SDSMKE.com

Occupy Milwaukee—We Are The 99%

2011-10-14T10:52:00.002-05:00

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

2011-10-05T12:39:00.003-05:00

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

2011-09-16T17:05:00.000-05:00

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

2011-09-04T15:48:00.005-05:00

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

2011-07-16T20:13:00.002-05:00

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!

2011-05-13T14:46:00.000-05:00

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

2011-03-29T12:01:00.002-05:00

Milwaukee SDS Supports UW-Milwaukee Occupation

2011-03-02T20:43:00.003-06:00

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!

2011-02-22T22:19:00.001-06:00

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

2011-02-20T15:48:00.003-06:00

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!

2011-02-20T15:46:00.000-06:00

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

2011-02-20T12:26:00.001-06:00

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

UWM Walkout Proclamation to Governor Walker

2011-02-18T08:04:00.002-06:00

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

2011-02-18T07:18:00.002-06:00

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

2011-02-16T14:20:00.002-06:00

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

2011-02-13T08:50:00.001-06:00

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

2011-02-02T19:06:00.007-06:00

Emergency Egypt Solidarity Rally

2011-01-29T18:23:00.002-06:00

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/

FBI delivers subpoenas to four more anti-war, solidarity activists

2010-12-21T19:11:00.002-06:00

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

Palestine Solidarity in the Face of FBI Repression: With Hatem Abudayyeh

2010-11-10T11:50:00.003-06:00

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

2010-11-10T11:47:00.002-06:00

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.

Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Harassment of Anti-war Activists

2010-11-08T10:53:00.001-06:00

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.

U.S. Intervention in Colombia, Oct. 28

2010-10-21T11:26:00.003-05:00

Tom Burke, co-founder of the Colombia Action Network and a recent target of the FBI for his political activities, will be speaking at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 7:00pm in Bolton Hall B46 on the topic "U.S. Intervention in Colombia."

Burke will be talking about U.S. foreign policy in Colombia, the School of the Americas, and Plan Colombia.

Burke is a long-time trade union and Latin America solidarity activist. He helped launch the Boycott Coca-Cola campaign in the 1990's, organized delegations to Colombia, and is outspoken in the media on U.S. foreign policy in Colombia.

Burke was recently subpoenaed, along with around a dozen other international solidarity activists, to a Grand Jury in Chicago, for what many consider to be a repressive move on the government to intimidate international solidarity activists who challenge U.S. foreign policy.

This event is being hosted by Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society. It is free and open to the public.

For more information, see:

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126070680782239

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society:

http://www.mkesds.com

Stop FBI Raids

http://www.stopfbi.net

Colombia Action Network

http://www.colombiasolidarity.org

National Day of Action to Defend Public Education

2010-10-09T10:01:00.002-05:00

Video from the UWM march on October 7th

FBI Raids Spark Protest in Milwaukee

2010-10-04T20:39:00.001-05:00

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

2010-10-03T15:27:00.003-05:00

Milwaukee SDS Condemns FBI Repression

2010-09-24T16:35:00.001-05:00

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

2010-09-24T01:23:00.004-05:00

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

Time for a New Chancellor – An Open Letter from SDS

2010-09-18T00:24:00.000-05:00

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.

Education Rights Speak Out and Celebration

2010-09-12T21:35:00.002-05:00

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

Next SDS National Convention to be held in Milwaukee

2010-08-25T12:14:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-08-23T16:47:00.003-05:00

Please join SDS for our first regular meeting of the semester.

SDS General Interest Meeting
Sept 13th - Union 260 - 7pm

2010-07-28T15:41:00.005-05:00

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 Anahí 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
###

Protest SB1070 - July 29th

2010-07-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

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

Victory for the Milwaukee 16! UWM offers to drop charges!

2010-07-07T17:04:00.003-05:00

Milwaukee March 4 protest for educational rights. (Fight Back! News/Staff)

Milwaukee, WI - The Milwaukee 16, the students who were arrested at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) on March 4, the National Day of Action to Defend Education, have achieved victory. On June 29, the University offered to drop the charges and the investigation into the conduct of the UWM campus police continues.

At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on March 4, the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) led the charge of nearly 200 students and workers at the Chancellors office to demand an end to wage cuts, tuition hikes and union busting. The UWM police responded by pepper spraying protesters, arresting a student based on racial profiling and aggressively detaining other students and workers. The university community, including faculty, staff and students, organized in outrage at the response of the police and the administration on March 4. As a result, the Milwaukee 16 will have their charges dropped. SDS member Molly Ubbesen states, “On March 4, the university tried to silence our voices by arresting protesters, but we will continue to fight for democracy and education rights.”

After March 4, UWM Chancellor Santiago agreed to meet with members of the Education Rights Campaign regarding their demands. Students and workers accompanied their representatives, standing outside for hours in the rain to hear that some of their demands would be met. Santiago agreed to address their demands publicly, which led to the UWM Panel on Education Rights, where a group of professors, workers, students and administrators spoke about the issues to the media and an audience of nearly 200 people. At the panel, Santiago denied the request to drop the charges, so the Education Rights Campaign organized another protest where students stormed a Board of Regents meeting demanding that the charges be dropped. As a result of the demonstration and support from students, staff and faculty of the campus community, all of the charges will be dropped for 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 4, through a formal third party investigation. Rachel Matteson, one of the Milwaukee 16 states, “The investigation of the UWM campus police is an attempt to protect democracy on our campus from the people who have tried to take our rights away from us.”

SDS began organizing the Education Rights Campaign at UWM in the fall of 2009, and now over 20 student and worker organizations are active in defense of their jobs and their education. They have worked in coalition with other SDS chapters and organizations around the country to demand an end to wage cuts and tuition hikes. SDS member Mary Rutkowski explains, “The goal of the education rights campaign is for our university system to educate students, not earn a profit.”

As tuition rises and wages are cut at universities around the country, the fight continues. SDS and others are organizing nationally to demand that the rich pay for their economic crisis, not students and workers. October 7 will be the next National Day of Action to Defend Education. Students and workers are already organizing to make this another historic day in the struggle for jobs and education.

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

Arizona Freedom Summer

2010-07-02T16:30:00.000-05:00

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

Victory for The Milwaukee 16!

2010-06-30T18:44:00.000-05:00

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!

###

Students for a Democratic Society Condemns Massacre of the Freedom Flotilla

2010-06-11T11:30:00.000-05:00

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

2010-06-09T18:45:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-06-09T10:38:00.002-05:00

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!

