ACLU of WI legal observers at Occupy Milwaukee, events in Eau Claire, voting rights update and more...

American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin
Because freedom can't defend itself

In This Issue

Are you affected by the voter ID law?

Legal Observers at Occupy Milwaukee

Patriot Act - 10th Anniversary

Upcoming Events

October 26, 2011 - Chippewa Valley Civil Liberties Union chapter annual meeting: Fundraiser Dinner

Houligans, 415 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire, 5:30 p.m. dinner, 6:45 p.m. annual meeting, reservations requested in advance

The Chippewa Valley Civil Liberties Union chapter of the ACLU of Wisconsin will have their annual dinner fundraiser at Houligans and annual meeting at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in advance of the racial profiling panel at 7:30 p.m. at the church the same evening. ACLU of Wisconsin Communications Strategist Stacy Harbaugh will be a guest of the chapter meeting. For more information on reserving a spot at the annual meeting, contact Nick Passell at (715) 832-0695.

October 26, 2011 - Racial Profiling in the Chippewa Valley: Panel

Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 421 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., free, donations to the ACLU of Wisconsin and the Chippewa Valley Civil Liberties Union chapter welcome

The panel and Q&A discussion on racial profiling issues in the Chippewa Valley is sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union-Chippewa Valley Chapter, and the Social Responsibility Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Panelists include Eau Claire Chief of Police Jerry Matysik; Caitlin Lee, former president of the Hmong Mutual Assistance Association; Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Chancellor's Fellow for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at UW-Eau Claire; and Eric Kasper, Political Science professor at UW-Barron and a municipal judge in Rice Lake. Share this event announcement on Facebook.

November 11, 2011 - Conference: Youth Social Justice Forum

UW-Milwaukee Student Union,2200 E. Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee

Students from the greater Milwaukee area will participate in this day-long conference on youth rights and race relations. For more information, contact

edetorre@aclu-wi.org.

Quick Links

ACLU of WI homepage

Forward for Liberty blog

ACLU of Wisconsin on Facebook - Milwaukee area news and statewide interest

ACLU Madison on Facebook - Madison area news and legislative updates

ACLU of Wisconsin Twitter Page - Milwaukee and statewide updates

ACLU Madison on Twitter - Madison, blog news and statewide updates

Keep getting our updates

News for Oct. 24, 2011

Voter ID: Are you or is someone you know affected by the new voter ID law in Wisconsin?

Starting in February, all Wisconsin voters are going to have to show photo ID to vote. Those who don't have photo ID can't vote in elections such as the spring primary for Milwaukee Mayor in April, or for President in November 2012.

For most people, the "photo ID" needed to vote is a Wisconsin state ID card or a Wisconsin driver's license. The ACLU of Wisconsin is talking to people who are having trouble getting a state ID - especially people who don't have and can't get the papers they need to get the ID (like a birth certificate and proof of where you live and a social security card). Students who have out-of-state drivers licenses and attend Wisconsin colleges and universities are also in a catch-22 between paying for a new Wisconsin ID and sacrificing their other state's drivers license or not voting at all in the place where they live most of the year.

The ACLU of Wisconsin wants to talk to people who are unable to secure an ID for voting and who are authentically disfranchised by this law. If you or if someone you know is impacted by this law, please contact our legal department.
CALL (414) 272-4032, ext. 216 or email: inquiries@aclu-wi.org

Help us spread the word:

Fliers with this information are available to download on our website
Voter ID flier (English)
Voter ID flier (Spanish)

Voter ID flier (Students)

Legal Observers: Witnesses at Occupy Milwaukee march

ACLU of Wisconsin organized around twenty volunteer legal observers to be witnesses at the Occupy Milwaukee march and park occupation on Saturday, October 15. The observers monitored the police presence at the Occupy Milwaukee march and park occupation at Ziedler park.

The Fox 6 website has a photogallery of the protest including pictures of our legal observers in action. See pictures of ACLU observers online.

We live-tweeted from the protest and included some on-the-ground photos to show the scope of the event.

Need to know your protest rights on the go? For those occupying Wall Street or Main Street, check out the ACLU's mobile Know Your Rights app: http://mobile.aclu.org/bustcard/

Safe and Free: Patriot Act - Tenth anniversary Wednesday

Wednesday is the tenth anniversary of the Patriot Act and since the law was enacted, Congress has continually created ways to extend the law despite its infringement on our privacy rights and basic freedoms. The original law was passed virtually without debate and was the first step in building an infrastructure of surveillance that has made it easier for our government to spy on American citizens without accountability .

The ACLU is sharing a new infographic that shows why the Patriot Act is still a problem for Americans. A timeline shows the evolution of domestic surveillance over the past decade and the ACLU's involvement in fighting unchecked surveillance.

View and share the infographic online.

View and share the Patriot Act timeline online.

Fan of social media? Please use the share bar at the top of this email to share this ACLU of Wisconsin update with friends online.

Sincerely,

Chris Ahmuty
Executive Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin