Sunday, June 08, 2025

Coming soon No Kings

Another reminder that La Crosse will demonstrate our opposition to authoritarian, unaccountable, undemocratic rule. Hope you can attend!


JUNE 14 - NOON TO 2 P.M.

LOSEY & STATE ROAD

Remember, this is a PEACEFUL protest. Do not be provoked by or engage with those trying to draw you into an argument or fight. Walk away, turn away, help others disengage. 

Know your rights. Stay aware  Care for each other. Don't engage with agitators. Document everything. Stay within the law. Bring love and community, not fear.

and


Community Block Party

June 15 - Noon to 2 p.m.

Riverside Park

Thursday, June 05, 2025

Juneteenth

 

From the Rivoli

In celebration of Juneteenth join us for a one night only screening of Marvel's Black Panther on Thursday, July 19 at 7:45 p.m. 

Tickets are $5 each and all profits will be donated to B.L.A.C.K. La Crosse. Get tickets herehttps://tinyurl.com/junteenthblkpnthr25


AND

SATURDAY, JUNE 21
NOON TO 7 P.M.
RIVERSIDE PARK

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

Join organizations and nonprofits in the La Crosse area to celebrate Juneteenth 2025.

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the last group of enslaved people, in Galveston, Texas, learned on June 19, 1865,  that the war had ended and that they were free.

For more information and to sign up to volunteer, please visit the La Crosse Juneteenth Facebook page: https://facebook.com/100083568422627/

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

Cap Times Idea Fest

Cap Times Idea Fest, Sept. 8 - 13, Madison 

Idea Fest 2025 tickets are on on sale now! Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be the keynote speaker on Friday, Sept. 12, preceded by New Yorker journalist Evan Osnos. Tickets for those sessions are available now, as are others to see Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Eugene Robinson for our Celebration of Journalism on Sept. 11. Tickets for that session include admission to all other festival events. We’ll be making more single-day tickets for those available soon!

Tuesday, June 03, 2025

Volunteers needed!!

Several volunteer opportunities are coming up this month. Here are a few. Help out if you can! Use the comment form to send more ideas!

THIS WEEKEND The Nature Place is hosting a paid parking fundraiser for the WIAA State Track meet this Friday, June 6th, and Saturday, June 7th! We need to have at least 15 volunteers EACH day. Each volunteer shift is 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. They prefer people who can commit to the whole time but will work with you if you can't. Training provided. Will be giving directions, accepting payments (including helping with Venmo payments), selling stuff, handing out lit. Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/mDCCroW

JUNE 15. Volunteers are needed to help out at the Kick Out The Clowns Community Block Party from noon to 2 p.m. at Riverside Park. Sign up here: https://action.womensmarch.com/events/la-crosse-wi-kick-out-the-clowns-end-the-greatest-shit-show-on-earth

JUNE 21.   Volunteer to help out at JUNETEENTH from noon to 7 p.m. at Riverside Park. Shifts vary - help with set up, run games, provide info, maintain the food area, help with entertainment, and more. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CA9A92DA3F8C34-56195388-lacrosse

Juneteenth Bike Parking Corral - Need one or two people between 2 and 7 p.m. Easy and green! Email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693 to sign up! Make your own shift!

Help plant a "Pocket Forest!" A high school student's Youth Climate Action Fund grant project is a demonstration Miyawaki Forest that will be planted at Summit Environmental School on French Island on Saturday, June 21. Use the contact form to ask for more details. 


Monday, June 02, 2025

Act now before it's too late!

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act included amazing incentives and supports to move businesses, governments, non-profits, and individuals toward clean, renewable energy. Credits and incentives were set to expire, in most cases, in the next decade, but the Trump regime and its sycophants in Congress have other ideas. Some of these credits may end this year or next. So, if you care about the ever-worsening climate crisis, if you want to save money or ditch the fossil fuel industry as much as possible, act now before these incentives are cancelled.