Protest: NO 5.5% TUITION HIKE!

2010-06-08T13:04:00.000-05:00

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.

Two Rallies This Week

2010-06-01T12:30:00.000-05:00

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!

SDS MKE - Events in the past year

2010-05-24T12:40:00.003-05:00

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

Friday: War on Colombian Farmers

2010-05-02T21:23:00.002-05:00

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

"Che" Movie Night with SDS

2010-04-30T00:16:00.000-05:00

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

2010-04-22T00:07:00.005-05:00

Celebrate International Worker's Day with SDS

2010-04-21T23:15:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-04-21T23:05:00.003-05:00

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

2010-04-21T23:00:00.000-05:00

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

Marx in Soho - A Play by Howard Zinn - Coming to UWM

2010-04-06T17:47:00.000-05:00

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"

2010-04-06T17:30:00.001-05:00

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

Report from Rally/Meeting with Chancellor

2010-03-12T10:37:00.001-06:00

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!

5 Events to Support the 16 / Education Rights!

2010-03-10T14:11:00.000-06:00

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

2010-03-06T21:54:00.007-06:00

SDS Condemns Repression of Education Rights Rally

Drop All Charges Against the Milwaukee 16!

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!

Some More Videos

2010-03-06T21:26:00.000-06:00

The People United, Will never be Defeated!

2010-03-06T13:50:00.000-06:00

Student journalist being arrested, from his perspective

2010-03-05T16:47:00.003-06:00

Students and Workers Stood Up for Education Rights!
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.

solidarity forever, before the first attempt to enter Chapman Hall

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

Support the Education Rights 16!

2010-03-04T23:47:00.001-06:00

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

March 4th - National Day of Action for Education Rights at UWM

2010-03-04T23:00:00.000-06:00

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society Condemn Police Brutality, Demands Justice, Continues the Struggle for Education Rights

2010-03-04T16:04:00.008-06:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society Condemn Police Brutality, Demands Justice, Continues the Struggle for Education Rights

18 arrested, 250 rally for education rights at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for the March 4 National Day of Action 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 4^th, 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.

Read more about Students for a Democratic Society here: www.sdsmke.com. The UWM Education Rights Campaign can be read more about at www.educationrightscampaign.com.

Contact:
Kas Schwedrtferger

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society

262-893-2806

2010-03-03T13:31:00.002-06:00

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

2010-02-22T17:19:00.002-06:00

2010-02-21T18:27:00.007-06:00

SDS Organizing for National Day of Action for Education Rights

2010-02-10T23:31:00.000-06:00

SDS is part of the Education Rights Campaign at UWM. The coalition of student groups, faculty, and workers are organizing a speak out to be held in the UWM Union on March 4th, in solidarity with the National Day of Action for Education Rights, and the massive actions that will be happening in California and across the country. Here are our demands for the UWM administration:

Justice for Students and Workers at UWM!

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 $307,000, a 3% raise from last year.* 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.

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 (SUFIR), 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.

www.EducationRightsCampaign.com

SDS on Queer Liberation

2010-02-09T12:17:00.001-06:00

This is a great intro to Queer Liberation written by an SDS member for the SDS Queer Caucus.

“Queer sexuality is as hard to define as it is to ignore” — Courtney Trouble

How the FBI and Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther (feat. Hampton's lawyer and brother)

2010-01-31T23:02:00.004-06:00

The Assassination of Fred Hampton

How the FBI and Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther (feat. Hampton's lawyer and brother)
Fred Hampton's lawyer (author of this critically-acclaimed new book) and brother present a re enactment of the raid and place Hampton's life and death in the context of police violence, racism and the law.

Thursday, February 18, 2010, 7pm
Wisconsin Room, UWM Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
Free & open to the public

*There will also be a reception at 4:30pm at the Milw. NAACP office,
2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Drive

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=264861702377&ref=mf

Fred Hampton came from Chicago's west side to become a nationally known civil rights figure by age 21, as a charismatic leader of the Black Panther Party (BPP), its Free Breakfast Program and People's Clinic. He negotiated an agreement between Chicago's most powerful street gangs, emphasizing that racial and ethnic conflict would only keep their members entrenched in poverty, and built an alliance with anti-war white student progressives. In 1969, the FBI was ordered to "eradicate [the BPP's] 'serve the people programs" and a few months after he founded the original "rainbow coalition," Fred Hampton was killed in his bed by Chicago police.

Civil rights attorney Jeffrey Haas was a co founder of the People's Law Office in Chicago which represented the BPP, SDS, the Young Lords and anti Vietnam war protestors since the 1960s. He was part of a team which successfully prosecuted the Cook County Sheriff's office for violating the rights of four men who wrongfully spent 18 years on death row, resulting in one of the largest civil rights settlements in U.S. history ($36 million). This and related work played a major role in convincing the governor to commute the sentences of everyone on Illinois' death row in 2003.

Also speaking will be Bill Hampton, Fred’s older brother. Bill Hampton graduated from Roosevelt Univ. in Chicago in 1972, and is currently a director of the Midwest Voters Alliance and President of the Fred Hampton Scholarship Fund.

Haas’ book exposes the murder of Fred Hampton in his bed, as part of the FBI's Cointelpro Program against the Black Liberation movement. This is the result of 13 years of litigation which has established the best documentation of a domestic U.S. Government assassination. For more information, see www.Hamptonbook.com and www.peopleslawoffice.com.

Sponsored by: UWM Dept. of Africology, UWM Black Cultural Center, UWM Black Pre Law Society; UWM Union Sociocultural Programming, Milw. Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, Milw. Students for a Democratic Society, NAACP Milw. Branch, and Progressive Students of Milwaukee. For more info contact nlgmilw@igc.org or (414) 273-1040, ext. 12.

Rethink Afghanistan

2010-01-31T22:58:00.000-06:00

Free Rethink Afghanistan Screening

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
7:00pm - 8:30pm
BREWING GROUNDS FOR CHANGE, 2008 N FARWELL
Milwaukee, WI

Rethink Afghanistan is a 2009 documentary about the ongoing war in Afghanistan. This full-length documentary campaign features experts from Afghanistan, the U.S., and Russia discussing critical issues like military escalation, how escalation will affect Pakistan and the surrounding region, the cost of war, civilian casualties, and the rights of Afghan women.

