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Advocacy

Memorial for COVID Victims in Wisconsin Prisons

Date: 
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 - 5:30pm
Location: 
State Prisons Around Wisconsin

For incarcerated lives lost to COVID Candlelight VigilPresident-elect Biden has asked the nation to mark a national COVID victims memorial on the eve of the Inauguration. See here for more about the memorial. WISDOM and EXPO leaders will lead Memorial Services in front of seven of the 14 Wisconsin prisons in which men and women have died of the virus. Prisons at which vigils will be held are listed below.

Details for all locations are the same:

Tuesday, January 19
5:30 pm
Masks are required and social distancing will be honored
.

Please bring your own candle.

Please try to arrive by 5:15.

The memorial services will be brief and prayerful.

WISDOM State Budget Webinar

Posted in
Date: 
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

WISDOM logo

The state budget is the one significant piece of legislation that absolutely must be passed by the State Legislature and the Governor, no matter how deadlocked they are about everything else. The budget decides how much money is available for schools, public transportation, prisons, alternatives to prison, transitional jobs, health care, etc. for the next two years.

You are invited to join us for a Webinar about the 2021-23 Wisconsin State Budget process, especially about the ways that ordinary people can have an influence on how our tax dollars are invested.

Tuesday, January 12
5:00 to 6:00 pm

To sign up, click on this link: State Budget Webinar
Fill out the form, and you should get a return email from "WISDOM Host" that will include a link to join the Zoom call at 5 pm.

Scores of WISDOM people participated in the Governor's Listening Sessions back in December. This webinar is the next step. There will be more, leading up to our Madison Action Day on April 15.

Last week, we all saw the wrong way for people to try to make their voices heard. This week, we'll be talking about the right way!

A Seat at the Table of Power

This post was submitted by Penny Robinson

ESTHER encourages an African American to apply for appointment to the Grand Chute Police and Fire Commission

Background of racist social-media posts by police officer

Last summer ESTHER Organizer Bill Van Lopik was informed that Grand Chute Police Officer Laluzerne had posted racist comments on social media. Most of the posts were from high school, but a more recent one referred to Boogaloo, a white supremacist movement.

After connecting with a Black Lives Matter group, Bill and others from ESTHER joined a protest, at which Grand Chute Police Chief Greg Peterson agreed to meet with ESTHER President Gary Crevier. News surfaced that the department was conducting a thorough investigation of Laluzerne. Some wondered if an outside, unbiased individual or group should conduct such investigations. The officer was thoroughly questioned and “put on notice,” but was not disciplined or fired.1

Candlelight Vigil: COVID-19 Deaths in Wisconsin Prisons

Date: 
Monday, December 21, 2020 - 6:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: 
Governor’s Mansion, 99 Cambridge Rd, Madison

WISDOM

Please join us on December 21 at 6:00 pm in Madison for a Candlelight Vigil to remember those who have died of COVID-19 in our state prisons.

We know that at least 19 people have died in Wisconsin prisons since the pandemic began. We believe there are probably more. We know that, as of this week, almost HALF of all people in prison have tested positive for COVID-19, in contrast to less than 10% of the overall population. We have no way of knowing how many of them have become seriously ill. We also know that hundreds of corrections workers have contracted the virus. Meanwhile, the Governor has not acted to offer clemency, to commute sentences or to release very low-risk people – so that others might have a chance to socially distance – even though his power to do so is clear.

December 21 is the longest night of the year. Let us gather to pray and to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in prison. If you cannot join us, please take a moment at 6 pm Monday to remember those who have died, those who are sick, and those who have the power and the responsibility to care for the people in our prisons.

Governor’s Budget Listening Session

Posted in
Date: 
Wednesday, December 16, 2020 - 6:00pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Budget Listening Session on Our Schools and Education

Governor Evers is holding virtual listening sessions as he prepares his 2021-23 State Budget proposal.  Wisconsinites are encouraged to offer their thoughts and recommendations for the Governor to consider. Find more information on these listening session, including registration links, here.

Advance registration (available one week before the sesson date) is required in order to speak at the session. 

You can submit written comments or suggestions here.