Grow Solar is a solar group buy program for those in La Crosse County run by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Have a solar site assessment and learn the cost of installing solar. The group buy reduces the solar panel price to make it more affordable. In addition, federal credits and rebates are still in effect that can reduce the price of your project even more. Pay back times vary, but the price of electricity continue to rise. The solar credits are expected to end this year if our Republican overlords have their way. Now is the time to take the plunge. 

Attend a Solar Power Hour info session:

  • In-Person Solar Power Hour: Tuesday, June 4th at 5:30PM, at the People’s Food Co-op. Co-Hosted by the City of La Crosse and La Crosse County. REGISTER HERE
  • In-Person Solar Power Hour: Thursday, June 26th at 5:30pm at the Holmen Library. Co-Hosted by La Crosse County. REGISTER HERE
  • In-Person Solar Power Hour: Thursday, July 15th at 5:30pm at the Onalaska City Hall. Co-Hosted by La Crosse County. REGISTER HERE
  • In-Person Solar Power Hour: Thursday, August 7th at 5:30pm at the Nature Place. Co-Hosted by the City of La Crosse and La Crosse County. REGISTER HERE

Still need more convincing? Check out the 2023 Solar La Crosse Tour web site to see a sample of the variety of installations already in our area. Email us if you would like to chat with those who have already gone solar!

Another great program, this one for City of La Crosse residents, is a city partnership with Green Homeowners United, as part of the La Crosse Climate Action Plan. The program helps identify those who are eligible for income-based Focus on Energy credits. Eligible homeowners and landlords will receive

  • free home energy assessment
  • free on-the-spot energy upgrades like free sealing, LED lights, and HVAC duct sealing
  • up to $25,000 worth of additional grants to cover more sealing and insulating, electrification of heating system, and electrical service upgrades

Those already receiving assistance like WHEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, etc. are automatically eligible. Others may qualify by income.

Monthly gross income limits (in most cases, Line 9 of 2024 1040):

  • One person = $55,100
  • Two people = $63,000
  • Three people= $70,850
  • Four people = $78,700
  • Five people = $85,000

See the FoE eligibility page for more information.

To see if you are eligible, visit the program website. Act now - some credits may end soon!

Coming in September: applications will open for another round of Solar for Good grants funded by the Couillard Solar Foundation and administered though RENEW Wisconsin. "Through a generous partnership with the Couillard Solar Foundation, RENEW Wisconsin awards grant funding or solar panels to nonprofit organizations, helping them switch to clean, renewable, solar energy. ... RENEW Wisconsin prioritizes organizations that work in the areas of social justice, low-income communities, people of color, children or seniors, rural Wisconsin, education, and new technology or innovation."

Sunday, June 01, 2025

Saturday, May 31, 2025

School District Input Session

From La Crosse School District:
 
You’re Invited:
Help Shape the Future of
La Crosse Schools

The School District of La Crosse is hosting community visioning focus groups on Wednesday, June 4, and we’d love for you to join us. These sessions allow you to share ideas, hopes, and dreams for our students and schools. Your voice will help guide our direction for the next decade.

This is more than a meeting. It’s a chance to shape what we want our students to know, do, and become—and what we want La Crosse Schools to be known for.

Visioning Focus Group Times (Google Meet):

🔹 Noon Virtual Session  – Join here
🔹 6:oo p.m. Virtual Session – Join here

Friday, May 30, 2025

Today's actions - UPDATED

From Citizen Action

Medicaid recipients to visit Derrick Van Orden’s La Crosse office to express concerns with him breaking his promise not to cut Medicaid 

WHEN: Friday, May 30th, 11:00pm.

WHERE: Outside Representative Derrick Van Orden’s Office, 210 7th St S, La Crosse, WI 54601

Confirmed Speakers:

  • Kristie Tweed, Driftless Co-Op Organizer, Citizen Action of Wisconsin
  • Dana Horstman (Medicaid recipient from La Crosse)
  • Dr. Ralph Knudson, Retired family medicine physician
  • Other Medicaid recipients

Van Orden voted YES on a budget that cuts healthcare from 13.7 million Americans!  