The ultimate goal of this documentary campaign is to raise the level of public discourse, compel people to ask key questions about the war, and urge Congress to hold oversight hearings. Already, the campaign has successfully helped retired Corporal Rick Reyes and other veterans testify before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and meet with members of Congress. Reyes, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, testified before Sen. John Kerry and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Thank You Howard Zinn

2010-01-27T23:40:00.003-06:00

"There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people." - Howard Zinn, 1922-2010

March 4th: National Day of Action for Education Rights

2009-12-31T22:51:00.000-06:00

National SDS and Milwaukee SDS has formally endorsed this national call for action on March 4:

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. Non-unionized charter schools threaten to divide, weaken and privatize the public school system and damage teachers’ unions, which are needed now more than ever. More and more students are going deep into debt to finance their education, while high unemployment forces many students and youth to join the military to receive a higher education. And all of the attacks described above have hit working people and people of color the hardest.

In California, students, teachers, workers, parents, and faculty have taken action against these attacks. They took to the streets in a one-day strike on September 24th, organized strikes and actions across the state during the University of California Board of Regents meeting from November 18th to 20th, and have called for a state-wide day of action on March 4th. These actions have created a broad mass movement in California, drawing in students from all over the state to create a powerful struggle. As the effects of the economic crisis continue to spread into the education system nationally, it’s time to join our voices with students and workers in California and draw inspiration from their example.

We support each group or coalition organizing in the manner and for the duration of their choosing. In solidarity with those in California, we the below-signed individuals and organizations call on students, teachers, workers, parents, faculty, and staff across the country to join together on March 4th to Take A Stand For Education!

Visit the Web site for more details at http://www.defendeducation.org. You can now endorse online!

To endorse this call or to receive more information, visit the above web page or contact march4nationaldayofaction (at) gmail.com.

Campus Community Crashes Rove

2009-12-04T22:35:00.000-06:00

SDS led a loud protest of over 100 students, faculty, and community members outside the hall where war criminal Karl Rove spoke on December 3rd. Right-wingers waiting in line to see the speech were confronted with signs demanding Rove return the $25,000 honorarium payed to him by excess student fees. During the worst economic crisis in 80 years, millionaire Rove gladly robbed the university students of much needed funds, at a time when UW schools are facing a $174m budget deficit. SDS demanded Rove return the money to students who lost financial aid during the crisis. Rove was instrumental in helping the deregulate the banks, cut college aid like pell grants, and send schools into a downward spiral with the no child left behind act. Because of these crimes against students, and his war crimes against the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, he will be confronted wherever he goes.

Here is some excellent coverage of the protest:
Michael Moore:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/karl-roves-visit-uwm-incites-protest

A protester gets thrown out of the speech:

Photos on our facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=5697986836&view=all

SDS, Veterans, Community Protest Troop Surge in Afghanistan

2009-12-03T22:47:00.000-06:00

SDS joined hundreds of community members, including Peace Action Wisconsin, Veterans for Peace, and dozens of community groups to protest Obama's troop surge announcement. Students representing SDS led a march of students and veterans into the streets during rush-hour at the Federal Building. Here is the call to action that was sent out for the event:

The U.S. occupation of Afghanistan is over 8 years old and a certified disaster for democracy and self-determination. Despite Obama’s anti-war campaign rhetoric, the administration is now preparing to announce a new invasion of U.S. troops into Afghanistan. This is a dangerous move for the Afghan people, and for taxpayers in the U.S.

The defense budget signed by President Obama on October 28th this year allocates $680 billion to military spending, while the American people are suffering the economic effects of Obama’s occupations. Democrats and Republicans are arguing about the cost of a healthcare bill, but Pentagon officials have told the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in the House that every gallon of gasoline delivered to US troops in Afghanistan costs American taxpayers $400.

The U.S. installed “democracy” in Afghanistan has been a complete failure, with nearly one-third of the ballots for Hamid Karzai thrown out due to fraud. Yet, the United States continues to work with a deeply corrupt government, some of which is still on the CIA payroll.

It will cost U.S. taxpayers $750,000 to send one soldier to Afghanistan for one year. At this rate, the troops surge will cost roughly the same as sending three million young people to college for a year. Therefore we demand an end to unjust occupation, and demand money to save jobs, save homes, and save education in a time of crisis. We condemn any escalation or continuation of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wednesday: Emergency Protest of Troop Surge in Afghanistan

2009-12-01T17:18:00.000-06:00

The U.S. occupation of Afghanistan is over 8 years old and a certified disaster for democracy and self-determination. Despite Obama’s anti-war campaign rhetoric, the administration is now preparing to announce a new invasion of U.S. troops into Afghanistan. This is a dangerous move for the Afghan people, and for taxpayers in the U.S.

The defense budget signed by President Obama on October 28^th this year allocates $680 billion to military spending, while the American people are suffering the economic effects of Obama’s occupations. Democrats and Republicans are arguing about the cost of a healthcare bill, but Pentagon officials have told the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee in the House that every gallon of gasoline delivered to US troops in Afghanistan costs American taxpayers $400.

The U.S. installed “democracy” in Afghanistan has been a complete failure, with nearly one-third of the ballots for Hamid Karzai thrown out due to fraud. Yet, the United States continues to work with a deeply corrupt government, some of which is still on the CIA payroll.

It will cost U.S. taxpayers $750,000 to send one soldier to Afghanistan for one year. At this rate, the troops surge will cost roughly the same as sending three million young people to college for a year. Therefore we demand an end to unjust occupation, and demand money to save jobs, save homes, and save education in a time of crisis. We condemn any escalation or continuation of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Community members and organizations will rally on Wednesday, December 2ndt at 5:00pm outside the Federal Building on the corner of 3rd and Wisconsin. We will protesting during rush hour, so plan on traffic.

http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=338250365537&index=1

National SDS Mobilizes Protests of Obama's Troop Surge

2009-12-01T15:45:00.002-06:00

Student Protests Against U.S. Escalation in Afghanistan
November 29, 2009

Students for a Democratic Society is calling for students across the country to protest the U.S. government's plans for a massive escalation of the war in Afghanistan. President Obama will announce his plans next week to mobilize 30,000 to 40,000 more combat troops in Afghanistan. We must respond with protest. A majority of people in the U.S. oppose the occupation; we must make this opposition visible. Take action by holding a street protest, a film screening, a teach-in, or anything you can do to demonstrate public opposition to this unjust war.
We categorically reject U.S. wars, occupations, and bombings of the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. The Afghan people have a right to self-determination, to control their own resources, and take care of their own affairs. It is not the place of the U.S. to bomb Afghanistan into submission and control its destiny. The only way for Afghanistan to be free is for the bombings to halt, and for all U.S. and NATO troops to leave the country immediately. We support the people of Afghanistan in their struggle for liberation and freedom from foreign occupation and domination.

