| Warning:
It has been reported in other Leagues that there is a scam being perpetrated on members who receive emails that claim to be from the League, requesting that members buy gift cards for a specific League purpose. We will never, under any circumstances, ask our members to buy gift cards for any purpose. Please do not respond to these requests.
If you have questions about this, please get in touch with us at League@lwvmilwaukee.org.
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LWVMC Co-Sponsors Celebration of Member Janet Fitch's Work
Tuesday Dec. 16, 6:00-7:30 pm
Lubar Center, UWM Campus
Nicholas Innovation Commons (room #105)
A public celebration of the work of Milwaukee filmmaker, activist and LWVMC member Janet Fitch will be held at UWM on the second anniversary of her death in 2023. The event will include a brief introduction to the recently-completed and free to use web archive for all Janet’s films, a screening of her last film, Most Dangerous Women: Women of the West, and time for discussion and mingling. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Fund of Milwaukee, the UWM Women’s and Gender Studies Department, and the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County. The event is free, but registration is appreciated: https://www.newmoononline.org/event
More information on Janet's work, including her award-winning, 3-part documentary series, Guns, Grief and Grace in America, is here. |  | |
Did you know that in August 2025, ICE announced its plan to acquire licenses for AI-powered iris scanning technology from B12 Technologies? The smartphone app-based system can identify individuals from 10 to 15 inches away by linking to national, state, and local databases through the Mobile Offender Recognition & Identification System (MORIS) and the Inmate Recognition & Identification System (I.R.I.S).
If you reside in the City of Milwaukee, we encourage you to contact your alderperson and Mayor Johnson and urge them to ban the Milwaukee Police Department’s current and future use of surveillance technologies like data mining tools and Facial Recognition Technology. With the permission of the Milwaukee Turners, we are sharing sample call and email scripts that can be used to contact your alderperson and the Mayor: bit.ly/no-FRT-script |  | | Action Alert!
Action Alert & Report Back--Milwaukee County Resolution on Data Centers
County Supervisor District 1 and LWVMC member Anne O’Connor has sponsored a Resolution (County File No. 25-781) regarding data centers. The Milwaukee County Committee on Intergovernmental Relations passed the resolution on December 1st and it now goes before the County Board on December 18. Please contact your County Supervisor findyourcountysupervisor.com and ask them to support the Resolution. And please report back to l.petering@lwvmilwaukee.org. Thank you!
Milwaukee County Resolution before the Committee on Judiciary, Law Enforcement and General Services regarding Climate and PFAS. LWVMC is watching this item for possible action.
Data Center Accountability Bill - Pending Wisconsin legislation (Legislative Reference Bureau 5432) is the first measure that promises to hold tech and utility companies accountable when building, powering, and operating data centers in Wisconsin. Watch future CAG Updates for possible action.
Hatred of Data Centers - The public is demanding greater transparency and accountability before data centers are permitted. For more information see insideclimatenews
Homeowners Sue Oil Companies - “Like other climate cases brought against big oil companies, it argues that defendants engaged in a decades-long campaign of deception to deny the links between fossil fuels and climate change, and more recently to misleadingly portray the oil industry as providing climate solutions, all for the purpose of delaying the transition to clean energy and protecting industry profits.” insideclimatenews
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LGBTQ+ Safety Standard Changes for Prisons
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has quietly issued a new internal memo instructing prison and jail inspectors to stop applying safety standards designed to protect transgender, intersex, and gender-nonconforming inmates. This includes requirements that housing and pat searches consider gender identity, that risk assessments for sexual victimization include LGBTQ+ status, and that potential bias be factored into sexual-assault investigations. Though the law underlying those standards, the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), remains on the books, the memo effectively suspends oversight of those protections during audits.
Advocates warn the change could dramatically increase the risks of harassment, abuse, and violence for incarcerated LGBTQ+ people, a group already disproportionately affected by sexual assault behind bars. This shift represents one of the most significant federal rollbacks of prison protections for LGBTQ+ individuals and has sparked widespread criticism from civil-rights organizations and prison-violence prevention advocates.
Internal memo halts oversight of prison rape protections for trans inmates : NPR
LGBTQ+ All Letters Matter |  | “Show Up Even if it’s Uncomfortable” which Helps Others Feel Comfortable to Show Up
Show the Administration you support the Constitution. Remember, numbers matter. Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts when 3.5% of the population are involved. 8.5 million voters is the 3.5% history tells us is necessary to try to stop authoritarianism. So, ask a friend or two to come with you.
