protesters is still uncertain and the much larger struggle for student and worker rights must continue.”
Many students report that Chancellor Santiago had ready three swat vans, two police wagons, 20-30 police in riot gear and six cops on horseback - all hidden behind the university dormitories.
SDS is excited to see the chancellor finally meeting some demands of the campaign, and we hope to continue the positive movement. We are still demanding that all charges be dropped against the 16! Education is a Right!
3/10/10
5 Events to Support the 16 / Education Rights!
Friends in the Struggle,
The fight for education rights has made a tremendous leap forward this week, but we still need your support now more than ever as reactionary forces are on the attack. 16 people were arrested by repressive and overly aggressive police a week ago, and we are planning several events in the coming days and weeks to raise the issue of education rights, and justice for the 16!
TONIGHT (Wed) 7pm, Bolton 150
"What Really Happened on March 4th?"
Chancellor Santiago presented his side of the story through major media outlets and an all-student e-mail. In his version, a rabid mob of students attacked the police and bombarded Chapman Hall with “ice chunks.” Now it’s time to hear what REALLY happened, from people who were actually there. Come to the town hall/teach-in to talk to eye witnesses and participants or share what you saw.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=353222015689
THURSDAY
Call the Chancellor!
Please call the Chancellor’s office in support of the UWM Education Rights Campaign and against police aggression at the protest on March 4th! Call the Chancellor' s office at: 414-229-4331 Email at: ces95@uwm.edu
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=357166968804&index=1
THURSDAY
Education Rights Vigil
At this time, Chancellor Santiago has agreed to discuss with ONLY 3 students about only academic punishment of the 16 arrested protesters. This will be a silent vigil on the outside of Chapman Hall to show solidarity with the Milwaukee 16 and to reflect on the fact that there are powerful forces out there that would like to see students and worker voices silenced.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=397175110800&index=1
SUNDAY
Fundraiser Potluck for the Milwaukee 16!
The Cream City Collectives (732 E. Clarke St.) are hosting a fundraiser potluck for the Milwaukee 16 this Sunday @ 7pm.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=380092841807&index=1
TUESDAY (March 16th)
"Know Your Rights Training"
with the ACLU Student Alliance
This is an important training to understand your rights when protesting, and what to do if you are arrested.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=370540214344&index=1
3/6/10
Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) is proud of the 250 students and workers who stood up for the March 4th National Day of Action to Defend Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM).
The university administration is intimidated by the UWM Education Rights Campaign, an alliance that Milwaukee SDS helped create of over 20 organizations that are demanding to lower high-level administrative salaries, democratize the school, and establish just policies for workers and students.
Milwaukee SDS condemns the police who used violence and arrests to silence the protest. Furthermore, Milwaukee SDS condemns the university administration for responding to our just demands by defending this repression. “We condemn the university administration for silencing our message by portraying student protestors as violent,” said SDS Milwaukee member Jacob Flom.
Students and Workers Denied Access to Chapman Hall
The demonstration peacefully marched to the Chancellor's office to deliver petitions and make a statement that students and workers will fight cuts to education. Instead of acknowledging the protest, the Chancellor and university administration locked their office doors and called the police, watching from the windows of Chapman Hall as students were maced and beat up by campus police.
The media did not cover the hundreds of students who were blocked out of a public building by UWM Police Chief Michael Marzion, who taunted protesters by saying it was his personal decision to do so. Chief Marzion, who can be seen in video footage kicking and shoving protesters, allowed police forces to use violence and mace on students and workers.
Administration Ignores Demands of Students and Workers
Chancellor Santiago still has not addressed the demands of the Education Rights Campaign. Instead he has chosen to support the police’s use of mace against non-violent protesters and the arrests of innocent students and bystanders.
Rachel Matteson, another SDS member states, “He has attempted to delegitimize the campaign by circulating lies about the conduct of the protest that he did not even attend, another refusal to hear student voices. He continues to criminalize students in the media and by university e-mail.”
This only furthers students’ and workers’ frustration with a university administration that sits on six-figure salaries, caters to wealthy investors, and continues to ignore those who are struggling for basic rights in a time of economic crisis and cut backs to education. In addition, the 15 people charged for demonstrating on March 4th face a total of $4,255.50 in fines—almost a semester of tuition at UWM! The administration is victimizing already financially struggling students with these charges.