Funding for education, not for war and occupation!
U.S. out of Afghanistan and Iraq NOW!

Thursday -- Protest Karl Rove

2009-12-01T15:27:00.002-06:00

Protest Karl Rove at UWM

2009-11-19T09:03:00.004-06:00

SDS is organizing a mass protest of the modern day fascist war criminal Karl Rove.

On Thursday, December 3rd at 6:30 pm students and community groups will rally in force outside the UWM Union to say "war criminals are not welcome here!" and "Fund Education, Not Occupation!"

Please join the facebook group (which has exceeded the size of the speaking event)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=168942391403&ref=nf

Karl Rove was in Milwaukee this summer to speak at a private meeting with the MMAC on union-busting strategies. SDS joined Labor to protest in force: http://sds-mke.blogspot.com/2009/07/sds-joins-labor-to-protest-karl-rove.html

In Solidarity with Striking Graduate Employees

2009-11-17T22:49:00.001-06:00

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) stands in solidarity with the Graduate Employees' Organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the striking workers of CUPE 3906 at McMaster University in Ontario. Students, Faculty, and Graduate Employees share the dream of quality higher education that is affordable for all students, and a good place to work for all educators. We also understand that education should never be just a privilege, but a right. Milwaukee SDS thanks the workers and students in the struggle for their admirable efforts in propelling the important fight for education and workplace rights.

Support the GEO at UIUC:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/GEO/171984109397#/pages/GEO/171984109397?v=info

and CUPE 3906:
http://unit1bargaining.wordpress.com/

Preview: Richard Berg Speaks on December 2nd, 7pm

2009-11-05T15:47:00.000-06:00

UWM Education Rights Campaign

2009-11-05T10:24:00.001-06:00

Click on Image for full size

We're students, faculty, and staff fighting back against the unjust budget cuts, pay cuts, and tuition hikes at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Justice for students and workers at UWM!

1) Chop from the top!

We want the Chancellor and high level administrators of the university to take a pay cut from their six-figure salaries before deciding to cut salaries of faculty and staff. Currently, the Chancellor is making $307,000, a 3% pay raise from last year. The Chancellor is also accepting other benefits that include money to pay for his million-dollar 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.

2) Transparency now!

“We will address issues relating to the university’s budget with openness and transparency,” stated Chancellor Santiago on December 1, 2008. So where is the transparency? After the Chancellor called for all Deans to cut their departments by five percent, we demand to know exactly what is being cut and who is making these decisions. We demand that staff, students and faculty be part of the decision making process. We demand this information be easily accessible to the public. Who does the university work for?

3) Education first!

Students are continuing to pay a greater percentage of their educational costs. The university is raising tuition by 5% for the next two years. This leaves thousands of students struggling to figure out a way to remain in school. On average, students at UW-Milwaukee work at jobs for more hours than all other students in the Wisconsin university system. We demand a tuition freeze and increased money for need-based scholarships. An urban university must reflect the urban community.

4) 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 share information and perspectives on issues affecting us.

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 (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)

http://www.educationrightscampaign.com

Editorial: The War on Students

2009-11-05T00:38:00.002-06:00

When I was 17 I signed a four-year contract with the U.S. Air Force, for a chance to go to college without incurring a paralyzing amount of student debt. I was able to meet young men and women from all walks of life, but the one thing we had in common was that we were from modest backgrounds, searching for opportunity. Young people join the military for the chance to go to college or to receive other basic needs that their lives in civilian society just didn’t offer them. By far, the biggest opportunity these young people desire, is higher education. These are the working class and oppressed nationality youth who are offered a “way out” if they will serve on the front lines of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The United States spends $750,000 per year for each soldier sent to Afghanistan by President Obama. In comparison, a student can attend a public university for an average of $7,300 a year. Yet, this economic system enlists poor and oppressed people to fight its wars instead of sending them to school. This system saves the real opportunities for corporations that are built to profit from war. While wealthy families seldom worry about paying their child’s tuition, working students have to earn their higher education through military enlistment, or piles of debt to banks that are making record profits on student loans.

The banks who are making profits on low-income students are also robbing hard-working people through hundreds of billions of dollars in bailouts. This has pushed many students to drop out, move back in with their parents, or even join the military. Many university students are forced to juggle education with part time jobs, when they can find them. Corporations and universities take advantage of working class students’ cheap part time labor, so they can cut good union jobs with benefits. This contributes of course, to unemployment and a downward spiral of debt and desperation.

With so much joblessness, the prospects are not looking good for recent college graduates. We all probably know a few college graduates who have been out of school for a couple years and are still unemployed or underemployed. This has contributed to record enlistment numbers for the U.S. Military this year, as university students and high school graduates scramble to stay afloat in a backwards economy. Clearly, this is not a formula for the peaceful, sustainable society we desire. It is no surprise therefore, that the United States is in an economic crisis.

The gross mismanagement of national priorities is leaving working class and oppressed nationality, and immigrant youth with shrinking access to higher education. This incredible rate of debt spending on two occupations, and billions of dollars squandered on greedy banks and the wealthy elite is leaving us, the working class youth and future of this country with little opportunity. Past generations have left us with the largest debt in the world, ever. We cannot ignore this problem for our children to deal with.
Without the right to education, this pattern will continue to dismantle our future, piece by piece, hitting low income, immigrant, and oppressed nationality students the hardest. If the ruling class had their way, universities would become private corporate training grounds for the children of the wealthy. We can’t accept education for the privileged any longer. We have to demand education for everyone!

All people should be able to learn important skills in college, regardless of class, gender, or race. Young people don’t deserve to be sent to war, or indebted to banks simply for seeking essential knowledge. If President Obama sends just ten soldiers home from Afghanistan, he can send 1,000 to college. Fund Education, Not Occupation! Bailout for Education, Not for Corporations!

Jacob Flom is a member of Students for a Democratic Society

Thursday: A Report on the Conditions of Palestinian Political Prisoners

2009-11-01T22:27:00.002-06:00

November 10th - National Day of Action for Education Rights

2009-11-01T13:54:00.002-06:00

Click on Image for full size

Video from Rally for Equality

2009-10-30T20:27:00.000-05:00

After the rally, students marched to the Chancellors office, and occupied his building to demand the administration condemn racism in the student government. Although the Chancellor's office was contacted, they refused to send anyone to talk to the anti-racist coalition.

