Weekly Actions 4-9-26
Quick actions on national, state and local issues
WHO ARE WE: We are intergenerational advocates who have been gathering together since 2017 to learn, share, support and act to create a more just and equitable democracy.
WHAT WE DO: We turn our hopes and heartbreaks into action.
WHAT NEXT: Read on and take action.
Upcoming PERSISTer gatherings
Friday, April 10 from 9-10:30am- Meet the Candidate
WI Gubernatorial candidate Joel Brennan will join us (see and share invite below)
Location: Wauwatosa Public Library, Firefly Room, 7635 W. North Ave.
Friday, April 17 from 8:30-10am - Meet on Zoom
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83824392163?pwd=6IENjahySCq4ld7gWrmoy9n37vlv0r.1
Friday, April 24 from 9-10:30am - In Person Meeting
Special guest: ACLU of Wisconsin will present on immigration landscape in WI and various ways to get involved
Stay tuned for location details
NEW NATIONAL ACTION
Oppose President’s threats against Iran / End the War
POTUS is descending into new dangerous territory. On April 7, Trump threatened that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the strait through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported during peacetime. Congress needs to be called back into session. Attacks on civilian infrastructure are against international law and may constitute crimes against humanity.
Pope Leo has been one of the leading global figures calling for end to war:
“Today, as we all know, there was this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable. There are certainly issues here of international law, but even more than that, it is a moral question for the good of the (world’s) people….Remember especially the innocent children, the elderly, the sick, so many people who have already become or will become victims of this continued warfare”.
Contact:
Call your House Rep and two US Senators (contact information below)
Call on House Speaker Mike Johnson (PH: 202-225-2777) and Senator Majority Leader John Thune (PH: 202-224-2321) to reconvene Congress.
Easy script on 5calls.org
ONGOING NATIONAL ACTIONS
End Child Detention
ICE has detained over 6,200 children during President Donald Trump’s second term. Advocates have cited harmful conditions, including poor medical care, inadequate access to education and inedible food. Dilley Detention Center in Texas is the main center holding families with children who have been arrested by ICE. Parents and court monitors say many children struggle to cope there.
Children are being held longer than admissible under the Flores, Settlement, a 1997 federal court agreement that sets minimum treatment standards for children in immigration detention. It requires children to be held in the least restrictive setting, which courts have generally interpreted as no more than 20 days. At least 911 children in family detention have been held beyond 20 days
Call for an end to all detention of children.
NEW Background: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/04/06/ice-kids-detention-over-6200-trump
Contact: Your 2 US Senators and US House Representative
Senator Ron Johnson: (202) 224-5323
Senator Tammy Baldwin: (202) 224-5653
Rep. Gwen Moore: (202) 224-4572
Keep up the pressure: Epstein Files
Following her firing, the Department of Justice said that former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear for a scheduled deposition next week before a House committee investigating how the government handled its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. Under Bondi’s leadership, the Justice department's release of millions of case files on Epstein contained multiple errors, did not protect the identities of the victims and ran behind a deadline set by Congress.
We must keep up the pressure and continue to demand the release of all Epstein files and justice for the victims. Tell your House Rep not to let Bondi evade testifying to Congress.
NEW Background: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/bondi-wont-appear-for-house-deposition-next-week-in-the-epstein-investigation
Contact: Tell your House Rep and 2 US Senators to keep up the pressure
Senator Ron Johnson: (202) 224-5323
Senator Tammy Baldwin: (202) 224-5653
Rep. Gwen Moore: (202) 224-4572
OR call the Capitol Switchboard to be connected: (202) 224-3121
STATE ACTIONS
Celebrate the results of Wisconsin’s Spring Election
Democracy works when we all participate. Thanks to those who ran for public office, those who won, those who ran the elections and those who served as pollworkers.
1. Join us in congratulating some of the big winners in Tuesday’s election.
Supreme Court Justice Chris Taylor - Email: info@chrisforjustice.com
Mayor of Waukesha, Alicia Halvensleben - Email: aliciaforwaukesha@gmail.com.