La Crosse: Directly-impacted Medicaid recipients from the La Crosse area are visiting Derrick Van Orden’s Congressional Office this Friday morning to express their disappointment with the betrayal of his promise not to cut Medicaid with his recent vote in favor of the budget reconciliation bill and his interview yesterday with WKBT. This week, Van Orden claimed falsely that the bill does not cut Medicaid. The  group will ask Van Orden to honor his promise not to slash Medicaid by voting NO on the budget reconciliation bill if it comes back to the House. 

Citizen Action and Medicaid recipients will hold a news conference outside the office to discuss their attempts to meet with Van Orden, tell their stories about how Medicaid is vital to their families and publicly call upon Derrick Van Orden to honor his promise not to cut Medicaid and vote No on any following House budgets.

Last week, House Republicans passed a budget that cuts Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act by nearly a trillion dollars. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this bill will take away the healthcare of nearly 14 million Americans in order to, alongside all other provisions in the budget, transfer trillions of dollars from working people to wealthy Americans in tax cuts.

“As someone whose daily life is directly impacted by Medicaid, I’ve made several attempts to share my story with Representative Van Orden,” said Dana Horstman of Bangor. “I want the opportunity to speak with him in person—to help him understand that any cuts to Medicaid would seriously jeopardize my health, stability, and overall quality of life.”

+++

From Tasha

The regular Friday protest will follow the Medicaid event from noon to 1 p.m. at the corner of La Crosse Street and 4th St.

At 4 p.m. there will be a virtual meeting regarding snap cuts. Sign up here for the link: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/788762/

On Saturday, June 14, we will be at State and Losey Blvd. from noon to 2 p.m. protesting Donald's Trump's actions. Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/791634/

On Sunday, June 15, we will hold a community block party with games, prizes, and a food drive for WAFER and area non-profits: https://action.womensmarch.com/events/la-crosse-wi-kick-out-the-clowns-end-the-greatest-shit-show-on-earth

If you are able to help at the Block Party in any way we are still looking for volunteers to assist us with running booths and assistance with media coverage! Please sign up at the link above and note your volunteer interest.

WAFER is extremely low on food and in particular proteins like canned meats and peanut butter. They have also been struggling to keep foods like milk, eggs, produce, and frozen foods. We can't accept perishable items at our event, but WAFER will accept cash donations.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Educate

Harvard University - free online classes on America n Governmecnt: Constitutional Foundations

Learn how early American politics informed the U.S. Constitution and why its promise of liberty and equality has yet to be fully realized.

National Constitution Center - Constitution 101

The Constitution 101 course provides learners of all ages with a basic understanding of the Constitution’s text, history, structure, and case law. Drawing on primary source documents, learners will study the historical and philosophical foundations of America’s founding principles from a range of diverse voices. Participants will also learn how to think like constitutional lawyers—cultivating the skills necessary to analyze constitutional questions. Each module includes primary source readings, landmark Supreme Court cases, and Interactive Constitution essays. This course is entirely self-paced, so you can complete it on your schedule.

And, on June 3 at 11 a.m. Executive Authority: Presidential Power from America's Founding to Today

ACLU - WE HAVE RIGHTS - What to do when interacting with ICE. 

We Have Rights is a national immigrant empowerment campaign that will provide critical information to communities threatened by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and engage the broader American public in an urgent conversation about immigrant justice in our country.


From Rep. Pramila Jayapal  - Resistance Lab: Virtual Organizing Training 1.0  on June 1 at 9 a.m. Central.

The Resistance Lab is a series of trainings that are developed specifically for this moment. In this first lab, we look at how non-violent movements around the world have responded to leaders who seize power in authoritarian ways and the most effective tools and tactics to utilize in these moments. We offer frameworks to understand this moment at home, and incorporate interactive conversation with others to help create community and build our resistance movement.

International Center on Nonviolent Conflict - Free download of new book: Towards a People's Peace - A Task for Activists,  Peacebuilders, and Allies. 

