Constitution programs

Born Equal: America’s Founding Promise and the Fight for Equality

Tuesday, September 16 at 5:30 p.m. CT

On the eve of Constitution Day, constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School discusses his new book, Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840–1920, which explores the transformative amendments that redefined freedom, equality, and voting rights in the post–Civil War era. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. 

Register for online access here: https://constitutioncenter.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RYiW2-nuTlyL8_5V1g90lA#/registration

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An Evening With Justice Amy Coney Barrett

Wednesday, September 17 at 5:30 p.m. CT

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a special Constitution Day conversation to discuss her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and the Constitution. Justice Barrett reflects on her journey to the Court and offers a glimpse into her role (and daily life) as a justice, including her deliberative process and how she approaches interpreting the Constitution.

Register: https://constitutioncenter.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ihB4VYx5QeW6PyLnkqzXjw#/registration

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Our Fragile Freedoms

Wednesday, September 24 at 11 a.m. CT

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Eric Foner discusses Our Fragile Freedoms, a new collection of essays exploring a range of topics, including debates over slavery and antislavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Jim Crow and the battle to dismantle it, and modern debates over the Constitution and how to teach American history. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Register: https://constitutioncenter.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2tdUMi6tQpC8ZpWxv78ziA#/registration

SUN Day

From Katharine Hayhoe:

If you are part of a faith community, consider joining a Sun Day event on Sept.19 to 21. That’s the weekend that GreenFaith US is helping mobilize people to raise their voices in support of solar and renewable energy. 

“In a time when climate denial, corporate greed, and political inaction threaten our communities and future, we gather not in despair—but in prophetic defiance and faithful hope. As fossil fuel subsidies expand and protections for people and the planet are rolled back, we know this fight is bigger than any one of us. That’s why people of faith and spirit are coming together to shine a light that cannot be ignored,” the organizers write.

“Together, we’ll ground in faith, rise in courage, and build a path forward for climate justice. All are welcome to be part of this urgent, historic movement—because the stakes have never been higher, and the time to act is now.”

If you live in the US, you can click on this interactive map to find an event near you. Don’t live in the U.S.? There’s nothing stopping you from starting your own Sun Day in your community using these same principles and organizing materials! Here’s a toolkit that explains more. (And if you do organize one, please input the information into this form so GreenFaith can add it to the map.)

Watch Sun Day’s campaign launch recording here to learn more about the vision and how to host your own event in your community. 

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From Grow Solar La Crosse:

The sun is setting on our 2025 program!

Fall is at the doorstep, and both the summer season and the 2025 Grow Solar La Crosse program are coming to an end. The deadline to sign up for our cost-saving solar group buy program is September 30!

If you've been on the fence about going solar, now is the time learn the basics, get your questions answered and sign up for a free site assessment with one of our installers. While the window to schedule an installation by the end of the year to claim the federal tax credit has passed, participants will still receive the below-market group buy pricing and participation rebates!

With tariffs causing price uncertainty and electricity prices set to rise in the coming years, solar remains an excellent investment. Don't let this opportunity for lower-cost solar pass you by!

Register for our final virtual Power Hour on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m. online to hear about the program and the continuing value of solar as an investment. Attend live or receive the recording to watch on your own.

If you've already attended a Power Hour or want to hope in right away, sign up here for a free site assessment.

Community-Led Program

Grow Solar programs are administered by nonprofit organizations and municipalities, which  means that we rely heavily on word-of-mouth and grassroots promotion. We find that solar-educated consumers are the best messengers for sharing the benefits of solar with their families, friends, coworkers and neighbors.

So if you've attended a Power Hour, gone solar in this or previous programs or are just an advocate for renewable energy, please consider sharing this program! One recommendation can make a big difference.

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Block the Bombs

 From Peace Action:

Block the Bombs with Rep. Delia Ramirez

September 15 at 6:30 op.m.

Please join us for a national mobilization call for the Block the Bombs to Israel week of action, featuring U.S. Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL), the sponsor of H.R. 3565 in the House of Representatives, which aims to provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel. 

Ask your questions about the legislation and learn how you can help amplify the call to stop weapons sales to Israel.

REGISTER FOR ZOOM LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4917570044596/WN_fERq0gGTRC-kiFjExX17VQ#/registration

Other speakers TBA.

Indigenous Film Series

THE LAST CONQUISTADOR

5 PM at the RIVOLI

Renowned sculptor John Houser has a dream: to build the world's tallest bronze equestrian statue for the city of El Paso, Texas.