SE Wisconsin Indivisible
Every Sunday, 2:00-3:30pm,1501 Miller Parkway, West Milwaukee, Rain or Shine
Shorewood Resists Weekly Overpass Protest
Every Tuesday, 3:30 - 5:00pm, Capitol Drive at I-43 (between 8th and 9th), Milwaukee
Stand up to authoritarianism! We are protesting every Tuesday. Everyone is welcome! Bring a sign or use one of ours. Find updates and more events on Facebook at Shorewood Resists.
Being Visible Public Action Campaign
Every Tuesday, 4:15-5:00pm, NE Corner of Rawson and 76th Street,
Being Visible (Franklin group) will have poster board and markers available or bring your own sign
Vigil for Those Persecuted by ICE
Every Friday, 9:00am-1:00pm, Milwaukee ICE Office, 310 E. Knapp St.
Speak Up Saturdays
Every Saturday, 10:00-11:30am, 76th and Layton, Greenfield
East Castle Saturday Group Protest
Every Saturday, 1:00-1:30pm, Downer Ave., east side of the street, between Bradford Ave. and Lake Dr.
Tosa Weekly Peaceful Protest
Every Saturday, 12:00-1:00pm, Corners of 76th and Bluemound & 76th and North
Questions? Call Jean at 414.531.3187
|  | | Brookfield Resist & Food Donation
Saturday, December 13, 10:30-Noon
Lineup along Bluemound Road near Janecek Road
In the spirit of the Christmas season, join us on December 13th to express the change you hope to see in America and ways in which we can all become a force for good in the world. In keeping with the theme for this event, we will also be encouraging passersby to stop and make a non-perishable food donation for Hebron House.
You can participate in this event in one of several ways.
By signing up you will help us finalize our plans and allow us to contact you in the case of a weather related cancellation. Sign up and let us know how you wish to participate.
After our event, you can join the Waukesha Resist folks for another nearby demonstration opportunity beginning at 1 pm. | |
Seeking Protest Co-Chairs
We are looking for 2-3 people to work alongside Unite & Rise Protest Committee Chair Bridgit Hansen. Responsibilities include identifying protest opportunities, setting up and running protest sign making parties, gathering League protestors at events and taking pictures. With more leaders we can participate in more events and draw more people into resisting the unconstitutional actions of the administration. | | |
- Are you creative, organized and collaborative?
- Do you have good communication skills for guiding participants and ensuring everyone feels included?
- Are you able to take photos with your phone that will reflect the groups’ spirit?
- Do you have the enthusiasm and commitment to bring people together around supporting our Constitution?
If so, please email Bridgit Hansen at b.hansen@lwvmilwaukee.org. Let’s talk! |  | Support our Local League with an End-of-Year Gift
By now, most of you have received a letter from our president, Peg Schrader, asking for a financial contribution to the LWVMC. No doubt, we all receive many solicitations for money toward year-end. But please don't let Peg's letter just go into your unanswered "pile." Instead, please take a few minutes to send a check or donate online. The LWVMC's century-long tradition of acting to empower voters and defend democracy has, perhaps, never been more needed than today. And 100% of your gift to the LWV of Milwaukee County stays here, investing in the strength and resilience of our local communities. Finally, LWVMC extends a hearty thanks to those members and other friends who support us in any way: financial and service. You are valued! |  | |
If you missed the LWVWI Issues Briefing in October, you can still access the excellent presentations on the three branches of government. Over three sessions, participants learned about the powers belonging to each branch, and how we've arrived at our current Constitutional Crisis. Most importantly, the presenters addressed questions and concerns from attendees and left them with hope that there are actions we can take as advocates, voters, and activists to preserve our democracy and right this ship.
You can find the recordings for each session below. If you find them worthwhile, please feel free to share them with friends and associates. Knowledge is power.
RECORDING: The Crisis in Our Executive Branch with Lauren Miller Karalunas
RECORDING: The Crisis in Our Legislative Branch with Eleanor Neff Powell + "Wellness First Aid" with Carmen Fontanez and Lexy Lunger
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The Acacia Center for Justice Announces A New Program and an “Ask” for League Members
The Acacia Center, a non-profit, supports and partners with a national network of human rights defenders who provide legal defense to immigrants at risk of detention or deportation.