This book brings together cutting-edge research and first-person accounts from activists and peacebuilders on the frontlines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka, alongside insights for a global solidarity movement from activists in Palestine, Ukraine, and Lebanon. It offers a bold vision for how movements can shape peace and security, and practical lessons for policymakers and allies committed to supporting peace from below.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

For Our Future - Farmers

Farmers and Families Left Behind:

The Cost of Corporate Ag and SNAP Cuts

hosted by For Our Future - Wisconsin 

Friday, May 30 = 4 to 5 p.m.

Burns Park Farmers Market

🫛🚜🌽

Across Western Wisconsin, local farms are struggling to survive — squeezed out by massive factory farming operations that prioritize corporate profits over community sustainability. At the same time, cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) are putting more pressure on working families, seniors, and children who rely on these vital benefits to put food on the table.

Join FOF WI as we discuss how corporate agriculture and federal policy decisions are threatening both the producers and consumers of our local food system.

RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/788762/

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Help out at Juneteenth!

Can you help out at this year's Juneteenth event, Saturday, June 21 at Riverside Park?

Can you spare two hours to help with event set up, in the food area, running youth games, supporting the music/entertainment, welcoming visitors, staffing the bike corral, or with take down?

If you can help, please SIGN UP NOW at https://tinyurl.com/supportlaxjuneteenth

Email Jane with your questions.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

WI Wildlife Policy Panel

 

Our Wisconsin Revolution will host a panel discussion and organizing session in Wisconsin wildlife policy on Thursday, May 22 at 7 p.m. online. 

Facilitator: William Walter

Panelists:

  • Michelle Lute, Executive Director, Wildlife for All
  • Mandy Culbertson, Communications Director, Wildlife for all
  • Collette Adkins, Carnivore Conservation Director, Center for Biological Diversity
  • Melissa Smith, Executive Director, Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance
  • Jill Fritz, Wildlife Director, Human World for Animals
  • Adam Kassulke, Environmental Committee Chair

This discussion is designed to bring together the myriad wildlife advocates fighting to save Wisconsin and our pristine ecosystems. Together, we are STRONG!

Learn more and register: https://actionnetwork.org/events/environmental-committee-meeting-owr-74

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Act Now!

From La Crosse Citizens Climate Lobby:


Congress is rushing to pass the President's budget bill by Memorial Day. It is very important that your members of Congress know you DO NOT want climate change and environmental funding removed in the budget bill. When you contact your Representative and Senators please mention the following:
  • Keep the Inflation Reduction Act funding, especially its clean energy tax credits. 
  • Do not sell off our priceless public lands for fossil fuel extraction. 
  • Let them know how climate change affects you and how you benefit from experiencing the beauty of our public lands. Your personal stories make a difference.

Call or email but do it TODAY!

Wisconsin District 3
Representative Derrick Van Orden
Phone: (202) 225-5506
Email Rep. Van Orden

Senator Ron Johnson
Phone: (202) 224-5323
Email Senator Johnson
Senator Tammy Baldwin
Phone: (202) 224-5653
Email Senator Baldwin

Minnesota District 1

Senator Amy Klobuchar
Phone: (202) 224-3244
Email Senator Klobuchar
Senator Tina Smith

Phone: (202) 224-5641
Email Senator Smith

Representative Brad Finstad
Phone: (202) 225-2472
Email Representative Finstad


Monday, May 19, 2025

Upcoming events

From Citizen Action


Join us on May 27 for Lobby Day in Madison. We will talk with our state representatives and hopefully Gov. Evers about BadgerCare expansion, federal Medicaid cuts, climate accountability and more! There will be a bus from La Crosse with a stop in Tomah to pick folks up! Citizen Action will provide food and coffee in the morning as well as lunch at the Capitol. 

You don't need to be a policy expert! You just need to care about affordable healthcare and/or climate issues and a desire to make a real difference!


+++
From Tasha:

On Friday May 16th, we walked over to DVO's office following our weekly Friday City Hall protest and delivered our letters. It should not surprise anyone that he was not there to receive them. His doors were locked and he had flyers on his doors indicating that no one was able to record or photograph anything and that if we did we may be persecuted. So we ended up stuffing the letters under the door! (Just for some contrast, Tammy Baldwin's office door was open and staffed.)