Join us for a screening of "The Last Conquistador" and a discussion following the film to learn about today’s Indigenous peoples through movies, media, and dialogue.

This event is in partnership between the Ho-Chunk Nation Youth & Learning Center at the La Crosse Ni Tani Hocira (Three Rivers House), UW Extension La Crosse County, The Rivoli Theatre, Western Technical College, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and the La Crosse Public Library.

Seating is limited, click here to "purchase" a $0.00 registration.

Run For Office training

From 3rd CD Dems:

Join the 3rd CD Democrats and Emerge for a free Running for Office information session! Saturday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m. ONLINE.

Emerge and the 3rd CD Democrats present: Virtual Step Forward: A One-Hour seminar for those interested in running for public office. Sign up here! This event is free and accessible on Zoom. All potential candidates, campaign managers, and anyone interested in electing Democrats to public office is welcome.  

Green Homeowners program expanded!

 From Green Homeowners United:

We’d love for you to join us on Thursday, September 11 at 10:00 AM on the steps of La Crosse City Hall as we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act.

At this event, Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey, community partners, and local residents will highlight how the City of La Crosse has expanded no-cost home energy assessments to middle-income households—a major step in ensuring more families can benefit from federal clean energy investments. Together, we’ll showcase how the IRA is lowering bills, creating healthier homes, and building good-paying jobs right here in La Crosse.

Your presence and partnership will help demonstrate the broad support for this work and build excitement as we prepare to launch additional projects in the community.

📅 Date/Time: Thursday, September 11 at 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Steps of La Crosse City Hall

We hope you can join us in celebrating and helping spread the word!

Watch the recent videos on how we help homeowners, and how we're creating good green jobs!

Climate Science Under Siege

 

CLIMATE SCIENCE UNDER SIEGE!

September 12 at 6 p.m. Central Time

ONLINE PROGRAM 

From pandemics to the climate crisis, our planet faces urgent, overlapping threats. One common obstacle cuts across them all: the rising tide of anti-science denial, disinformation, and delay.

At this Climate Action Party, we’ll learn directly from one of the world’s most acclaimed climate scientists, Dr. Michael E. Mann, about what’s fueling today’s war on science—and how we can fight back.

In conversation with Tim Guinee, President of Climate Action Now, Dr. Mann will share powerful insights from his newest book, Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World (co-authored with Peter J. Hotez).

We’ll explore the five forces sabotaging scientific progress—plutocrats, pros, petrostates, phonies, and the press—and uncover how they’re blocking urgent action on climate and public health. And, this won’t be just another conversation about problems. Together, we’ll take real-time action using free Climate Action Now tools to challenge disinformation, call for accountability, and protect science.

Join us to uncover the powerful interests undermining science—and then take action to protect our futures!

About Our Expert Speaker

Dr. Michael E. Mann is Presidential Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media. A co-founder of RealClimate.org and a leading voice on climate for over two decades, Dr. Mann was a lead author of the IPCC’s Third Assessment Report and has authored five books including The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars and The New Climate War. His scientific contributions and public engagement have earned him numerous prestigious awards and recognition from Scientific American, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Nobel Peace Prize-winning IPCC.

About Our Moderator

Tim Guinee is President of Climate Action Now. He serves as the Legislative Director at the pleasure of the Climate Reality New York State Chapters Coalition. He serves on the boards of the Broadway Green Alliance, The Climate Action Fund and The Ashokan Center, as well as on the advisory boards of the Center for Earth Ethics and Riverkeeper, and on the executive committee of the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. He is the founder of the Climate Actors. He was presented with the prestigious Alfredo Sirkis Memorial Green Ring Award for his work on the climate crisis by former Vice-President Al Gore.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/science-under-siege-climate-action-party-tickets-1636332567759

PRIDE

From The Center -7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection

Friday, 9/5 - La Crosse PRIDE Pageant at Uptown Loft, Capella Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. 

GET TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/la-crosse-pride-pageant-tickets-1325624391239

Saturday, 9/6 - PRIDE in the Park from 11 to 7l6 at Riverside Park. 

Saturday Protest DVO

From Dan, FOF WI

Earlier this summer, Rep. Derrick Van Orden voted to cut nearly a trillion dollars from healthcare and food assistance programs, putting working families at risk of losing coverage and making healthcare more expensive for all of us. All to give tax cuts to the billionaires and corporations.