They’ve debuted a new program called Witness 4 Justice (W4J); an opportunity to observe and report on immigration court proceedings. As more people are held in immigration detention and many move through the system without legal representation it is increasingly important that the public understand what is happening inside of the immigration system which largely goes unseen.
It is legal to observe immigration court proceedings, except for asylum hearings. Observation can be done in-person or virtually. Sessions generally last a couple of hours. Volunteers with W4J attend online orientation and training sessions before they begin.
After observing, participants are asked to complete an online form recording information about what they have seen.
LWVMC member Joy Olson is on the board of the Acacia Center for Justice. She is also a court observation volunteer with W4J. You can register for volunteer training here. If you would like more information, please contact Joy at joyolson@msn.com. |  | |
The City of Milwaukee Election Commission has announced a new service to keep residents updated on election related issues and alerts, such as when absentee ballots are due or dates and places of in-person voting. Once you sign up, you will receive either an email or text or both depending on what you choose. Just use the QR code to sign up now. | | | LWVWI Letter Published in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A letter to the editor from Sinceree Dixon, communications manager for LWVWI, was published in the Dec. 7 issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The letter, objecting to stringent proof of citizenship requirements (requirements now on hold pending appeal), reads in part:
Our rights as voters are under attack — the proposed proof of citizenship requirement can now be added to the long list of attempts to suppress votes. Proof of citizenship is not only unnecessary, it amounts to voter disenfranchisement.
Wisconsin voters already swear to their citizenship under penalty of perjury. From 2012 to 2022, out of more than 31 million votes cast, Wisconsin Watch and the Wisconsin Election Commission found only three cases of noncitizen voting.
Read full letter here.
|  | | A Winning Collaboration
Our third year of collaboration—launched by Leigh Ann Tidey and Dr. Aziza Jones at the University of Wisconsin School of Business—wrapped up with final presentations from marketing students focused on encouraging Milwaukee teens to register and vote.
Undergraduates created energetic, TikTok-ready videos that we’ll be sharing on our Instagram site (rvotematters2) and using in targeted online ads. Three graduate teams also delivered motivating and practical strategies for our work, all emphasizing one powerful theme: Weaving voting knowledge and excitement into the school year from start to finish.
We’ll be holding a January retreat to explore how we can partner with schools to put these strategies into action. This collaboration continues to be a true “win-win-win” for the League, the School of Business, and the students who bring fresh insight and creativity to the table.
We’ll post new videos periodically—here’s the first: Wordle. You can also check out videos from past years on our Instagram, rvotematters2.
|  | | WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP
The deadline for candidates to file nomination papers for the Spring Election is Tuesday, January 6. Our League member community volunteers will then reach out to municipal clerks and School Board clerks to obtain the candidate names and contact information for the Voter Guide team. Then the team will send invitations to the candidates to participate in the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County Spring 2026 Voter Guide.
The Voter Guide is free and allows candidate information to reach potential voters. Candidates’ responses to our questions are published verbatim. VOTE411 is voter education.
There are still a few community volunteer spots to fill. You can help with just a few hours of time. The work entails a phone call and email now, and another contact on January 7/8. Please contact Beth Lueck at b.lueck@lwvmilwaukee.org to participate in this important election information activity.
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Immigration: Navigating Civil Liberties & the Legal System
Wednesday, January 14
6:30 – 8:00 PM
Inventors Brewpub Edison Hall
305 E. Washington St.
Port Washington
Norma Duckworth and Christine Neumann-Ortiz from Voces de la Frontera will talk about "Know Your Rights"--immigrant rights, citizen rights (in terms of ICE), private property, 287(g) and how the red card is used. Sponsored by Forward with Hope. Register Here | Long-term I-94 Construction May Affect Office Access
Prepare for road closures along east-west I-94 as a seven-year construction project begins in November. The construction will expand I-94 to four lanes in each direction, reconstruct the Hawley Road Interchange as a half-interchange, and reconstruct the 68th Street/70th Street Interchange, according to WisDOT. Drivers are advised to check the project's website and plan alternate routes. | Lots of Ways to Support Local Democracy and Your League. Thank You! | Follow us on Social Media! | You have received this message from the mailing list of League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County. If you would prefer not to receive these emails in the future, go to the opt-out page and modify your privacy settings. You can also request to be removed from our database completely. | |