Full story to come soon!

Rally For Equality

2009-10-28T23:36:00.002-05:00

Time:
THURSDAY, October 29th
12:00pm - 1:00pm

Location:
Spaights Plaza at UWM

Come out and show your solidarity against ignorance, hate, racism and sexism on campus.

This university needs to be a safe space for EVERYONE to feel like they are accepted and equal to everyone else despite their race, sex, gender etc...

So show your solidarity and help us put pressure on the administration to do something about the hateful tension on campus. Let your voice be heard. Let it be known that students will not tolerate inequality on OUR campus and the senators and students in the student government need to start representing us.

Join the National Day of Action for Education Rights - Nov 10th

2009-10-26T11:56:00.000-05:00

Protest on Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Join students and youth across the country on Tuesday, November 10 as we raise our voices to demand an end to budget cuts, layoffs, and tuition hikes, and to say loud and clear: "Education is a right!"

Universities across the country are in a serious crisis. Many universities are responding to economic shortfalls by cutting vital university programs such as scholarships, women’s centers, and even jobs. Administrators are raising already unmanageable tuition and fees, while forcing staff to take furloughs.

Rising tuition, textbook prices, and extra fees, have made access to education even more challenging for poor, working class, immigrant, and oppressed nationality students. Many of these students depend on financial aid, or loans from bailed out banks that are now refusing to help low-income students pay for education. These attacks on working people are unacceptable, and must end.

We will not stand by while the rich are bailed out on the backs of students and workers. It is time for our generation to stand up to the plate and build a better future for ourselves and our children. Across the country, campuses are fighting back: from the historic walkouts and ongoing mass mobilizations at the University of California, to the Save our School campaign at the University of Minnesota, to the struggles against education cuts at Middle Tennessee State University, and at all points in between. Now is the time to carry the momentum forward into a nationwide movement for education rights.

We need to fight for the right to earn a living wage, the right to housing and healthcare, the right of self-determination, and the right to higher education for all people.

Send us your endorsements and let us know what you'll be doing on November 10. Organize a local action, teach-in, protest, or march, or contact us to find out what actions are happening near you.

Contact us at edurtscampaign@gmail.com, or visit our blog: http://educampaign.wordpress.com/

Campaign for Education Rights
Network to Fight for Economic Justice
October 25, 2009

In Solidarity with the California Campaign to Save Public Education

2009-10-23T22:13:00.002-05:00

The following statement was sent by the National Working Committee of Students for a Democratic Society to the California Campaign to Save Public Education, in solidarity with their October 24 assembly.

Sisters and brothers,

On behalf of the National Working Committee of Students for a Democratic Society, we send our warmest greetings to this assembly.

The UC walkouts on September 24, and the movement that continues to carry that spirit forward, is an inspiration to students, youth, and campus workers across this country.

At a time when our backs are being pushed up against the wall; when the rich tell us we have to pay for their economic crisis; and when the wealthy are moving to take away the necessities we need to survive — at a stormy time like this, your walkout lights the way forward: the path of struggle and resistance.

As Students for a Democratic Society, we realize that we do not, in fact, live in a democracy. What we have is democracy for the few — for the rich and powerful. But we organize and struggle for a world where “democracy” is not a empty word. We believe that democracy must be transformed to serve the overwhelming majority of people, the working-class and oppressed nationality communities. And we believe that education must be revolutionized towards this end.

We believe in, and fight for, a world where knowledge is not enslaved to corporate profits, but is used to improve the condition of humanity; where higher education is not a means for climbing the ranks of society, but a means for the liberation of the oppressed; and finally, where education is no longer the privilege of the few, but is recognized as a universal and fundamental human right.

In the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, we must stand our ground and fight for what we believe in. And we must stand together, as students, campus workers, and faculty, for when we are united, there is no force that can stop us.

We have the power to change the world. Our organization extends its deepest solidarity to your movement, and inspired by your actions, we will continue our work on campuses and in communities across the country in the struggle for education rights.

Education is a right!
Chop from the top — make the rich pay for their crisis!

National Working Committee
Students for a Democratic Society
October 22, 2009

Students Participate in Economic Fight Back Movement

2009-10-19T11:05:00.002-05:00

Since the near collapse of the banking system, Americans have paid billions to banks that are now making record profits. Meanwhile, students, workers, and homeowners are facing unforgivable unemployment, homelessness, and debt. In spite of this, the Obama administration continues to escalate the occupation of Afghanistan and maintain troops in Iraq, adding trillions to our country’s deficit and financial crisis. It is the working people who will pay for these wars, just as we are paying for bailouts to greedy banks.

If we are to see the “Change” Obama promised, we need to organize and fight for it. Students and youth are a powerful political force. It is not the rich politicians who make change happen, it is the real working people who fight for, and win change. Students and youth are especially successful in winning radical social change and building mass movements. The right to vote, the right to organize, the right to public education, and the right to the 8 hour work day were won through years of organization, struggle, and sometimes death. Generations before us have taken the streets in the face of brutal repression to win the liberties we enjoy today.

In the past year, people across the globe have organized mass movements confronting all kinds of economic injustices. Last month, Rosemary Williams of Minnesota refused to leave her home when a bank seized her home, and sent the police to evict her. Last December, workers in Chicago occupied their factory when U.S. Bank cut funding to their operation, after receiving a federal bailout. This month, tens of thousands of students and faculty at California universities participated in walk-outs and sit-ins against the budget cuts that are crippling universities across the country. Two weeks ago, over 25 college campuses participated in protests and direct action against the 8th anniversary of war in Afghanistan. Just days ago, Puerto Ricans shut down their island with a general strike protesting huge layoffs, unemployment and budget cuts. These are just a few of the struggles people are organizing to fight for social and economic justice.

It is time for our generation to stand up to the plate and build a better future for ourselves and our children. If we want that future, we need to fight for the right to higher education, the right to earn a living wage, the right to housing and healthcare, and the right of self-determination. This November 10th, students will participate in a national day of action for education rights.

Students refuse to pay for failing corporations and imperialist occupations with cuts to education. We refuse to fight their wars to pay for school. We demand a student bailout, an end to budget cuts, layoffs and tuition hikes. Education is a Right!