On Saturday the 17th, we organized with La Crosse Dems to Canvass about the upcoming vote to CUT MEDICAID on WEDNESDAY MAY 21.

Upcoming events:

May 21 in Madison - Protest at the Capitol to Fight the cuts to Medicare. Also remember to call and bug all of our senators and representatives.

Weekly actions: Every Thursday from noon to 12:30 p.m. at 4th and Main vigil with the Women in Black. Every Friday from noon to 1:00 p.m. 4th and La Crosse St. (City Hall/Burger King corner).

JUNE 14. NOON TO 2.
LOSEY & STATE ROAD

June 14 - NOON to 2 p.m.: PROTEST AT LOSEY & STATE RD - bring your signs and voices to State Rd and Losey Blvd for a protest. Obey all of our local traffic laws and look out for one another. I will send a Mobilize link when it is approved

JUNE 15  *  NOON TO 2
RIVERSIDE PARK

June 15 - NOON to 2 p.m: BLOCK PARTY & FOOD PANTRY DRIVE at RIVERSIDE PARK. This will be a family friendly event. We are inviting local non-profits in the area to unite as a diverse community to defend democracy. For the good drive, please prioritize non-perishable proteins and dairy items but all non perishables and hygiene items are welcome! We will also have democracy themed carnival games, sidewalk chalk bubbles and more! Sign up at: https://action.womensmarch.com/events/la-crosse-wi-kick-out-the-clowns-end-the-greatest-shit-show-on-earth

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Comment Now - Endangered Species Act!

From David Ho @davidho.bsky.social:

Two days remain to comment on the US FWS and NMFS rule change that undermines the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This proposal rescinds the definition of “harm,” limiting protections to actions that directly injure or kill listed species, leaving their habitats vulnerable. Please submit comments!

Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act


Friday, May 16, 2025

Canvass for Medicaid


CANVASS FOR MEDICAID
SATURDAY, MAY 17
10 a.m.
2318 State Road

Join your neighbors in talking to neighbors about the looming gashes to the Medicaid budget and how we can fight it.

Pick up literature and a list of doors to knock at 2318 State Road tomorrow at 10 a.m. This event comes from the Fighting Oligarchy coalition. We will be encouraging people to call or write their legislators.

Our Wisconsin Revolution

OUR WISCONSIN REVOLUTION
SPRING GATHERING

Saturday, May 31 from. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
UW Memorial Union, MADISON

This two-day event will bring together like-minded groups to fight for our shared causes as we strategize how to best drive "Our Wisconsin" Forward once again.



Friday night, May 30th, "Our Wisconsin" reunion with OWR members past, present, and future reconvening to reminisce on big wins of the past and strategize future opportunities for more big wins. We will be inviting and sharing this celebration with many of the friends and allies we have made along the way.

Saturday, May 31st, "Our Wisconsin Unity Gathering" will serve as a convention focusing on how the many fabulous progressive organizations in the state can continue building unity, and how we can execute our bold ideas together, as we tackle 2025 and beyond.

We will build a Wisconsin that reflects the just and equitable future necessary to defeat fascism and corporate/billionaire control, but this can only be done with all of "Our Wisconsin" support.

As we face many serious governmental, environmental, and societal crises… endless wars, severe cuts to human services, and ongoing tax cuts for billionaires…

As our planet rapidly spirals into climate catastrophe and economic turmoil…

As society crumbles around us, many find our circumstances overwhelming and struggle to articulate what we need to do and how we will get it done.

We believe that it is time to unite and create a comprehensive strategic plan that helps to create a culture that promotes Peace, Justice, Sustainability, and Democracy by:

  • Celebrating diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and solidarity.

  • Making space for sharing, deep listening, understanding, cooperation, and meaningful care for one another and our planet.

  • Empowering all Wisconsinites to enact a government of, by, and for the people and the public good.

Additionally, we will be electing our new Board of Directors for the next year. If you are interested in joining the Our Wisconsin Revolution Board of Directors, please throw your hat in the ring!