We view the university administration as hypocrites when they talk about student violence because this is the same university administration that turns their backs to violence as they create business deals with war profiteers.
Racial Profiling
"I came to this rally to make a statement for education rights," stated Brien Roufus. "I was the only African American in a peaceful crowd and I was singled out in an aggressive arrest."
Milwaukee SDS deamnds immediate justice for protestor Brien Roufus. Roufus, as seen on video, was a peaceful protester and backing away from police before UWM Police Chief Michael Marzion walked straight up to him and said "you look like the perfect person to arrest." Zipping on plastic cuffs and jerking Roufus into Chapman Hall for arrest, Roufus' wrists were cuffed so hard his wrists bled.
Milwaukee SDS Demands Justice
1. A public hearing with Chancellor Santiago to hear the demands of the UWM Education Rights Campaign and to discuss the effects of the economic crisis upon this university.
2. All charges be dropped against those arrested and charged
3. Resignation of UW-Milwaukee Police Chief Michael Marzion for excessive use of force
Education Rights Movement Perseveres
Our demands give the public university administration the opportunity to stand with students and workers instead of with the private businesses responsible for this economic crises. On March 4th, the university administration got a small taste of what it’s like when they stand on the side of the bankers and politicians that expect students and workers to pay for their economic crisis.
The details of the March 4th protest overshadowed the plight of the students and workers at UWM who continue to bear the weight of the economic recession as Chancellor Santiago and other high level administrators maintain six figure salaries and cater to the interests of the bankers and politicians.
The events that occurred reveal the administration’s refusal to acknowledge the struggles being faced by students and workers. Chancellor Santiago still will not address the demands of the Education Rights Campaign. The administration’s legitimization of violence used against the protestors and the lies that were constructed to place the blame on the students and workers is unacceptable.
SDS member Molly Ubbesen asserts, “We will continue to fight for democracy and justice at our University.”
Education is a right!
Drop all charges against the Milwaukee 16!
3/5/10
Administration responded with police repression
Over 250 Students, Faculty, and Workers joined in on the largest Education Rights action in University of Wisconsin Milwaukee history on March 4th, 2010. After a rally bringing attention to massive tuition hikes and pay cuts facing the university, students chanted “Education is a Right!” and marched towards Chancellor Santiago’s office. This was part of a National Day of Action for Education Rights, where over 200 cities protested cuts to education.
University Students, Faculty, and Workers marched side by side towards Chapman Hall to demand a meeting with the Chancellor, where police had surrounded the building. The Chancellor has continuously refused to meet with the Education Rights Campaign, Students, or Teacher’s Unions to discuss the budget crisis. The rally, organized by the Education Rights Campaign at UWM, a coalition of over 20 groups, demanded the Chancellor take a significant pay cut from his $307,000 salary before cutting staff pay by 5%, and laying off workers.
About 200-250 people gathered at the Chancellor’s front office door, where 3 police officers refused to let anyone inside. Protestors chanted “Who’s school? Our school!” Police allowed one member of the Campaign to deliver almost 1000 signatures to the Chancellor’s secretary. The petition demanded the Chancellor take a pay cut, involve students in decision making, freeze tuition, notify the public of what is being cut, and allow groups to demonstrate for education rights.
Police told students that the Chancellor was “not around today” when some members at the back of the crowd saw the Chancellor sneaking in the back door. The rally quickly circled the building, picking up more interested students along the way. Having failed to enter the front door, students went to the back door chanting “Student rights are under attack! What are we gonna’ do, stand up fight back!” With no luck at the back door, the rally kept circling to the main entrance, growing increasingly frustrated that nobody from the administration would address the massive group.
As police stood in front of the door to the building, students continued chanting “Let us in!” for twenty minutes outside the Chancellor’s office. The crowd addressed the police, yelling “We’re on your side!” Several students moved to the front of the crowd and attempted to open the doors to the building, demanding a meeting with Chancellor Santiago. Police stood against the doors, and responded with kicks, punches, headlocks, and arm twisting. After those students were beat down, other protesters helped them out of the crowd. Protesters took turns addressing the crowd about the lack of democracy and student involvement in decision making at the university for another twenty minutes.
As students continued to speak out, and chant, police quickly snatched two protestors off the back of the crowd, hoping nobody would notice. The crowd turned around and followed the arrest yelling “Let them go!” Several police dragged two students 300 feet across the parking lot. Protesters were shocked and outraged, as a growing number of police became more aggressive with the two students. Protesters locked arms around the arrest scene and demanded that police stop brutalizing students.
The struggle continued all the way to the back door of the building, where police opened the door and threw the two students inside. As the door opened, police unleashed a barrage of pepper spray directly into the eyes and mouths of dozens of students and members of the press. Protesters screamed to the chancellor through the open door “Come meet with us, whoever you are,” hoping they could see, or speak to him. The chancellor did not respond. Members of the administration peered out the windows as police continued to attack students, throwing them to the ground, kicking, elbowing, punching, and arresting them. Some students threw snow balls at the building upon seeing the smug faces of the administration looking down from the towers of Chapman Hall.
Several Milwaukee Police Department vehicles swarmed the adjacent parking lot. Officers jumped out and pushed through students, threatening anyone around with arrest. Officers lined up and shook zip-tie handcuffs at students, grabbing at them, throwing them around, and tackling them. Police began chasing and tackling people randomly and arresting them. Police declared the protest an “unlawful assembly” and pushed the students across the parking lot, then across the street. Having scattered most of the protest, some students tried to reform in a picket line on the sidewalk, organizing students to march in circles. When one woman began leading chants, police crossed the street to arrest her, saying “you need to learn your lesson.”
Someone passed around an email list to provide legal support, when police attacked 3 students without warning for signing the list. 16 people were detained inside Chapman Hall including the Student Government President, members of the press, union representatives, and students. The administration released the Student Government President upon realizing the possibility for bad press. 15 others were charged with “unlawful assembly” and other ridiculous charges. The administration quickly held a press conference where they defended the disgusting actions of themselves and police. The media reported the administrations outright lie that students “thew ice chunks” and “punched police.”
Instead of meeting with students, and workers, the administration sent police to lock them out of the building. The Chancellor barricaded himself inside, and let police brutalize students at his own university. The Chancellor showed no respect for the already struggling students, in this time of economic and educational crisis. Students have a right to be heard by the administration.
Our own university administration will not allow students to speak freely to the people who make the decisions. Students and faculty have no decision making power in the university. Our only voice is through our organization, and through these struggles, we are stronger than ever! The administration WILL hear us!
We Demand:
1) A Public hearing with Chancellor Santiago about the economic crisis, its effects upon our university, and a discussion of our demands.
2) Drop all charges against the Milwaukee 16
3) Amnesty for the organizers of this event
4) An apology from the chief of the UW-Milwaukee police
Find videos and more at SDSMKE.com
3/4/10
Support the Education Rights 16!
Today, 16 people were arrested demanding Education Rights at UWM (see national news.) The Administration used the Police to block the message of students, faculty, and workers who were demanding education rights.
All those arrested have been contacted by SDS and are safe despite minor injuries from police harassment before and after they where in custody. We will continue to provide legal support for those involved.
Statement:
This protest came as a result of the Chancellor's refusal to meet with us. We organized a peaceful protest. We believe students should have access to public buildings, including Chapman Hall. We recognize this was a traumatic event for our many peaceful protesters and we condemn the police escalated this event into violence. The behavior of the police was unacceptable and their reputation has been deeply damaged, as we're only fighting for workers like themselves to afford education for their children. The real victims today are the students, workers, and community that are struggling in this time of economic crisis.
Demands:
1) Public hearing with Chancellor Santiago about the economic crisis, its effects upon our university, and a discussion of our demands.
2) Drop all charges against the Milwaukee 16
3) Amnesty for the organizers of this event
4) An apology from the chief of the UW-Milwaukee police
Please share videos of this event: http://www.youtube.com/user/thewaz
Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society Condemn Police Brutality, Demands Justice, Continues the Struggle for Education Rights
March 4, 2010 – Milwaukee, WI - Students for a Democratic Society is an organization that stands for social justice, peace, and equality. In the face of massive budget cuts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, we helped form a campus-wide coalition for education rights, called the UWM Education Rights Campaign, consisting of dozens of organizations, including the professor and teacher assistant union.
The campaign organized a peaceful demonstration on March 4th, part of a national day of action to defend education (www.defendeducation.com). The local campaign organized a speak-out to bring attention to our demands. The rally ended in a march to Chapman Hall, to deliver petition signatures to a Chancellor that has thus far refused to meet with us, instead choosing to introduce us to more campus police and locked doors.
250 students, workers, professors, teacher assistants, and concerned community members gathered today to show their support for the UWM Education Rights Campaign. SDS believes we had a great event, and are proud of the students and workers who rallied with us for education rights and stood their ground for over two hours as the police pepper sprayed, punched, and arrested over 18 people.
"It is difficult to express how outraged we are of the use of police repression against a peaceful protest," commented student organizer Jacob Flom. "We are outraged by the Chancellor’s unwillingness to come and meet with the peaceful assembly. Our thoughts and prayers go out tonight to the students who have been attacked, arrested, pepper sprayed, and injured. This campaign was about the tens of thousands of youth in our impoverished city who have absolutely no hope of attending this university due to a gutless university administration and politicians who instead give billions to war, occupation, and bank bail-outs."
Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society demands all the arrested be immediately released. We will not stand for charges against our fellow protesters. Despite the violence, repression, and however the Chancellor is trying to depict this situation, we will continue forth with our campaign for education rights with more energy and vigor than ever seen before.
Contact:
Kas Schwedrtferger
3/3/10
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UW-Milwaukee to Protest Budget Cuts as Part of the National Day of Action for Education Rights
The UWM Education Rights Campaign consists of two dozen professor, teacher assistant, and student organizations and expects a large turn out for a rally and march in protest of the budget cuts at UW-Milwaukee.
Milwaukee, WI, March 3, 2010 -- Outraged over the budget cuts at UW-Milwaukee, two dozen professor, teacher assistant, and student organizations have formed the UWM Education Rights Campaign and are putting together a large demonstration on March 4th at 12:00pm in the UW-Milwaukee Union Concourse (2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.) as part of a nation day of action to defend education.
While students and workers at university systems from California to New York will be on strike and holding all-day demonstrations, the UWM Education Rights Campaign will be hosting a speak-out at 12:00pm that will feature students who can no longer afford to go to school, professors and teacher assistants who are struggling to meet high educational standards, and workers who are facing lay-offs and furloughs. The speak-out will then turn into a march onto the Chancellor’s office to deliver a petition of over 1,000 signatures calling on the Chancellor to take a pay cut, to stop meddling in the affairs of the professor and teacher assistant unions, and to provide more transparency over the budget cuts taking place on campus.
“My fellow students did not create this economic crisis, yet we‘re asked to foot the bill with higher tuition and cuts to our education while the bankers get bailed out. I worked hard to make it to college and I am not getting pushed out without a fight,” stated Natasha Morgan, a native of Monroe, WI and student organizer at UW-Milwaukee.
The March 4th National Day of Action to Defend Education can be read more about at http://www.defendeducation.org. The ad hoc coalition consists of hundreds of endorsers, and states that:
As people throughout the country struggle under the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, public education from pre-K to higher and adult education is threatened by budget cuts, layoffs, privatization, tuition and fee increases, and other attacks. Budget cuts degrade the quality of public education by decreasing student services and increasing class size, while tuition hikes and layoffs force the cost of the recession onto students and teachers and off of the financial institutions that caused the recession in the first place.
The UWM Education Rights Campaign (www.educationrightscampaign.com) includes: Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association (MGAA), The Association of University of Wisconsin Professionals (TAUWP), Students Equalizing Rights Forever (SERF), Students United for Immigrant Rights at UWM (SURFRIR), Progressive Students of Milwaukee (PSM), UWM Association of South American Students (ASAS), Black Student Union (BSU), Jews for Justice, Systematic Peace Project, Colombia Action Network at UWM, Latin America Solidarity Committee, Latino Student Union (LSU), Black Graduate Student Alliance, National Society of Black Engineers at UWM (NSBE), and UWM English Education Association.
Contact:
Michael Raspanti
UWM Education Rights Campaign
Milwaukee Students fro a Democratic Society
414-364-1660
mraspanti39 at yahoo dot com
http://www.educationrightscampaign.com