Jacob Flom is a member of Students for a Democratic Society

JSOnline: SDS Protests 8th Anniversary of the war on Afghanistan

2009-10-08T18:46:00.003-05:00

Students to Protest Afghanistan War on 25 Campuses

2009-10-06T22:53:00.000-05:00

October 5, 2009

Contact: Natasha Morgan – 608-426-4252– nadashay@gmail.com

Students to Protest Afghanistan War on 25 Campuses

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society to Demonstrate 8th anniversary of Afghan War--demand immediate U.S./NATO withdrawal

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society, along with students on 25 campuses across the United States, will protest eight long years of war against and occupation of the people of Afghanistan, on Wednesday October 7, at 12:00pm in front of the Sandburg dormitories, 3400 N Maryland Ave. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a nation-wide student organization committed to activism for peace, justice and equality, are organizing the protest.

"We're participating in this day of action because the war in Afghanistan is wrong and we need the troops out now. This war is only benefiting benefit rich," said Maral Safabi, of Milwaukee SDS.

The protests come on the heels of the largest loss of life for U.S. occupation forces in a year. On Sunday October 4, anti-occupation fighters in Afghanistan killed nine U.S. soldiers in a series of attacks. So far, 869 U.S. troops are dead in Afghanistan since the occupation began in 2001 – with over a quarter of those killed in the past ten months alone. There are 4,000 U.S. wounded.

U.S. and NATO occupation forces do not keep track of civilian casualties, but many estimate that U.S. air strikes and gunfire have killed tens of thousands of Afghanis. Just last month, U.S. air strikes killed over 90 Afghan civilians in the northern Afghan village of Omar Kheil. A similar strike in Farah province on May 4 this year killed 147 civilians.

“The U.S. occupation is a disaster for Afghanistan, just like it is for Iraq. The Afghan people will never have stability and peace until the U.S. leaves”, said Stephanie Taylor, a member of SDS at the University of Minnesota.

The organizers of the October 7th protests note that the war and occupation of Afghanistan is linked to U.S. interests in controlling strategic energy resources and markets in central Asia. Jenae Stainer, an SDS organizer in Tuscaloosa, Alabama explains, “Our government wants to keep us ignorant about the real reasons and true costs of war both at home and in Afghanistan. That is why organizing to stop the war is so important.”

Organizers of the October 7th actions say they will continue to initiate demonstrations to protest the occupation of Afghanistan until all U.S. and NATO forces leave the country. “We will keep speaking out and organizing to support the people of Afghanistan in their struggle for independence from U.S. occupation,” said Daniel Ginsberg-Jaeckle of Milwaukee SDS. “We will continue to demand that the U.S. government stop spending money on war and occupation, and fund people’s needs here at home, including education, housing, jobs, and healthcare.”

U.S. Out of Afghanistan Now!

Fund Education, Not Occupation!

The SDS Anti-War Working Group exists to help coordinate national SDS anti-war activity. For more information, please contact Natasha Morgan at 608-426-4252. More information, reports, and organizing materials are available on the SDS Antiwar Working Group’s homepage at http://sdsantiwar.wordpress.com.

October 7th - National Day of Action

2009-10-05T23:20:00.002-05:00

U.S. Out of Afghanistan Now
Eight Years of War and Occupation

This week eight years ago, the Bush administration invaded Afghanistan to begin a lengthy and deadly occupation. Eight years later and with a new president, the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan have only grown in scope and violence. This Wednesday, October 7th, students will rally outside Sandburg Hall at noon, calling to “Fund Education, Not Occupation!”

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost Wisconsin taxpayers an unimaginable $14.5 Billion in the past eight years. The money from our public schools and universities has been drained into corporate coffers, and even used to pay off resistance fighters. This year, it was announced that UW schools will lose $174 Million in funding, creating a crises for students on financial aid, more tuition hikes, and widespread budget cuts. Even more unforgivable, is the loss of over 6,000 young Americans in these wars.

This year has been the deadliest year for U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan, as President Obama plays with different failed strategies there. As the President plans to send tens of thousands more troops, the cost of these occupations will continue to drain our communities and schools of the resources and attention they desperately need. The U.S. Government is expanding upon Bush’s mistakes by retaining the military presence in Iraq, and building a mass escalation of the occupation in Afghanistan. Not surprisingly, this occupation has become increasingly unpopular as it proves to lack any legitimacy, direction, or improvement. From the recent fraudulent election, to dwindling international support, to fiscal and social costs, this illegitimate war is a nightmare for the people of Afghanistan and for students and workers in our own communities.

The anti-war movement in the United States will unite this week in mass protests of the illegal war against the people of Afghanistan. Students and youth will demand “Books, not Bombs!” and an immediate end to occupation.

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) will participate in a national day of anti-war action organized by the National SDS Anti-War Working Group. Please join us outside Sandburg Hall at noon on Wednesday to join the rally.

G20 Solidarity

2009-09-25T03:07:00.004-05:00

Students across the country are taking to direct action this week, taking the streets in the face of global capitalism at the G20, and taking over their schools in the face of capitalist crises in California.

Students at U of P attempt to leave their dorms, confronted by riot police

Here is a dispatch from our UND SDS friends at the G20 in Pittsburgh:

"A march, police escalation, local kindness, and musings. And a woman named Hope

I don’t know where to start. Right now the students of the University of Pittsburgh are being attacked. Students are being held in their dorms by lines of riot cops, and I’m sitting at our friends house, legs up, ankles crossed typing this. What does that mean to anything. I don’t know. I’ll try to touch on what I experienced, what I am thinking now.

It seems indecent to try to explain the day when it is still continuing. While I get messages of what’s happening. (#g20pgh:two more arrests, cops have blocked off student dorms, using weapons) But that was the point of this blog, and I’ll continue its goals. We started the day meeting up with a student feeder march. We left the park marched along sidewalks and chanted our chants. It was hotter than it should of been. Sweat and sore feet, hills and a collecting of people at Arsenal park. A line of riot cops boxed off one side of the park, and people gathered. Seeds of peace showed up again, feed people, and the march started. (#g20pgh police dispersing folks onto forbes against traffic) We met a line of police and ended up being rerouted in the other direction. I was dismayed at the small numbers of folks at first, but the march swelled at this point. With people appearing and joining in from all directions, from house, from apartment buildings and we marched. It was alot of energy and friendly faces. We moved towards downtown and were blocked by police who threatened to use force to disperse the march. It started to break apart. You know.

Let’s move past this.