We will be electing two co-chairs, Treasurer, and Secretary, as well as at-large board members and board members representing each Congressional District. Leadership positions set the goals and long-term objectives of the organization and help define how we can best assist the Progressive movement in Wisconsin going "Foward".

Please RSVP here! Complete the registration here!

More information on Keynote Speakers and breakout sessions to come!

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Dear "Local Business Leaders"

"Stand up for each other."

Pete Buttegieg recently did a Town Hall, hosted by Vote Vets, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At one point he says that he's not an elected official and he's not (he says) running for anything, but he's there. Then he notes that, in most cases, Republican representatives are not showing up because they are afraid to take ownership of what their party is doing to veterans, children, sick people, rural communities, small business owners, and the rule of law. 

At the start of his talk, Buttegieg described the lack of interest in constituents' concerns by those Republican Representatives

"If this is a country where the government, or the head of the government, or very wealthy men who advise and/or instruct the head of our government with no accountability, that means that if you're a farmer caught up in the useless trade war, the answer is 'too bad.'  If you're a small business owner who doesn't know what you can order or what you're going to be charging, the answer is, 'Mmmm, we don't really have to answer to you.' If you're one of the ten million Americans who, we just learned, stand to be knocked off of Medicaid if this Republican budget goes through Congress, the answer is, 'Go pound sand.' That is unacceptable in a democracy."

He concludes this segment with, "But I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that America will meet that test and show itself to be that freedom-loving people and stand up, not just for some lofty principle, but, most importantly, as every veteran knows how to do, stand up for each other."

This reminded me of a couple of recent events in our area with our own fearful, dishonest Representative, Van Orden, who has never held an in-person town hall in La Crosse open to all constituents.

Van Orden, a belligerent Trumpophant, uses every opportunity to demean and smear his constituents, calling them paid agitators, accusing them of being violent, and threatening to have them arrested. A 2020 election denier, he used campaign funds to participate in the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol. He has verbally attacked students and women' rights, insisted on the arrest of a young person who bumped into him when he cut in front of her in a line. He has vociferously defended cuts to programs that help the most vulnerable among us. He's helping to push the dangerous, anti-democratic narrative that "rogue judges" are standing in the way of the divine rights of Trump. He has consistently lied about legislation he supports, including the coming cuts to health care and veterans' services. 

And he uses private events with "local business leaders" to give the impression that he is reasonable, available and listening. He is not.

Dear local business leaders, wake up. He is not listening to you. He is using you to make it look like he is listening. He is using you to emphasize that the rest of us--veterans, teachers, retired people, parents, citizens with disabilities, workers, students--are not worth even pretending to listen to. He is telling us, "Go pound sand," and using your megaphone.

Dear local business leaders, when you arrange a meeting with Van Orden with secret, members-only invitations, or when you move a meeting location or disinvite participants to protect him from facing his constituents, or when you don't push back on his refusal to meet with voters, you are helping him. And he is helping to dismantle our country. Stop it.

Dear local business leaders, please read even a summary of Timothy Snyder's book, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century. 

Lesson 5. Remember professional ethics. "When political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become important."

Lesson 8. Stand out. "The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow."

Lesson 19. "Be a patriot. Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come."

+++

After a plea for local business leaders to quit being props for DVO was brought to a meeting of environmentalists, we heard that a local person had gotten a magical meeting, along with four other friends, with caring Derrick who took notes and seemed interested in their issues. The meeting - no notes or recordings allowed - was held behind closed doors and guarded by police because of threats he's received. (Unfortunately almost every politician is seeing increasing threats as are judges, attorneys, and election officials. This has not seemed to stop many of them from meeting with constituents and doing their jobs. In some cases, the threats against Republicans seem to be coming from the President. But, for Van Orden, they are another great excuse to not hold town halls.)

Apparently, the lesson is that if only we are patient and spend two months begging, a few constituents might have the chance to meet with our U.S. Representative in a private room, with no notes or recordings allowed, where he doesn't have to deal with people who think he's supporting a coup or selling out our country to fascists. If we are just nice and politely organize our screams into exact, detailed requests, he might listen, he might read our letter, he might care.

Or, he might not. How will we know?

