May 8: $180 billion more for war?
Congress expected to vote Thursday on war funding bill, giving Bush $70 billion more than he asked for
The war in Iraq has cost Wisconsin taxpayers more than $8 billion.
Find the cost to your community. |
Congress is preparing to vote on a Bush administration request for more than $100 billion for the Iraq war, and Congressional Democratic leaders are planning to add $70 billion in funds to Bush's request, to avoid any further votes on war funding before the election.
"You vote one time and get the money out of the way," said Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House panel responsible for the Pentagon budget.
|
The move for an additional $180 billion for the Iraq war comes as the U.S. economy heads further into recession, and a new poll shows that two-thirds of Americans think ending the war would be the best step to take towards fixing the economy.
Contact your representatives here...UPDATE: Institute for Policy Studies analyzes the House Democrats' plan here...
 Photo: Mexico Monitor |
Flavio Sosa released from prison
Political activist Flavio Sosa was freed after being held for 18 months in a prison in Oaxaca. During his imprisonment, Sosa drew support from a worldwide campaign calling for his release, including a delegation sent by WNPJ member group Family Farm Defenders. |
|
Sosa's organization, the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca, or APPO, charged Oaxaca Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz with election fraud and the use of violence and torture against his political opponents. After APPO and state and federal police clashed on serveral occasions in 2006, Sosa was jailed under charges of being the master mind behind violent robberies, damage to government buildings and kidnapping of police and government officials. State judges freed Sosa after state prosecutors failed to turn up any evidence against him. |
Milwaukee's immigrant-rights turnout "robust"
Photo: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
UPDATE: Milwaukee march estimated at 30,000, the largest in the country read more... |
WNPJ member group Voces de la Frontera was featured in a May 2 New York Times report on immigrant-rights marches around the country:
Milwaukee had one of the more robust turnouts, with thousands of people gathering, as they did last year. Protesters called on the presidential candidates, each of whom has supported Congressional efforts to allow a way for certain illegal immigrants to gain legal status, to make immigration issues a priority.
“We want a commitment from the three presidential candidates to pass humane immigration reform in the first 100 days in office,” said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, director of Voces de la Frontera, the main organization behind the Milwaukee march. |
May 1, Madison: Immigrant-rights march opposes Sheriff's jail deportations
 | In a march organized by WNPJ member group Union de Trabajadores Inmigrantes, seven hundred people marched from Madison's Brittingham Park to the City-County building in a May Day show of support for immigrant workers, and opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney's decision to cooperate with ICE by providing information about the immigration status of those booked into the county jail. |
March participant Rosalba Rodriguez testified to the impact of Mahoney's policies: "The judge sentenced my brother for 3 days of jail but Mr Mahoney decided to punish him harsher and deported him. Now that he's away, it ruined his 4 year old's childhood by reporting him to the ICE."
Immigrant workers were joined in the march by a large contingent from UW-Madison's Campus Antiwar Network and Madison Area Peace Coalition, with both groups making the connection between the war on Iraq and the war on immigrants here at home. |
May 1: Dock workers shut down west-coast ports to protest war
 |
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has called an eight-hour stike for May 1, shutting down all west coast ports to protest the U.S. occupation of Iraq. This represents the most significant labor stoppage in protest of the war since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.
read more here... and here...
|
Iraqi dock workers call strike in solidarity with U.S. dock workers
Members of the Port Workers Union of Iraq plan to shutdown the ports of Umm Qasr and Khor Alzubair for one hour on May Day in solidarity with the shutdown of all West Coast ports by members of ILWU in opposition to the occupation of Iraq.
read more... |
En Español...
Stop deportations from Dane County Jail
 |
Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney continues his policy of questioning those booked into Dane County jail about their immigration status, and forwarding the information on to federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since October, 20 to 30 people a month have been deported from the jail, even though the vast majority were only charged with minor offenses.
- Sheriff Mahoney's actions violate a Dane County Board policy which prohibits law enforcement officers and other county agents from questioning Dane County residents about immigration status.
- Local law enforcement agencies are not required by federal law to question anyone about immigration status. Sheriff Mahoney's questioning and reporting are strictly voluntary acts.
Contact Sheriff Mahoney and Dane County Board Chair Scott McDonnell to demand an end to questioning about immigration status and forwarding of information to ICE.
