March 4th: National Day of Action for Education Rights

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

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

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

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

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

Protest Karl Rove at UWM

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

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

UWM Education Rights Campaign

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