School Board winners in Wauwatosa:
Melissa Lamers - Contact: https://melissafortosa.com/contact/
Lynne Woehrle - Email: lynnewoehrle@gmail.com
Liz Heimerl-Rolland - Email: lizfortosaschools.com
Jason Wautier - Email: Friendsofjasonwautier@gmail.com
2. Running fair elections is foundational to our democracy. Thank your municipal clerk for running a free and fair election. Find your Municipal Clerk here. https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Municipal-Clerk
3. Consider signing up to be a pollworker in the next election. Get information here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Become-PollWorker
Background:
Recombobulation Area on WI Supreme Court Race:
Thank Gov Evers for signing PFAS legislation
Gov Evers signed the legislation which provides $110 million to address PFAS contamination in Wisconsin. PFAS, or “forever chemicals”, are a large group of cancer-causing chemicals. They are found in nonstick cookware, firefighting foam and fast food wrappers and other common items. DNR will be prioritizing grants for sampling of private wells, schools, child care facilities and biosolids. The legislation passed unanimously in the Assembly and Senate.
Among other things, the legislation authorizes:
$80 million for community grant program to assist local governments in combating and remediating PFAS contamination,
$35 million will go to expanding the Well Compensation Grant Program
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will get 10 new positions and $1.3 million for protecting the state’s water resources
Background: https://www.wpr.org/news/evers-signs-pfas-bills-law-133m-address-contamination
Contact: Online contact form for Gov Evers: https://evers.wi.gov/pages/connect.aspx
LOCAL ACTIONS
Call for release of Salah Sarsour
On Monday, March, 30 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers followed the President of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, Salah Sarsour, surrounded, and detained him. He was subsequently transferred to an out-of-state ICE detention facility. Salah Sarsour is 33 year legal permanent resident of Milwaukee. He is a husband, father, grandfather, business owner. It has been reported that he has no criminal record or convictions. Congresswoman Gwen Moore said:
“Salah Sarsour is a respected leader in the Milwaukee community, and his detention raises serious concerns about the continued targeting of lawful residents based on the color of their skin or their political beliefs.”
Contact: Senator Tammy Baldwin: (202) 224-5653
Rep. Gwen Moore: (202) 224-4572
OR call the Capitol Switchboard to be connected: (202) 224-3121
Protect our Mail
Have you experienced the loss of mail? A man was recently arrested in Wauwatosa for multiple mail thefts. Incidents have been reported at the mail box at Wauwatosa City Hall and at a USPS drop box near 63rd and Lloyd. Neighbors share stories about some mailboxes that should be avoided. It has been reported that some mailboxes have been tampered with. Wauwatosa police are aware and are working with the U.S. Postal Inspector to investigate these incidents. USPS is in the process of installing high-security collection boxes nationwide, called Project Safe Delivery. Ask your Congressional Representatives to address this issue with the Chief Postal Inspector at the US Postal Service.
Contact: Rep. Gwen Moore: (202) 224-4572
OR call the Capitol Switchboard to be connected: (202) 224-3121
A few things we read/listened to this week
Heather Cox Richardson
HCR and Jon Stewart
Wisconsin city passes nation’s first anti-data center referendum
Anand Giridharadas’s conversation Omar El Akkad, author and National Book Award winner for “One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.”
Mark your calendars
April 11 from 10-12:30 - League of Women Voters Earth Day Forum
Location: Shorewood Village Center
More information: Data, Dollars and our Health: the Earth in Balance - Events - League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County
May 1 at 10am - May Day March and Rally
Stand together in solidarity with our community. As educators and union members, our voices matter—especially in moments that call for unity, justice, and collective action.
Details:
10am - Gather at Voces de la Frontera Office, 733 W. Historic Mitchell St.
11am - March to the Federal Building, 517 E. Wisconsin Ave.