The sessions are also being live-streamed on Wis-Eye here, and recorded for watching later.

Governor’s Budget Listening Session

Date: 
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 - 6:00pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Budget Listening Session on Criminal Justice Reform

Governor Evers is holding virtual listening sessions as he prepares his 2021-23 State Budget proposal.  Wisconsinites are encouraged to offer their thoughts and recommendations for the Governor to consider.

To be allowed to participate, you need to register. You can do so at the Governor's website here. You can watch the live-stream on Wis-Eye here.

You can also submit written comments or suggestions here.

There will be a WISDOM Zoom meeting on December 8 at 5:00 pm (the hour before the Governor’s “Criminal Justice” listening session), specifically to talk about WISDOM’s priorities for criminal justice reform in the coming state budget. If you would like to join that Zoom in order to prepare for the Listening Session, please email david.liners1@gmail.com to receive the link. Among other things, WISDOM wants the Governor to:

  • keep his campaign promise to increase Treatment Alternatives and Diversions (TAD) funding by $15 million per year
  • pledge that there will be no money for new prisons or for prison expansions
  • plan for the closing of the Green Bay Correctional Institution and redirect that money to a Justice Reinvestment Fund that can go to programs that benefit the people and communities that have been most badly hurt by mass incarceration.

Governor’s Budget Listening Session

Posted in
Date: 
Wednesday, December 2, 2020 - 6:00pm
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Budget Listening Session on Environment, Infrastructure and the Economy

Governor Evers is holding virtual listening sessions as he prepares his 2021-23 State Budget proposal.  Wisconsinites are encouraged to offer their thoughts and recommendations for the Governor to consider. Find more information on these listening session here.

The deadline for registration to participate in this session is past, but you can watch the live-stream on Wis-Eye here.

You can also submit written comments or suggestions here.

Tying Criminal Justice Reform in WI to Our November Elections

Date: 
Saturday, November 7, 2020 - 9:30am
Location: 
Zoom Meeting

Criminal Justice Reform & Government Budgets

Moderator: Peggy West-Schroder, EXPO Program Director

Please register in advance for this Zoom presentation:

Register Now

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Autumn of Action EXPO WISDOM clenched fist rising out of a firePart of the “Autumn of Action” series coordinated by WISDOM, this presentation is sponsored by WISDOM/EXPO

Vigil regarding COVID-19 in Wisconsin Prisons

WISDOM

Demonstrators at the Governors Mansion in MadisonOn October 19, WISDOM members (including several from ESTHER), led by EXPO (EX-incarcerated People Organizing) and SIP (Supporters of Incarcerated People) started a vigil outside the Governor's mansion.  The purpose of the vigil is to challenge the Governor to seriously address the issue of COVID-19 in Wisconsin’s prisons. The group is calling on the Governor to hold a press conference to specifically address this issue, which directly impacts more than 30,000 Wisconsinites who live and work in the state’s prisons.

We hope he acts soon, but we want to be prepared for the long haul. Read more to find out what you can do to keep this issue high on the Governor’s agenda.

Pack the Polls Car Parade

Posted in
Date: 
Saturday, October 24, 2020 - 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Location: 
Appleton East High School Parking Lotl, 2121 E Emmers Dr, Appleton

Let’s Join Together to PACK THE POLLS!

Appleton will join with a growing list of other Wisconsin cities on Saturday, October 24, National Vote Early Day, to demonstrate our support for the most basic exercise of democracy: voting. The League of Women Voters of Appleton is coordinating our local event, a car parade, which will be strictly non-partisan in keeping with the League’s core mission: Empowering votersDefending democracy.

Participants will be asked to decorate their cars with signs that encourage voting and promote issues but NOT candidates or political parties. (We encourage covering partisan bumper stickers.) We want to promote unity in our community by bringing together a broad spectrum of local civic organizations. We also want to ensure the safety of all participants by designing this a contactless event. Everyone will be encouraged to stay safely inside a vehicle, but should also have a mask and observe social distancing guidelines.

Read more about the event, including parade route and suggested messages for signs, in the Appleton LWV’s press release (attached). Help spread the word by downloading and sharing.

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