The things that happened: Gas,LRAD(Long range acoustic device:it basically screams at you, fills your head with their noise)rubber bullets, batons and splintering marches. There was more cops than protesters, there was windows broken. There was a momentary break in a park. People eating and talking, then the LRAD swinging up and being aimmed at the folks sitting in the park.(#G20pgh:student dorms blocked by police with weapons)

Walking away from the first blocade. Local folks offered us water, and their places to sit and rest. They asked us if we needed to use the bathroom. If we were alright. As we walked the local folks clapped for us, and asked us why we were there. And people explained and we thanked them. This is what I think about now. I always asked, and am always asked, what people are fighting about. What are people doing going to places and making noise and getting beat, battoned. Maybe it’s that, maybe it’s for the kindness of a woman holding a child asking us if we need to use the bathroom. And her apologizing because they turned off her power. Maybe there is something there that is being missed. Maybe there is something everywhere that we can no longer see. (#g20pgh units are responding to hotmetal bridge for reports of protesters gathering) I wish I knew.

Right now, it goes on and I’m still on this couch. Thinking about Hope asking us if we needed help. Meeting her children and shaking their hands.

NDFB

I’m tired and need to sleep. Thank you all for reading. I’ll try to write again tomorrow morning to clear somethings up.

California Students Ignite Resistance

2009-09-25T02:45:00.002-05:00

Here is some inspiring videos from California students who are demanding education rights!

SDS Action Against War in Afghanistan

2009-09-23T15:06:00.001-05:00

SDS MKE will be participating in the national day of action against war in Afghanistan. Students at UWM will be organizing outside the Sandburg Dowms on October 7th at 1130 am. If you are interested in learning more, or getting involved, our next meeting is Monday at 7pm in Union room 240!

Two Events This Thursday

2009-09-23T14:58:00.000-05:00

Hi Folks,
This is a quick reminder that tomorrow (Thursday) at 7pm Father Simon Harak will be presenting his outstanding analysis of who profits from war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also, the Chicana Feminist artist Favianna Rodriguez will be opening an exhibit in the UWM Union art gallery from 5-8pm.

Power to the People

Student Resistance Across The U.S. Today

2009-09-15T19:12:00.007-05:00

Students across the country are taking to direct action this week, taking the streets in the face of global capitalism at the G20, and taking over their schools in the face of capitalist crises in California.

Here is a dispatch from our UND SDS friends at the G20 in Pittsburgh:

"A march, police escalation, local kindness, and musings. And a woman named Hope

I don’t know where to start. Right now the students of the University of Pittsburgh are being attacked. Students are being held in their dorms by lines of riot cops, and I’m sitting at our friends house, legs up, ankles crossed typing this. What does that mean to anything. I don’t know. I’ll try to touch on what I experienced, what I am thinking now.

It seems indecent to try to explain the day when it is still continuing. While I get messages of what’s happening. (#g20pgh:two more arrests, cops have blocked off student dorms, using weapons) But that was the point of this blog, and I’ll continue its goals. We started the day meeting up with a student feeder march. We left the park marched along sidewalks and chanted our chants. It was hotter than it should of been. Sweat and sore feet, hills and a collecting of people at Arsenal park. A line of riot cops boxed off one side of the park, and people gathered. Seeds of peace showed up again, feed people, and the march started. (#g20pgh police dispersing folks onto forbes against traffic) We met a line of police and ended up being rerouted in the other direction. I was dismayed at the small numbers of folks at first, but the march swelled at this point. With people appearing and joining in from all directions, from house, from apartment buildings and we marched. It was alot of energy and friendly faces. We moved towards downtown and were blocked by police who threatened to use force to disperse the march. It started to break apart. You know.

Let’s move past this.

The things that happened: Gas,LRAD(Long range acoustic device:it basically screams at you, fills your head with their noise)rubber bullets, batons and splintering marches. There was more cops than protesters, there was windows broken. There was a momentary break in a park. People eating and talking, then the LRAD swinging up and being aimmed at the folks sitting in the park.(#G20pgh:student dorms blocked by police with weapons)

Walking away from the first blocade. Local folks offered us water, and their places to sit and rest. They asked us if we needed to use the bathroom. If we were alright. As we walked the local folks clapped for us, and asked us why we were there. And people explained and we thanked them. This is what I think about now. I always asked, and am always asked, what people are fighting about. What are people doing going to places and making noise and getting beat, battoned. Maybe it’s that, maybe it’s for the kindness of a woman holding a child asking us if we need to use the bathroom. And her apologizing because they turned off her power. Maybe there is something there that is being missed. Maybe there is something everywhere that we can no longer see. (#g20pgh units are responding to hotmetal bridge for reports of protesters gathering) I wish I knew.

Right now, it goes on and I’m still on this couch. Thinking about Hope asking us if we needed help. Meeting her children and shaking their hands.

NDFB

I’m tired and need to sleep. Thank you all for reading. I’ll try to write again tomorrow morning to clear somethings up. (#g20pgh: 20-30 bike cops on 6th ave &6 police vehicles on 5th ave heading towards downtown)"

Student Resistance Across The U.S. Today

2009-09-15T19:12:00.006-05:00

Students across the country are taking to direct action this week, taking the streets in the face of global capitalism at the G20, and taking over their schools in the face of capitalist crises in California.

Here is a dispatch from our UND SDS friends at the G20 in Pittsburgh:

"A march, police escalation, local kindness, and musings. And a woman named Hope

I don’t know where to start. Right now the students of the University of Pittsburgh are being attacked. Students are being held in their dorms by lines of riot cops, and I’m sitting at our friends house, legs up, ankles crossed typing this. What does that mean to anything. I don’t know. I’ll try to touch on what I experienced, what I am thinking now.

It seems indecent to try to explain the day when it is still continuing. While I get messages of what’s happening. (#g20pgh:two more arrests, cops have blocked off student dorms, using weapons) But that was the point of this blog, and I’ll continue its goals. We started the day meeting up with a student feeder march. We left the park marched along sidewalks and chanted our chants. It was hotter than it should of been. Sweat and sore feet, hills and a collecting of people at Arsenal park. A line of riot cops boxed off one side of the park, and people gathered. Seeds of peace showed up again, feed people, and the march started. (#g20pgh police dispersing folks onto forbes against traffic) We met a line of police and ended up being rerouted in the other direction. I was dismayed at the small numbers of folks at first, but the march swelled at this point. With people appearing and joining in from all directions, from house, from apartment buildings and we marched. It was alot of energy and friendly faces. We moved towards downtown and were blocked by police who threatened to use force to disperse the march. It started to break apart. You know.

Let’s move past this.