Mahoney@co.dane.wi.us mcdonell@co.dane.wi.us
WNPJ member group Union de Trabajadores Inmigrantes (UTI) has more on the deportations.
|
Facts on immigration and deportations from UTI:-
This policy leads to serious costs to our community as it discourages people from talking to the police. That is why many police departments refuse to cooperate with ICE.
-
It can be very costly and will clog the system as no one will want to sign plea agreements which include any amount of jail time, thereby requiring a substantial increase in jury trials and prosecution costs.
-
No human being is illegal. Not having legal status is not a crime, it is a civil offense.
-
Immigration status per se is not a threat to community safety.
-
Immigration is the federal government's responsibility, and local enforcement cannot enforce immigration law UNLESS there is a written Memorandum of Understanding.
-
A criminal defendant is innocent until proven guilty. To ask for immigration status and send a notification to ICE for deportation purposes is punishing those that are charged without having been proven guilty.
 | WNPJ introduces new quarter-sheet flyers
A new series of quarter-sheet flyers suitable for leafletting at your local peace vigil or other public events, is being developed by WNPJ staff.
Click here to see images of our first flyer, and to download a .pdf
|
 | More WNPJ Truth in Recruiting flyers
The fifth flyer in support of parents and students concerned about the increasingly agressive presence of military recruiters in our high schools is based on information from American Friends Service Committe.
Click here to see images of all of the flyers (flyers in .pdf format) |
| WNPJ joins in struggle for immigrant rights
By a vote of its Executive Committee, WNPJ has endorsed efforts to win a path to citizenship for immigrants. WNPJ co-chair Janet Parker argues for stronger immigrant rights in a Capital Times editorial (in English and en espanol) read more... |
Looking for ways to get involved? Scroll to the bottom of this page for current ACTION ALERTS!Fair-Trade products, yard signs and more
are available at the WNPJ Marketplace!
 |
|
"If you want to travel fast, travel alone.
If you want to travel far, travel together."
- African Proverb Travel the road to peace with over 150 peace and justice
organizations and hundreds of individuals in Wisconsin. "Si quieres viajar rapido, viaja solo(a).
Si quieres viajar lejos, viajen juntos"
-Proverbio Africano
Viaja por la routa de paz, con mas de 150 paz y justicia
organizaciones y cientos de individuales en Wisconsin.
 Steve Elwood: "Why did my son die?"
|
 | Wisconsin Books to Prisoners
Since 2007 Wisconsin Books to Prisoners has sent over 500 packages, containing 2 - 3 books each, to 23 different prisons, centers, and jails in Wisconsin, as well as to prisoners in 13 other states. Each package is in response to a written request from a prisoner, and is filled from WBTP's library of donated books. WBTP now receives dozens of book requests and thank you letters each week.
Spread the word!
Download the WBTP brochure here... |
Here's how you can help:
Volunteer: Help respond to letters, verify contact information, match up requests, package books, etc. Even a few hours a month are appreciated!
Donate books and mailing supplies: WBTP has drop-off sites in Madison and Milwaukee. A list of commonly requested books and drop-off locations are available here...
Contribute: WBTP is an all volunteer effort, but needs your help to cover postage and printing costs. Tax deductible donations can be made out to WBTP's fiscal sponsor "Family Farm Defenders" with "WI Books to Prisoners" in the memo line. Mail donations to: Wisconsin Books to Prisoners, 1019 Williamson St. #B, Madison, WI 53703
Questions?
Call Camy at: 608-455-2712
|
WNPJ introduces new "Immigrants Welcome" yard and window signs
Stand up for immigrant rights at a time when immigrants are under attack and need your support. These new signs feature handwritten messages of "welcome" in six languages by people from many of Wisconsin's immigrant communities. Read their stories and learn more about Wisconsin's immigrant history here... (pdf)
The two-sided yard sign features "welcome" in Spanish and Hmong, single-sided 11x17 window signs feature either Spanish or Hmong.
Yard sign: $5 plus postage
Window sign: $2 plus postage
Call (608) 250-9240 or email info@wnpj.org to order.
|
"It's the media!"
