(WISCONSIN) – Monday, May 1st, is a national day of action for the immigrant rights movement. Nationally, organizations part of the FIRM (Fair Immigration Reform Movement) network are escalating pressure on the Biden administration to deliver on promises to roll back anti-immigrant policies from past administrations and pass long-overdue protections for immigrants through executive action. Dozens of actions are planned across the country.
In Wisconsin, Voces de la Frontera (Voces) statewide members, Voces youth members of Youth Empowered in the Struggle (Y.E.S.), and allies are gearing up for a two-day march on May 1 in Milwaukee and on May 2 in Madison. May Day’s focus will center on the statewide campaign to restore driver licenses and tuition equity. The march will also feature leaders from the local school lunch justice campaign led by Y.E.S., Voces’ youth arm, as well as immigrant and refugee speakers on national demands on Biden to protect immigrant and refugee rights. (See program and details below).
Specific demands include that Biden fulfill his campaign promise to abolish the discriminatory 287g program, and expand Temporary Protected Status and other protections for immigrants already living in this country. Voces and Y.E.S. will also be calling on Wisconsin Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee to vote in support of driver licenses and in-state tuition equity for immigrants in the state budget, and for Wisconsin School Boards to champion demands for fresh, healthy, and equitable school lunch as part of the “School Lunch Justice” campaign.
On Monday, May 1st, the May Day kickoff event starts at 10:45 a.m. at the Voces Milwaukee office at 1027 S. 5th St. The street will be blocked off to accommodate a pre-program and entertainment before a mass march begins. Marchers will leave the office around 11:15 a.m. heading to the Milwaukee downtown Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office located at 819 N. 6th Street, set to arrive around 12:00 p.m. After a brief rally and postcard drop off, we will continue the march and end with a press conference, and community celebration at Zeidler Union Square at 301 W. Michigan Street. The press conference will start around 12:30 p.m. and end with music, food, children’ s games, and informational tables.
On Tuesday, May 2nd, Voces de la Frontera, and students from Raza United and UW- Mecha will organize a student-led walkout and rally at the State Capitol in Madison. Students from East high school and college students will advocate for the restoration of driver licenses and in-state tuition equity for immigrants in Wisconsin.
A summary of events over the next two days are outlined below. Members of the press are welcome to attend any of these events, but our main program will be on Monday, May 1st around 12:30 p.m. at Zeidler Union Square in Milwaukee and on Tuesday, May 2nd at 11:45 a.m. at the Rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol.
A media toolkit with footage from past May Day events is available here. VDLF staff will add footage from the actions on May 1 and May 2 to this folder throughout the two days.
Program Details:
Monday, May 1st: Milwaukee Mass March to Zeidler Union Square
9:00 a.m. CT Rally at the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association (MTEA) office, 5130 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI 53208
- Y.E.S. students will hold a rally in front of the School Lunch Justice mural, with select student speakers, students will picket the Milwaukee Public School Office building across the street at 5225 W Vliet St, Milwaukee, WI 53208Students will then board buses around 9:45 a.m. to join the adult members at the Voces office, arriving at 10:00 a.m. CT.
- Live music, tabling, distributing art work and set up
- Opportunities for interviews
- Speakers will include immigrant leaders, students, and allies from faith, labor, LGBTQ reproductive justice, and racial justice organizations
- We will have a brief rally and leave postcards for Republicans outside of the DMV office, before continuing the march
- **plans have changed. The press conference will no longer be held at the DMV
- We will march up Vel Phillips Ave. to arrive at Zeidler Park
- Mariachi band Alas de las Américas
- Speakers will include:
- Juliana, student representative from Youth Empowered in the Struggle, advocating for school lunch reform
- Josiah Gomez, and Liliana Romero, student representatives from University of Wisconsin – Madison Mecha, advocating for tuition equity
- Israel Peña, immigrant essential worker from Green Bay, WI, and Brown County which is a 287(g) affected county.
- Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera
- John Rosenow, a member of the Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Association, and dairy farmer.
- Rev. Greg Lewis, Souls to the Polls
- Cache Duet live music
- Taco trucks with food and water available for marchers
- Children’s games, piñatas, and face painting
- Informational tables from our sponsors for community members
- Hundreds of Y.E.S. and Raza United students will lead a school walk out and march 2 miles to arrive at the Wisconsin State Capitol, 2 E Main St., State Street entrance.
- 50 to 100 UW-Mecha, UW-Dreamers, and other college students will be marching up state street to arrive at the Wisconsin State Capitol, 2 E Main St., State Street entrance.
- High school, college, and bussed-in middle and elementary school students will meet and join at the State Street entrance and steps of the Capitol building.
- There will be time for photos while students chant and organize.
- Students of all ages will be speaking
- There will be chanting, banners, and the “unity clap” – a symbolic and traditional demonstration of unity.
- After a program of speakers there will be open mic speaking opportunities