UW-Milwaukee Students Participate in Immigrant Rights March
Over 30,000 march for a just immigration rights bill
By Daniel Ginsberg-Jaeckle
The following article was featured in the May 5th edition of the UWM Post.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee students participated in the “Day Without Latinos” immigrant rights march, which took place on Milwaukee’s south side at 11 a.m. on May 1.
The march of 30,000 people, organized by Voces de la Frontera, included the help of The Progressive Students of Milwaukee and the Latino Student Union at UWM, whom organized a bus from the student union, of which 50 students attended.
“I’m excited so many student organizations were involved and more students were involved in this year’s march,” said Veronica Sotelo, Vice President of the Latino Student Union at UWM.
April Iraq Moratorium Draws Huge Turnout!
Part of the student contingent of the April Iraq Moratorium on Water St. and Wisconsin Ave.
Our largest rally since the first one in September, with 80 people of all ages on the four corners of downtown's main intersection at rush hour. Very spirited, large student contingents from Fratney Street Elementary School and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Progressive Students organization, and a few high schoolers, too. Iraq Veterans Against the War, Peace Action Wisconsin, Veterans for Peace and Kids for Peace were all represented, with lots of creative signs. A dog urging "Bones, not bombs" also joined us.
Flags, signs, banners, music from a boom box and a return of the chaing gang -- Bush, Cheney and Rice in their prison suits -- all added to the upbeat atmosphere. Fifty degree weather, the warmest in months, didn't hurt either. Huge positive responses from passers-by who honked their horns, waves and yelled encouragement, with rarely a discouraging word. After a long, cold, dark winter of monthly vigils, this was rejuvenating.
Shepherd Express: End the War Now!
The following article was featured in the March 20-26th edition of Shepherd Express, a local alternative weekly newspaper.
More than 600 people gathered Downtown in 34-degree
weather last Saturday to protest the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion
of Iraq. Not only did they send a strong message to war supporters, but they
got to hear some amazing speeches.
Father Simon Harak, of Marquette University's Center for Peacemaking,
questioned the $480 billion being spent on the war, and called for bringing
the troops home while improving living conditions in the United States. "Let's bring the spirit of America back home," he said. Rep. Gwen Moore
talked about congressional efforts to end the war and said she'll only
authorize funds that go toward diplomacy and getting the troops out. She
also said she signed on to the impeachment initiative because "it's an act
of patriotism." Will Williams, of Vets for Peace, focused on young people
who are being preyed on by military recruiters. "If we want peace," Williams
told the crowd, "we have to fight for peace."
And George Martin, of Peace Action Wisconsin, got everyone fired up by
declaring, "This is what America looks like." If you couldn't make it to
that rally, the seventh Iraq Moratorium event will be held on Friday, March
21. The 5 p.m. vigil will be held at Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue, part
of nationwide protests against the war.
Winter Soldier
Winter Soldier was a gathering of Iraq war veterans in Washington, D.C. from March 13th to 16th, 2008. Wisconsin members joined in witnessing the historic testimony absent from media reports. Troops painfully relived eyeqitness accounts of the massive and daily death and destruction, noting that when embedded reporters were not present, the code of conduct was completely different.
Soldiers testified to the dehumanization of the Iraqi people, stating multiple examples of leadership all the way from the top using racist slurs towards Muslims and condoning their genocide. Soldiers testified to the use of the Rules of Engagement (RoE). During the first weeks of invasion the RoE was followed closely, but as soldiers saw their comrades die they began to change the rules.
Student Rally Draws Crowd
This past March 20th marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq occupation. Preceding the date was a student rally formed by University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Campus Coalition Against the War on March 13th.
Thursday’s sunny day rally began at noon in Spaights Plaza, introducing the crowd with a series of speeches made by student members of each organization involved with the coalition, as well as various chants. The organizations included: Jews for Justice, Progressive Students of Milwaukee (PSM), Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Black Student Union, Latino Student Union, Muslim Student Association, Latin America Solidarity Committee, Democracy Matters and Art Students Advocating Peace.
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