Occupy Milwaukee—We Are The 99%

On October 15th people from all over the world will take to the streets and squares. From America to Asia, from Africa to Europe, people are rising up to claim their rights and demand a true democracy. Now, it is time for all of us to join in a global non violent protest.
On Saturday, October 15th, Occupy Milwaukee will begin with a rally and march from Zeidler Park (4th & Michigan) to Chase Bank on Water & Wisconsin. Join us in condemning the corrupt system that has society held hostage. The ruling powers work for the benefit of just a few, ignoring the will of the vast majority and the human and environmental price we all have to pay. This intolerable situation must end. United in one voice, we will let politicians, and the financial elites they serve, know it is up to us, the people, to decide our future. We are not goods in the hands of politicians and bankers who do not represent us.

Rally, 11:00AM Zeidler Park 301 West Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53203

Protest/Occupation, 12:30PM JP Morgan Chase Bank Downtown Center, 111 East Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202

See you all there!

Not a day without the struggle. Not a second without the people.

—Milwaukee SDS

Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street

The Milwaukee Chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) sends our love and solidarity to the people of Occupy Wall Street. Although many of us cannot afford to travel to New York, Milwaukee SDS stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in New York who are taking our message to Wall Street for us, and we will support you however possible.

We understand that Wall Street is the enemy of the people of the world. Wall Street is responsible for ten years of occupation in Afghanistan, from which the Wall Street elite have made billions In profit for themselves. Wall Street is also the enemy of students and young people, workers, women, people of color, disabled people, and LGBTQ people. Together we are the 99%. Wall Street Banksters and their hired thugs always try to divide the people by race or gender. But Occupy Wall Street is actively healing those divisions and uniting the 99% against our class enemies, the top 1% of the ruling class.

All power to the people
Milwaukee SDS
SDSMKE.com

Students Struggle Against Walker’s Cuts

UWM students and workers have been hit hard by Scott Walker’s budget cuts which will slash approximately $250 million from the UW system. Over the summer, the UW Board of Regents raised our tuition another 5.5%. As tuition continues to rise, and campus resources are cut, many students are struggling just to stay in school.

5,000 university members walked out for two massive protests in Spaights Plaza last semester demanding an end to budget cuts, tuition hikes, and union busting. Milwaukee SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) united with campus unions and student organizations to organize the historic walkouts. As the largest grassroots student organization in the country, SDS believes education should not be a privilege for the wealthy elite, but a right for everyone. We know that education is a keystone to successful democracy and personal success, but students and youth must fight for free higher education if we want to make it a reality.

While hundreds of millions of dollars are cut from the UW system, taxpayers have spent over $400 billion on a decade of war in Afghanistan, and $800 billion on the occupation of Iraq. For students and workers, a new war on Libya means there will be even less money available to fund public sector jobs and education as we struggle to deal with the effects of the deepening crisis of capitalism.

This semester SDS asks for your support as we expand the fight for a more just and democratic society where students and workers are guaranteed their rights. Join us as we build the recall efforts against Governor Scott Walker, protest ten years of U.S. occupation in Afghanistan, and demand an end to budget cuts and tuition hikes at UWM. Another world is possible, and we can build it together.

SDS meets every Monday at 7pm in room 240 of the Union.

All power to the people,
Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society

General Interest Meeting

Join Milwaukee SDS for our General interest Meeting
September 12th, 7pm, UWM Student Union Rm. 181
Join the Facebook Event

School is starting again, the board of regents has decided to raise tuition another 5.5%, we are nearing the tenth anniversary of the War in Afghanistan, and Scott Walker has left our campus without any unionized workers. Now, more than ever, it is important for students to rise up and make their voices heard, and SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) is the largest and most respected student anti-war and activist group in the nation.

Since it's creation in 2006, SDS has led students across the country in the struggle for Education Rights, against War, and for many other causes, including immigrant rights, palestine solidarity, sex and gender issues, the fight against racism, and economic fightback. SDS in Milwaukee is one of the most well established chapters in the country. We've led massive walkouts (including two this last spring) held huge anti-war rallies, and have made UWM campus one of the most important battlegrounds in the nation for Education Rights following the historic protest on March 4th, 2010, which led to 16 arrests (the charges were dropped after a long battle with the administration) and eventually led to the resignation of Chancellor Santiago.

If you want to be a part of all this and more, if you want to work to create a better world and fight against injustice, please join us in Union Room 181 on September 12 for a full presentation on our organization.

Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win!

SDS New Chapter Kit

Since SDS is in a time of growth nationwide, Milwaukee SDS has put together a kit of files that will help new chapters get started. Variations of the SDS logo are included, as well as templates for general interest meetings, surveys, workshops, etc.

Download the SDS Chappter Kit

(If you dont have one, you will need free compression software like Winrar to open this file.)

This is a work in progress, so feel free to send us feedback or additional materials if you have anything in mind!
Please share this with anyone who might be interested in trying to start a SDS chapter!

Milwaukee SDS recently celebrated our 5th anniversary. Thank you for your continued support, as we wrap up an outstanding school year.

Milwaukee SDS Events 2010-2011

June 4th - SDS organizes emergency protest of the Freedom Flotilla Massacre
June 10th – SDS protests UW Regents meeting as Regents vote unanimously to raise tuition 5.5%
June 22-24 - SDS at U.S. Social Forum 20,000 leftists meet in Detroit!
July 4th - SDS radicalizes Independence day celebrations
July 20th - SDS builds for rally for Adam Hernandez Stop the school to prison pipeline
July 29th - SDS cosponsors rally against SB1070 in Arizona
August - SDS and the ERC win a huge victory for the MKE 16! Charges dropped!
September 13th - Education Rights Speak-Out Celebration of MKE 16 victory & open mic
September 25th – Emergency Protest of FBI Raids
October 5th – National Day of Action Stop FBI Repression
October 7th – National Day of Action to Defend Public Education
October 23-24 – Milwaukee hosts the 5th SDS National Convention
October 28th – Tom Burke: U.S. Intervention in Colombia
November 3rd – Movie: Norma Rae
November 18th – Movie: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
November 24th – SDS cosponsors Ali Abunimah: One State Solution for a Democratic Palestine
Nov 29th – SDS Launches Palestine Solidarity Campaign with checkpoint for Palestine solidarity
December 2nd – S.T.O.P: Grassroots Organizing in an Era of Economic Crisis
December 3rd – Stop FBI Repression National Day of Protest
December 16th - Hatem Abudayyeh and Maureen Murphy: FBI Repression of Palestine Solidarity
January 22nd – 3rd Annual SDS Winter Skillshare and Potluck
January 25th – Protest to Stop FBI Repression
January 30th and 31st – Egypt Solidarity Rallies
February 20th - Inga Muscio: Love in Violent Times
March 4th Commemorative Financial Transparency Act passed in the Student Association
February 14th – Protest Union Busting with MGAA
February 17th – UWM WALKOUT led by SDS numbers 3,000
February + March - SDS Student Contingents at Madison
March 2nd National Day of Action – UWM WALKOUT II
March 2nd – SDS helps launch UWM OCCUPIED
March 9th – SDS occupies State Capitol, helps lead emergency sit-in at assembly
March 16th – SDS cosponsors Honoring Rachel Corrie
March 19th – Iraq War Anniversary Protest
March 30th – SDS protests and disrupts CIA on campus
March 31st – Meredith Aby: FBI Repression and the Anti-War Movement
April 7th – Masao Suzuki: Causes and Effects of the Economic Crisis
April 11th – Protest at State Budget Hearing
April 25th – Protest Karl Rove at UWM II
May 1st – SDS Student Contingent at May Day Rally
May 2nd – 3rd Annual SDS Celebration of International Worker’s Day
May 3rd – Movie Night: The People Speak
May 4th – Checkpoint for Palestine Solidarity

Milwaukee SDS Supports UW-Milwaukee Occupation

Milwaukee SDS Supports UW-Milwaukee Occupation

Students Stand in Solidarity with State Capitol Occupation

Over fifty students and youth are currently occupying the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM) and the numbers of occupiers are still growing.  Milwaukee students are occupying UWM in solidarity with the global resistance to capitalism that is spreading the globe from Egypt to Madison.

From UWMoccupied.wordpress.com:  “We stand in solidarity with the workers and students striking and occupying the Wisconsin State Capitol building.  We demand immunity for all occupiers and strikers involved in these actions.”

On February 17^th, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) at UWM organized over 3,000 people to demonstrate in opposition to Governor Scott Walker’s “Budget Repair Bill,” which proposes to destroy the rights of workers unions and Wisconsin citizens.  This is the largest rally that UWM has seen since 1971.

On the March 2^nd National Day of Action to Defend Public Education, Milwaukee SDS organized another walkout to continue the opposition to Walker’s attack on workers and students.  2,000 university students and staff walked out and took over streets around the campus.

Last week, SDS chapters from around the country travelled to the occupied Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, where they led a student contingent in the 100,000 strong rally against Walker.

At the end of our rally in solidarity with the 3^rd National Day of Action to Defend Public Education, which over 2,000 people attended, UWM community members began an occupation of their university.

Education is a Right!  Students and Workers Unite and Fight!

Wisconsin SDS: All Out to Defend Education on March 2nd

The occupied Wisconsin State Capitol building stands as a testament to student and worker power in the face of attacks on education and public services. Tens of thousands of students, teachers, workers, and families have rallied at the state capitol for a week straight to stand up for their rights to a living wage, education, and collective bargaining. In addition to the occupation of the state capitol, there have been walkouts at high schools and universities across the state. Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organized a walkout of 3,000 college students, faculty, and staff. In dozens of Wisconsin cities, students walked out or teachers called in sick, shutting down entire districts for days.

Wisconsin SDS and The United Council of University of Wisconsin Students (UC) have endorsed the national call to action on March 2^nd.  SDS is planning actions in over 20 cities across the country, and Wisconsin SDS is calling all students to take action on March 2^nd.

All eyes are on Wisconsin as hundreds of thousands of students and workers fight cuts.  Wisconsinites anticipate Governor Walker to announce massive, devastating cuts to Wisconsin public schools on March 1^st, while teachers and students prepare for the national day of action.

Now is the time for students to stand up for our teachers, our education, and our future!  Wisconsin SDS chapters stand in solidarity with teachers and workers everywhere as they fight for the future of public education.  Wisconsin SDS calls on students everywhere to protest, walk out, occupy, and strike in defense of our rights to public education on March 2^nd!

In Solidarity,

Wisconsin SDS

UMN SDS: Solidarity with the Workers & Fighters of Wisconsin!

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Students for a Democratic Society (UMN SDS) sends our solidarity to the tens of thousands of workers and fighters throughout Wisconsin demanding an end to Governor Walker’s union-busting bill.

Wisconsin’s struggle sheds a light on what is to come next for working people throughout the country if we do not stand up now to unite together and fight this bill. Everyday, thousands of people are being laid off and being forced to face the brunt of failing “benefits” systems like Unemployment Insurance or having their pensions slashed. Now, Governor Walker wants to annihilate collective bargaining rights for public-sector workers. Unions are one of the only ways that workers still maintain control over the decisions that affect their livelihoods. This anti-worker legislation must be stopped! For too long, those in power have been balancing the budgets on the backs of poor and working people; now, to say that workers won’t even have a seat at the table in deciding the future of their work is an outrage!

At the University of Minnesota, SDS has struggled side bye side unions workers long and hard to demand an end to involuntary furloughs, lay-offs, tuition increases, and a right to shared governance. As students, we are impacted by these critical decisions since most of us will also soon be workers. Public sector employees make our educations happen through answering our questions about classes to posting our grades. In a flailing economy, workers need to have the right to collective bargaining. We must fight back to ensure that collective bargaining is still available for generations to come.

Kill the bill!
Defend the rights of working people!

Students for a Democratic Society – University of MN Twin Cities
http://umnsds.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/umn-sds-solidarity-with-the-workers-fighters-of-wisconsin/

Photos From the UWM WALKOUT on Feb. 17th

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewaz/sets/72157625970253227/

UWM Walkout Proclamation to Governor Walker

The following proclamation was passed by the Feb. 17th UWM walkout with 3,000 in attendance:


"We are gathered here today as a collective body of students, faculty, and staff of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

This is a walkout. Today we made an active choice to demonstrate that business as usual cannot continue.

Governor Walker has put forward a proposal that attacks decades of democratic gains made by the working people of this state. Under Walker's proposed "Budget Repair Bill," the people of this state would all but lose their right to collectively bargain for things as basic as health care, job conditions, and health and safety issues in the workplace. State workers, local employees and school district employees would lose hundreds of millions of dollars of income critical to supporting themselves and their families.

As a democratic body representing ourselves as students, faculty, and staff at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, we declare today that we reject Governor Walker's Budget Proposal. No amendments will make it acceptable.

We will only accept a proposal that represents the interests of the working people of this state - their organizations, their families, and their lives."


Video of the proclamation:

3,000 Students Walk Out in Milwaukee

By Mike Gold
FightBackNews.org

3,000 students at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (UWM) walked out of classes at noon to protest Governor Scott Walker’s proposed union busting bill, which would effectively ban public sector unions from being able to collectively bargain.  Students at colleges and high schools across the state organized walkouts, and many school districts were shut down by teacher absences.

“If you eliminate collective bargaining you wage war on the unions and on the working class,” observed UWM student Gabe Pollack. While UWM employees’ unions mobilized for the huge protest in Madison, many students, faculty, and workers cancelled classes or walked out to chant “Whose school?  Our school!”

Speakers from Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), The Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association (MGAA), and UWM professors rallied the crowd against Walker’s proposed cuts to education and worker rights. Students chanted, “No cuts, no fees, education should be free!” and “Workers rights are under attack, what do we do, stand up fight back!”

The walkout consisted of undergraduate students, AFSCME campus workers, Teaching Assistants (TA’s), Professors, and hundreds of local high school students who also walked out in support of their education. The huge crowd completely shut down the main plaza on campus, making it impossible to get through. UWM undergraduate student and Freshman Amanda Moore commented, “It’s awesome to see this many people behind one thing, and it’s even more awesome to be a part of it.”

Members of the UWM Teaching Assistants union MGAA are in danger of losing their tuition remission, which means that TA’s at UWM would have to work full time, attend school full time, and pay to do so.  Walker’s bill also proposes doubling health care costs for public employees.  History TA and MGAA representative Jacob Glicklich, said, “We are all threatened. This is an attack on public services for Wisconsin, and this goes beyond our state.” MGAA’s contract is officially up for debate on March 13^th.

While Walker blames public employees for creating the budget crisis, he seeks tax cuts for corporations and the rich.  As Milwaukee County Executive, Walker cut numerous public services such as bus lines in neighborhoods of color.  Walker helped make Milwaukee the 4^th poorest city in the United States, and if he has his way he will do the same to the state of Wisconsin.

Resistance Continues in Madison

In Madison, the sit in at the Capitol continues as tens of thousands of workers and students unite in bold resistance. Democrats refused to show up to the Senate, breaking quorum and delaying the vote for the bill. Many Senators crossed the state border in order to delay the vote, as Governor Walker attempted to dispatch state police to find them.

Despite massive protests across the state, Governor Walker seems determined to pass his anti-worker, anti-student legislation. Many other campuses in Wisconsin participated in the Walkout as well, protesting the attack on their education. High schools have also been shut down. Protests and actions of this nature are expected to continue as long as the bill remains a devastating possibility for the future of the workers of Wisconsin.

Education Rights Struggle Advances

The UWM walkout was the largest on campus since SDS organized a national student strike against the invasion of Cambodia in 1971.  While SDS and The Education Rights Campaign at UWM face off with Walker’s union busting, massive cuts to public education are expected from Walker’s upcoming budget proposal.  Milwaukee SDS will join the call to build for the March 2^nd National Day of Action to Defend Public Education.

On behalf of the UWM walkout, SDS member Kas Schwerdtfeger read aloud a proclamation, supported by applause at the rally, reprinted below:

Proclamation of the UWM Walkout

“We are gathered here today as a collective body of students, faculty, and staff of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

This is a walkout. Today we made an active choice to demonstrate that business as usual cannot continue.

Governor Walker has put forward a proposal that attacks decades of democratic gains made by the working people of this state. Under Walker's proposed "Budget Repair Bill," the people of this state would all but lose their right to collectively bargain for things as basic as health care, job conditions, and health and safety issues in the workplace. State workers, local employees and school district employees would lose hundreds of millions of dollars of income critical to supporting themselves and their families.

As a democratic body representing ourselves as students, faculty, and staff at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, we declare today that we reject Governor Walker's Budget Proposal. No amendments will make it acceptable.

We will only accept a proposal that represents the interests of the working people of this state - their organizations, their families, and their lives.”

UW System-Wide Walk-Out Thursday at Noon

UWM WALK OUT TOMORROW!!

UWM T.A’s and Workers are in a dire situation! With his Emergency Budget Repair Bill, Scott Walker has threatened to take away their collective bargaining rights in attempts to silence their voices in the workplace. This will leave our professors, T.A’s and university employees defenseless in the face of attacks on health care, tuition remission, pension contributions, grievance procedures and other important rights. The effect of this bill will destroy Wisconsin’s public education system as teachers, professors and students will be forced to leave their jobs.

In defense of our public institutions, there will be a UW-System Walk-Out Tomorrow, Thursday, February 17th at noon. Join us in Spaight’s plaza as we rally against this outrageous attack!

SAVE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION! WALK-OUT TOMORROW, 12pm SPAIGHT’S PLAZA!!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=164946076888542

Emergency Rally Monday for Student/Worker Rights

Monday, February 14
Spaights Plaza at UWM (the north end near the library)
10:45AM

Please join SDS and MGAA as we fight Walker's threats to all UW and state employees. Walker is waging a reckless campaign to trample worker rights and the life of UWM. 

Many of the rights Walker wants to restrict, roll back, or eliminate, including collective bargaining rights and union dues deduction, were precisely the rights that Memphis' municipal waste collectors were striking for in 1968 when Dr. King joined them. It was in that struggle for worker rights that Dr. King was assassinated.

Please join SDS, MGAA, AFSCME, and the campus community Monday to show that we will not be silenced by Walker's threats.

 

Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154095684646305

SDS Launches Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Emergency Egypt Solidarity Rally

Monday Jan 31st 4pm - 3rd and Wisconsin (Federal Building)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130560747011303
Stop $1.3b U.S. military aid to Egypt! Out with U.S. backed dictators!

SDS stands in solidarity with the people of Egypt as they bravely stand up to the U.S. backed 30-year dictator Mubarak. The U.S. supported regime who collaborates with Israel in the blockade of Gaza receives $1.3b in U.S. aid a year. Protesters are being beaten and tear-gassed with U.S. made weapons.

Please spread the word and come out to show your support for the people of
Egypt as they topple the U.S. backed dictator and Israel collaborator
Mubarak. 
Live feed from Al Jazeera: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/