Now he's fundraising in our community for his re-election even as his vote puts tens of thousands of us at risk of losing Medicaid and threatening the future of our rural hospitals.

We refuse to let him ignore the consequences of his actions. So on Saturday, September 6th, we're showing up in hazardous material suits to make it clear: Derrick Van Orden is hazardous to our health and well-being.

https://www.mobilize.us/wfpower/event/834719/

Mass call

State violence is everywhere—from traffic stops to border crossings, from prisons to protests. And it’s not impacting us equally. Women, girls, and gender-oppressed people—especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color—are being uniquely targeted, criminalized, and harmed.

Our conversation was postponed, but we’re back. Join us this Wednesday, September 3 at  6 PM for our rescheduled mass call on Gender, Policing & State Violence.

RSVP NOW

We’ll be joined by organizers, abolitionists, and community defenders resisting carceral violence in all its forms: anti-trans laws, the criminalization of pregnancy, police killings, and beyond.

This call is about building resistance—and building it together. For gender justice. For racial justice. For liberation.

Support the victims. Release the files.

Arrest the criminals.

EPSTEIN SURVIVORS PRESS CONFERENCE 

SEPTEMBER 3 at 9:30 a.m.

Your attention needed

From Citizens Climate Lobby

The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 (FY26) budget is seeking dramatic cuts to key climate and clean energy programs across a range of federal agencies. It’s standard for a presidential administration to propose a budget, but the proposed cuts to climate and clean energy programs are abnormally large.

Email your US Senators and US Representative today.

We’re supporting robust funding for NOAA, NASA, and the Department of Energy to:

• Preserve critical science and research around our changing climate.
• Strengthen U.S. energy leadership and competitiveness.
• Ensure that America’s grid can meet rising demand.
• Reduce costs for taxpayers/ratepayers.

Tell your members of Congress: Reject proposed cuts to these agencies.

Help us ensure that Congress uses its power to fund these critical programs at robust levels. Thanks for your action!

Monday - UPDATE

People Over Billionaires 

10 am to Noon

NORTH END of Copeland Park

Hosted by La Crosse Indivisible 

Labor Day Parade & Labor Fest
10 am - 5 pm

Copeland Park

Hosted by Wisconsin AFL-CIO

For those who can't make it to the north side events, the LaX Dems office will be open from noon to 2 p.m. for folks who want to rally at the intersection of State Road and Losey Boulevard.

 

UPDATE - Yes, the Dem office WILL be open from noon to 2 p.m. Monday for those who want to demonstrate at the corner of Losey and State Road from noon to 2 p.m. This afternoon demo opportunity is not hosted by La Crosse Indivisible. This is a separate opportunity for those who can't or don't want to do the Copeland park things.There may be zero people there or some people there. It's just another opportunity to demonstrate our displeasure with the ongoing coup.

TODAY - Our next State Supreme Court Justice

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 

4 to 5 p.m.
2318 State Road

Drop in and meet Judge Chris Taylor, candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Held at the La Crosse County Democratic party office. 2318 State Road (Across from JavaVino and on the 2 & 4 bus lines)

Project 2025 & Women

Please read and share and act. We are not going to be falling off the cliff onto a comfy cushion. 

"But, by far and away, the biggest priority for a Heritage Foundation-captured CDC is going to be using he agency's legal frameworks for access to medical data, and weaponizing them to control women. *Most* of the a Project 2025 plan for CDC is a witch hunt against abortion on an unprecedented scale." 

Vance in La Crosse Thursday - UPDATED X 2

UPDATE FROM LA CROSSE COUNTY DEMS:

Protest Vice-President JD Vance's visit to La Crosse.  NOON TO 1 p.m. at Copeland Park.

 Bring signs and be ready to make some noise. 

Visit https://www.mobilize.us/wisdems/event/834260/ for more information and to keep updated on any changes.

Taking a break

Posts on CP will be minimal during the next few weeks due to schedule and vision stuff.

I'll try to keep the calendar updated. If you want to guests post, Please send in on the contact form.

In the meantime, there are several great events coming up, including Pride in the Park, Hmong New Year, and Week Without Driving. Please plan to participate!

Phone bank for healthcare

Right now, millions of families’ health care is on the line. The “Big, Ugly Bill” that Republican leaders passed earlier this summer slashed Medicaid and threatened affordable coverage for working people¹—but there’s still hope.