Please, local business leaders and polite retired people, use your privilege not to get a private, unreported meeting, but to push for public, in-person town halls where Van Orden will have to meet the voters and justify his support for Donald Trump's illegal acts, and for cuts to Medicaid, science, research, foreign aid, farmers, veterans, education, health care and more.

Stand up for each other.

Sunday, May 11, 2025

This week, action & support



Wednesay, May 14 from 6:15 to 8 p.m. Refuge Strong at the Concordia. Accessible by Route #4 bus. Support and protect our beautiful Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which just celebrated its 100th anniversary, related programs and projects, and valued workers. Tabling, networking, planning, learning. 

Thursday, May 15 - Meet Emily Berge, candidate for U.S. Representative, 3rd CD from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Weigent Park. Accessible by Route #2 bus.

Friday, May 16 - Coulee Region Sierra Club Action Gathering from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 401 West Ave. S. Accessible by Circulator C2 and Route #2 buses. "Our monthly action gatherings are a place for concerned and overwhelmed people to make sense of what the Trump regime is throwing at us, and take meaningful action together. In a short time, you'll get key updates on an important issue and take collective action to resist the attacks on clean air and water, climate action, environmental justice, our democracy, and more. Join with others to view a clip from the national action hour, discuss, and take action together! Pizza will be provided but please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage."

Saturday, May 17 - Hmoob-American Day from 10 to 5 at the Onalaska Omni Center. Not accessible by bus. "Join us in celebrating 50 years of resilience, survival, and achievements of the Hmong community. Support local Hmong businesses, connect with community resources, and enjoy performances and speakers. There will be something for everybody, including free lunch!" (Volunteer for a two-hour shift at https://bit.ly/HAD2025volunteers)


State of the state

Lots going on in Wisconsin. Budget season. Electoral maps (again). Arrested democracy.

First, an alert from the League of Women Voters. Contact Senator Pfaff about AB-24/SB-57 which "would force county sheriffs to work with ICE, threatening our communities and the safety of vulnerable individuals. We cannot idly stand by while our neighbors are targeted and divided. Now is the time to take action against this dangerous proposed law, which would compromise the rights and safety of countless individuals. 


"This bill passed the Wisconsin Assembly on March 18, 2025. A public hearing is scheduled at the State Capitol (Room 411 South) on Tuesday, May 13th at 10:00am in the Senate Committee on Licensing, Regulatory Reform, and Federal Affairs. Join us in protecting our communities by demanding that our lawmakers reject this bill. Send a message to your state Senator now."

###

The Joint Finance Committee has tossed out Governor Evers' budget, including better support for child care, environmental programs, Medicaid expansion, PFAS issues, and veterans' services, and will start from scratch, prioritizing reducing taxes for their wealthy patrons. The lopsided committee, with twelve Republican members and four Democrats, has also prohibited discussion of some items in the governor's proposed budget. Whatever budget Republicans deliver will be finalized by the Governor's court-approved  mighty veto pen later this summer.

###

Wisconsin voters are challenging Wisconsin's Congressional district map before the 2026 elections. A state that usually splits about 55% Democrats - 45% Republicans in statewide races should not have a 25% D - 75% R Congressional delegation. One of the two suits challenges the current maps based on unequal apportionment

The whole issue of gerrymandering and map fairness might be helped if news organizations started using cartograms when illustrating stories about numbers of voters rather than geographical maps that show areas of land. Check out the difference from this article on the 2018 election from UW's Applied Population Lab. Read more about gerrymandering and maps at the Daily Kos Elections site.



###

The fascists' show arrest of a Wisconsin judge is the next step in the intimidation and dismantling of the judicial system, the one thing, so far, that has slowed the Great Dismantling. Read this summary of the bogus charges and of the true nature of the arrest. "It was not about the careful administration of justice. It was about manufacturing a headline for Trump’s media allies."


###

Are you prepared for ICE? Here's an online resource with facts and training for community response from the Immigrant Defense Project. Here's the Wisconsin ACLU guide for immigrants and their allies. Training videos from We Have Rights.