WNPJ workshops add to members media skills
Keynote speaker Diane Farsetta (center) with Vicki Berenson of Truth and Alternatives to Militarism in Education, Wix Covey, WNPJ co-chairs Janet Parker and John Peck
|
This year's WNPJ Steering Committee meeting in Prairie du Sac featured a keynote address by Diane Farsetta, of the Center for Media and Democracy, speaking about the flood of government and corporate PR that dominates our media. Diane argued that we should view the media in terms of "communication rights", based on Article 19 of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees to all the "freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." |
Three hands-on workshops helped WNPJ members sharpen their media skills. Gil Halsted, a reporter with Wisconsin
Public Radio, led a workshop on media relations and writing press releases, Editors from the Progressive Magazine, Amitabh Pal and Andrea Potter, led a workshop on writing Op-ed pieces and getting them published, and WNPJ staff Steve Burns was joined by Bill Christofferson, an experienced reporter and political campaign manager and contributor to the blog Uppity Wisconsin, for a workshop on blogging and creating effective quarter-sheet flyers.
A sample of our work: Diane Farsetta created this quarter-sheet flyer
at our flyer workshop.
More photos here... |
WNPJ honors those who “vigil for peace”!
|
Something profound is happening in our towns and cities – every day. People who
want peace are standing on corners with signs and banners
saying “War is NOT the Answer”, “Honk for Peace” or “Impeach Bush and Cheney”.
Many of these Wisconsin vigilers have been out there for years, in all types of weather
– facing their neighbors with determination. And this action has changed public
opinion. Four years ago, vigilers in some parts of the state reported verbal abuse and taunts. They are now routinely greeted with “thumbs up” and encouraging words. |
Photo by Ken Tapp, Janesville |
Saturday, March 1 WNPJ honored the hundreds of participants in more than 30 regular vigils in our state. You can view the slide show here. And click here for the program....
WISCONSIN VIGILS EVERY DAY - EVERYWHERE! Thanks.Click here to DONATE in support of your local peace vigil.
Free! Click here to get the .pdf of the 2008 Vigiler Calendar
New - 2nd Edition - of the Fair-Trade Directory!
 | Browse through hundreds of Fair-Trade, organic and family-farm products available for sale in Wisconsin. Click here to see a .pdf version Printed copies are available
for only $10 (94 pages)
($2 additional for postage) To order:
Call the WNPJ office:
(608) 250 9240
or email: info@wnpj.org Credit-card purchase:
Enter a $12 donation ($10 for fair-trade directory and $2 for postage) using PayPal, a secure online payment system
|
"Impeach for Peace" bumperstickers!
Call (608) 250-9240 or email info@wnpj.org to order, $2 each plus postage.
 Photos of Peacemakers and participants!......
Thanks Racine, for hosting 2007! It was a great turn-out... Planning for Fall Assembly 2008 - Oct. 4th - Milwaukee...... 2008 Nomination Form for Peacemaker - due 7/31/08.
 | "Bring Our Troops Home" Sweeps Elections!
Click on the map for details and election reports! |
 | "Bring Our Troops Home" Wins 58-0 "Shutout" in Three States
All initiatives pass in Wisconsin, Illinois and Massachusetts read more... |
Assembly Republicans try to kill local ballot initiatives
 |
In response to the successful "Bring Our Troops Home" ballot initiatives held by 42 Wisconsin communities in 2006, the State Assembly has passed a bill that would allow local elected officials to deny voter initiatives "that do not relate to local government functions," even if local citizens had collected sufficient signatures to qualify for a place on the ballot. "This bill serves no legitimate purpose, but it will gag the citizens from speaking out when they don't like what the government is doing" said Representative Spencer Black of Madison, which passed its own "Troops Home" initiative by a more than two-to-one margin.
|
The vote, along party lines, sends the bill to the State Senate, where it is being considered by the Labor, Elections, and Urban Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee. Other Committee members are Vice Chair, Bob Wirch (Kenosha), John Lehman (Racine), Glen Grothman (West Bend) and Alan Lasee (De Pere). Stifling voters' voices isn't Madison's job -- Editorial by the Wausau Daily Herald
Read more... |
| Events for week of May 5 - May 11 | |
|
5/8 Thurs 11 am -2 [more] Field Trip to Chicago's Trinity UCC Church Join Madison's Co [more] | |
|