Senate Democrats have introduced the Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act, which would reverse the worst parts of that bill, safeguard Medicaid, and permanently extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that help keep premiums affordable.²

We need to pressure the Republican majority in Congress to support this legislation, and it starts in the Senate! Lawmakers care especially about how their constituents see them. And that’s exactly why we’re hosting a phone bank to connect volunteers (like you!) to other MoveOn members with Republican senators. We will connect them directly with their senator’s district office to pressure them to repeal Medicaid cuts.

Will you sign up for next week’s phone bank on Monday, August 25, at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT to make calls to connect voters with their senators?

You don’t need to be an expert—we’ll give you a script, training, and full support every step of the way. All you need is your phone or a computer, and just a little bit of your time.

Families across the country are counting on us to fight back against cuts that put health care out of reach. Together, we can hold Republican senators accountable for the harm, and pressure them to take back one of the worst parts of the Big, Ugly Bill.

RSVP for next week’s phone bank on Monday, August 25, at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

Thanks for all you do.

–Nakia, Aliya, Isbah, Christian, and the rest of the MoveOn team

Sources:

1. “5 ways Trump's megabill will limit health care access,” NPR, July 3, 2025
https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5453870/senate-republicans-tax-bill-medicaid-health-care

2. “Wyden, Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Reverse Devastating Health Care Cuts in Trumpcare,” Senate Committee on Finance, August 4, 2025
https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/wyden-senate-democrats-introduce-legislation-to-reverse-devastating-health-care-cuts-in-trumpcare

Table for river protection

From Kathryn at Sustain Our River:

We need to keep advocating for our federal agencies and NGOs because this is the budget debate time. Oct 1st is the new budget for 2026. 

I am asking for people to take shifts this weekend for 1-2 hours to table at the Bass Tournament inside Loggers Field at Copeland Park on Saturday and Sunday  Contact 

I have been to another bass tournament and it was like a festival. At our booth we will be asking people to sign petition, letter, and/or postcard to restore federal funds to USGS Science Center on French Island and Fish and Wildlife Service for the Refuge.  We have a some photo booth fun planned also. We will be inside Loggers stadium which sounds good to me because they have real bathrooms! No mud because we're on astro turf!

Read more about it at https://www.facebook.com/events/662573706869136 

Duties: 

• If you can, bring some individual wrapped candy to give out.
• Wear a name tag from your group, if you have one.
• Wear a PFD if you like—as a way to indicate we are a group. The life jacket is intended to add fun and bring attention to our booth

At the booth:  Fish and waterfowl mounts,  petitions, letters to sign, postcards to sign, and photo booth fun 

Questions: Contact Sue Schultz 608-792-0931 or Marc Schultz 608-792-1445 or Kathryn 608 780-0607

Climate Action Now

From the Sierra Club:

If you’ve been thinking about going solar, buying an electric vehicle, or upgrading your home with cleaner, more affordable energy -- now is the time to act.

Federal clean energy tax credits are still available -- but not for long.

Don't miss out on savings for solar, heat pumps, electric vehicles (EVs),

and more!

With the clean energy tax credits, choosing rooftop solar, heat pumps, or electric vehicles can save you thousands of dollars up front -- while helping lower your monthly energy bills for years to come. Switching to clean energy will also protect clean energy and manufacturing jobs, reduce air and water pollution, and make our energy grid more reliable.    Unfortunately, Trump's disastrous budget law is eliminating tax credits that make this clean energy switch affordable, and many of these federal incentives have new deadlines that expire soon. There are just a few months left to access these benefits, so you need to act fast before it's too late! EV Credits: Federal tax credits for eligible vehicles are available through September 30, 2025, with up to $7,500 for new vehicles and $4,000 for used vehicles. EV Charger Credit: Looking to install a home charger? Get up to $1,000 back on your taxes until June 30, 2026. Residential Clean Energy Credits: Claim 30% of the total cost of solar panels, battery storage, and geothermal systems if you buy by December 31, 2025.  Energy Efficient Home Upgrade Credits: Make home energy upgrades, like insulation, windows, or efficient electric appliances, by December 31, 2025 to claim the credit. Heat pump systems: up to $2,000 in credits for energy-efficient heating and cooling. Insulation, air sealing, and weatherization: up to $1,200. Electrical panel upgrades: up to $600 to support electric appliances and EV chargers. Home energy audits: up to $150 to help identify where you can save the most on energy costs. ### If you live in the City of La Crosse and meet Focus on Energy income requirements, you may be eligible for free upgrades including an energy audit, sealing and insulating, upgrades to electrical service, and heat pumps. For a family of one, gross income, line 9 on the 1040 form, must be at or below $60,150. See this page for more details about income eligibility: https://focusonenergy.com/income-qualified and read more about the city's partnership with the award-winning Green Homeowners United here: https://www.greenhomewi.com/lax La Crosse County residents can still join the Grow Solar group buy program to have solar installed on your home or business with reduced-price, bought in bulk, panels. There's a virtual Solar Power Hour information session on September 17. Sign up for info and a free assessment here: https://www.growsolar.org/la-crosse/