The things that happened: Gas,LRAD(Long range acoustic device:it basically screams at you, fills your head with their noise)rubber bullets, batons and splintering marches. There was more cops than protesters, there was windows broken. There was a momentary break in a park. People eating and talking, then the LRAD swinging up and being aimmed at the folks sitting in the park.(#G20pgh:student dorms blocked by police with weapons)

Walking away from the first blocade. Local folks offered us water, and their places to sit and rest. They asked us if we needed to use the bathroom. If we were alright. As we walked the local folks clapped for us, and asked us why we were there. And people explained and we thanked them. This is what I think about now. I always asked, and am always asked, what people are fighting about. What are people doing going to places and making noise and getting beat, battoned. Maybe it’s that, maybe it’s for the kindness of a woman holding a child asking us if we need to use the bathroom. And her apologizing because they turned off her power. Maybe there is something there that is being missed. Maybe there is something everywhere that we can no longer see. (#g20pgh units are responding to hotmetal bridge for reports of protesters gathering) I wish I knew.

Right now, it goes on and I’m still on this couch. Thinking about Hope asking us if we needed help. Meeting her children and shaking their hands.

NDFB

I’m tired and need to sleep. Thank you all for reading. I’ll try to write again tomorrow morning to clear somethings up. (#g20pgh: 20-30 bike cops on 6th ave &6 police vehicles on 5th ave heading towards downtown)"

Speak Out Success

2009-09-15T19:12:00.005-05:00

Thanks to those who showed up and supported the rally against the unjust budget cuts!

We had a good-sized crowd with great speakers ranging from teachers assistant union representatives, Milwaukee SDS, and financially-struggling students.

Three television crews were there to record the event. Here's a couple broadcasts found online:
http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=9168
http://www.wisn.com/video/20912285/index.html

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Let's keep our momentum! Join SDS next Monday, Sept. 21, at 7:00pm in UWM Room 240!
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Other supporters of this rally included Milwaukee Graduate Assistant Association (Mgaa.org), Critical Work (http://www.criticalwork.org/) Milwaukee Network for a Social Change (http://milwaukeenetworkforsocialchange.org/), Students United for Immigrant Rights (http://sufrir.ning.com/), and the English Education Association at UWM.

Students Speak Out This Monday at UWM

2009-09-11T18:50:00.001-05:00

STUDENT SPEAK OUT AGAINST UNJUST BUDGET CUTS AT UW-MILWAUKEE

Milwaukee, WI – Sept. 11, 2009 – Students and workers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are holding a rally on Sept. 14th at 12:00pm in Spaights Plaza (between the UWM Union and Library) to demand student, staff, and faculty involvement in the decision making process for the $20 million in budget cuts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

"Our country is in an economic crisis; Students need to fight for higher education, just as workers need to fight for their jobs and benefits, and homeowners need to fight to keep their homes," said Jacob Flom, a UWM student and member of Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society.

Facing $20 million in budget cuts over the next two years, UWM has raised student tuition by 5%, reduce faculty and staff salaries by 5%, and cut every department by 5%. Despite repeated requests, the Chancellor’s office has not met with students or teachers assistants about how the economic crisis is affecting the university.

The three demands of the rally are: (1) Demand the Chancellor and Deans take a pay cut before cutting salaries of faculty and staff; (2) Demand for faculty, staff and students to be part of the decision making process for the budget cuts; and (3) Demand tuition freeze and increased money for need-based financial aid.

The rally organizers are planning to form a coalition of worker and student groups to fight for these demands. A similar coalition was formed last year in the successful campaign to rid UWM of sweatshop goods. The purpose of this rally is to bring about awareness of the demands of many workers and students around the budget cuts, and rally organizers expect dozens of students and workers to attend.

Speakers at the rally will include members of these organizations, financially struggling students, campus workers and teacher assistants. Sponsors of the rally include Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society, Progressive Students of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Graduate Assistant Association, Students United for Immigrant Rights, and Milwaukee Network for a Social Change.

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If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with rally organizers, please call Natasha Morgan at 608-426-4252 or e-mail Natasha at nadashay@gmail.com

SDS MKE Campaign Kick-off

2009-09-04T15:39:00.002-05:00

On the first day of classes at The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) kicked off a campaign to raise awareness of unjust budget cuts affecting students and workers at UWM. Students marched through the Union with a twenty-five foot long homemade banner that read "Education is a Right. Students Fight Tuition Hike!" This direct action is part of the build up for the Student Speak Out on Monday, September 14th at noon in UWM's Spaights Plaza.

U of M SDS Launches Campaign with Banner Drops

2009-09-04T10:54:00.003-05:00

The University of Minnesota Students for a Democratic Society organized a direct action this week to raise awareness of cuts to education that are plaguing universities across the country.

SDS Members propped open doors to a closed balcony of the auditorium days before the massive freshman convocation. During the chancellor's speech, SDSers threw fliers about education cuts to students below, encouraging them to get involved in the fight. They also dropped two large school banners which were painted over with facts, and messages about "Campaign Save our School" and SDS. One banner read "We pay Bruininks $700,000 per year to lay off thousands of workers.”

STUDENT SPEAK OUT

2009-09-01T10:02:00.014-05:00

Millions of dollars are being cut from UWM's budget while the rich and powerful are lowering employee salaries and skyrocketing our tuition.

Milwaukee Students for a Democratic Society is calling for a rally to bring about awareness of the unjust budget cuts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee!

Monday, September 14, 2009, Spaights Plaza, 12:00pm

Click on image for full-size

Demands:

CHOP FROM THE TOP!
We want the Chancellor and Deans of the university to take a pay cut from their six-figure salaries before deciding to cut salaries of faculty and staff. Currently, the Chancellor is making $307,000, a 3% pay raise from last year. The Chancellor is also accepting other benefits that include a money stipend for his million-dollar 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 due to a stoppage of an annual salary increase.

TRANSPARENCY NOW!
“We will address issues relating to the university’s budget with openness and transparency,” stated Chancellor Santiago on December 1, 2008. So where is the transparency? In his calling for all Deans to cut their departments by five percent, we demand to know exactly what is being cut and who is making these decisions. We demand that staff, students and faculty are part of the decision making process. We demand this information be easily accessible to the public.

STUDENTS AND WORKERS FIRST!
Students are continuing to pay a greater percentage of their educational costs. The university is hiking up our tuition by 5% for the next two years. This leaves thousands of students struggling to figure out a way to remain in school. Students at UW-Milwaukee work the most per hour of any in the Wisconsin university system. We demand a tuition freeze and increased money for need-based students.

Join the event on Facebook

"They say cut back, we say fight back!"