New Community Review Board Form

From La Crosse County

Civilian Review Board Launches Community Form

The La Crosse County Civilian Review Board (CRB) has launched a new Community Report Form, offering residents a safe and accessible way to share personal experiences with law enforcement. The form is now live at lacrossecounty.org/crb. Purpose: Created to support transparency, healing, and accountability, the form is part of the CRB’s mission to strengthen public trust through advocacy, outreach, and data collection. Residents can use it to describe interactions with law enforcement that left them feeling harmed, disrespected, profiled, or unheard. Reports may be submitted anonymously and are not shared with law enforcement unless requested by the person submitting. “This isn’t about assigning blame or determining guilt—it’s about creating a space for people to be heard,” said members of the CRB. “When people feel silenced or dismissed after an encounter with law enforcement, they need somewhere to turn. This form is one way to start that conversation.” About the CRB: The CRB does not conduct investigations, impose discipline, or override law enforcement decisions. It is an independent, community-based body formed by the La Crosse County Board following the recommendations of a Study Committee that included law enforcement, judicial representatives, social workers, educators, and community members. How Information is Used: Data from the forms will be used to identify trends and guide discussions with public safety partners. The CRB meets monthly. As appropriate, it shares anonymized data with the La Crosse County Judiciary and Law Committee and participating law enforcement agencies: the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office, La Crosse Police Department, and Onalaska Police Department. Annual reports will be published to support ongoing transparency and community education. Learn more at lacrossecounty.org/crb.

August 27 - Brad Pfaff Corn Roast

It's time for Brad Pfaff's Annual Old-Fashioned Corn Roast! with guests  Rep. Ro Khanna, Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez, and many more! 

Wednesday, August 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the La Crosse Interstate Fairgrounds in West Salem!

Contributions gratefully accepted (but not required) here!

Stop letting businesses put pig poop in our water

From Crawford Stewardship Project:

Help stop another preemption of local control!  Our Wisconsin legislature is threatening to make CAFO Operations Ordinances illegal...we need all hands on deck to stop this!

This is a call to support the efforts of Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network (SRWN) to protect local control at the statewide level. Crawford Stewardship Project is a co-founding member of SRWN, a statewide coalition of partners working to hold Big Industrial Ag accountable for their impacts on our family farms and rural communities.

Our communities have the inherent right to self-governance in defense of public health and safety. Current regulatory structures for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) have a singular focus on water quality, (and even that is lacking), leaving it up to local governments to protect public priorities including air quality, biosecurity, fire safety, disaster-mitigation, property values, road impacts, etc.  A growing number of Wisconsin counties and townships have put protections in place by passing Operations Ordinances. These are not bans, but through extensive study and public debate between area stakeholders Operations Ordinances put protections in place that have passed in both liberal and conservative municipalities. They are a basic and appropriate exercise of our democratic process and local control.  Operations Ordinances raise the bar on industrial livestock operations by asking them to address community concerns and behave as good neighbors. Big Ag's Madison lobbyists want to outlaw local ordinances, and they've tried this before: last year SRWN stopped the state from making these ordinances illegal through a concerted campaign that resulted in 900+ messages to the Governor!  Good work team! We need to pull together again. With your support, SRWN can retain our own lobbyist to help make our rural voices heard in Madison and protect our health and property. Grassroots action has gotten us far, but a lobbyist helps make sure we can be at all the right meetings, have an inside scoop on the Capitol as things develop, and can go in to meetings with all the insights we need to be effective.  Whereas CSP works primarily at the local level, SRWN is a coalition of grassroots groups working to take our local voices to the state level in Madison. SRWN has a statewide goal of raising $10k to retain a lobbyist, you can click here to contribute to SRWN's work protecting Operations Ordinances from current threats at the state level.