WNPJ + Good News from the Yip Harburg Foundation + VOTE April 1 + Weaving the Web & BDS Webinar + 50-50-1 in Madison + WNPJ welcomes Franciscans from La Crosse + Videos of the WNPJ Spring Assembly + other statewide events
The WI Network for Peace and Justice is the umbrella non-profit organization
supporting the work of 86 member groups around Wisconsin.
Note: Events are popping up so quickly these days -- check our Facebook page for late-breaking alerts and events!
We are happy to announce that we have received a 2025 grant from the Yip Harburg Foundation (YHF). In a career spanning 50+ years Yip was known as "Broadway's social conscience." He wrote the lyrics for 600+ songs, most notably all the lyrics in "Wizard of Oz," including "Over the Rainbow." We are honored that our mission meets the YHF's mission to promote economic and social justice in honor of Yip's legacy!
The April election is just days away!
Make sure you have a plan to vote, and encourage your friends and family members to do the same. Please feel free to use the voter guide at the link below, created by our partners at Guides.vote, to learn about the candidates and where they stand.
Weaving the Web virtual meeting with WNPJ
Thursday, April 3rd @ 12 noon – 1 pm
All welcome to this monthly drop-in hour. Today’s zoom call is hosted by Dena Eakles and Erica Bach – with guests from the Right to Boycott Campaign, discussing the anti-boycott law and its repeal coming up in WI (see the April 5th event below to learn more).
They will also be talking about the history and goals of BDS movement, Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions. BDS upholds the simple principle that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity. BDS is a global movement made up of unions, academic associations, churches, and grassroots movements across the world. Since its launch in 2005, BDS has had a significant impact and is effectively challenging international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.
Wisconsin's March Forward - April 5th @ Noon
Look for Echo Valley Hope’s table at this event in Madison, April 5th! Dena.eakles@gmail.com
Need more information? Contact: ajak@studio3109.com
WI Right to Boycott Campaign Webinar
Sat Apr 5 @ 4 - 5 pm
Several of WNPJ's member organizations ( JVP, WBW, WCJP, and others) are working hard to protect our democratic institutions and constitutional right to dissent. But did you know that, since 2018, a WI law has restricted your right to boycott? Wisconsin is one of 38 states with an “anti-boycott law,” requiring anyone seeking a state contract of $100,000 or more to sign a pledge that they will not boycott Israel. This is a requirement of allegiance to a foreign country in order for Wisconsinites to do business in their own state! Representatives will be introducing a repeal this spring. To get involved in the WI Right to Boycott Campaign, we invite you to do the following. Register for a remote info session on one of the 2 following dates:
Click here to check out more information and fill out our interest form.
THEN - Join us at the Capitol on April 23, where we will lobby our representatives to restore our right to boycott. If you have questions or would like to schedule an info session specifically for your organization, contact WIRightToBoycott@gmail.com.
WNPJ welcomes the Franciscan Sister of La Crosse to the Network
Unity in Diversity. True to our Franciscan Calling, we commit ourselves to building Christ's Kingdom of justice and peace. We continue our efforts to preserve and nurture God's creation, to increase social and global consciousness, to educate ourselves to political awareness, and to encourage action to effect change where necessary.
Website: https://www.fspa.org/ Address: 912 Market Street, La Crosse Phone: 608-782-5610
Videos of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Spring Assembly are available!
March 24-28, 2025
We gathered each evening for an hour this week to bring you the voices of Wisconsin activists as we championed our diversity and our unity.
Topics included:
Coalition and Community Building: Our Common Denominators · Immigration & Palestine: The Connections · Protecting All Our Rights · Environmental Justice · Anti-war / Anti-militarism / Abolition
WNPJ Member Group Events
Click here to see a listing of recurring Vigils across the state!
Madison
4/1 @ 11:30am-12:00pm: Weekly Vigil for Peace with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa. At the corner of Monroe St and Edgewood Ave. near Edgewood High School. Details here. opjustice@sinsinawa.org
4/4 @ 12:00pm-1:00pm: Madison Weekly Vigil in support of Palestine. Meets near the entrance to the Memorial Library across from the Catholic student center. Signs not provided. Contact joel.garb@gmail.com
4/5: Immigration & Labor Rights Workshop. At the Madison Labor Temple (Rooms 201 A&B).Worker Justice Wisconsin and the South Central Federation of Labor (@scfl.wi) invite you to our Immigration Rights Workshop-a 3-part training.
✅ 3 Trainings in 1 Day-Covering Immigration & Labor Unions
✅ Offered in English & Spanish
✅ Food will be provided between trainings
Please register if you plan to attend! https://tinyurl.com/yhz8k8h2
Contact: robert@workerjustice.org or Issy at issy@scfl.org
4/5 @ 1:30pm: Kids' Storytime & MORE for Arab-American Heritage Month
Goodman South Library, 2222 S. Park Street. Contact: Madison-Rafah Sister City Project rafahsistercity@yahoo.com
4/6 @ 2:00pm-3:30pm: DSA 101 and New Member Orientation (In Person) At the Social Justice Center•1202 Williamson St. Join us for an intro to Madison DSA for new, prospective, or returning members! Drop on by to learn about socialism, our current organizing, and how you can become an organizer today! Plus, stick around after for a socialist social with your new comrades! Register here. Contact: dsamadison@gmail.com
Milwaukee
4/5 @ 12:00pm-1:00pm: Peace Action WI Weekly STAND for PEACE at Wisconsin & 16th. Details here. Questions? Contact: info@peaceactionwi.org
4/5 @ 10:00am-11:30am: “The Crisis Within The Climate Crisis” - with UNA USA – Milwaukee. At Zao MKE Church, in the 2nd Floor Conference Room, 2319 E Kenwood Blvd. The United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee invites you to this highly informative forum followed by time for questions and comments with presentations by two environmental advocates on climate change -Julie Byrnes Enslow & Dean Muller. Free and open to the public. Attend in-person or virtually here. The federal government under the Trump Administration is severely cutting and eliminating funding for programs that address environmental problems. Environmental advocates Julie Byrnes Enslow and Dean Muller will address the challenges they face in advocating for the safety of the planet and the lives of people affected by climate change. For more information, contact Jack Murtaugh: murtaughwi@aol.com
Racine
4/5 @ 12:30-1:30pm: Weekly Stand for Peace. At Martin Luther King Plaza, 909 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. Supported by the Racine Coalition for Peace and Justice. Details here. Contact https://racinepeace.wordpress.com (this event is cancelled when weather is below 25 deg F and check our website for cancellations due to snow)
La Crosse
4/3 @ 12:00pm-12:30pm: Weekly Women in Black Peace Vigil. Meet at Main St & 4th Street South. Details at the Vigils list. Contact dbuffton@yahoo.com
Viroqua
4/5 @ 11:00am-12:00pm: Driftless Palestinian Solidarity Weekly Vigil. Meet at Decker and Main. Details here. Contact driftless.solidarity@gmail.com.
Superior
4/6 @ 12:00pm-12:30pm: Women in Black weekly silent vigil. Meet at Center City Park on the Corner of Tower and Belknap. Details here. Contact Christine christineolson3@gmail.com
Appleton
4/5 @ 11:00am-12:00pm: Fox Valley Peace Coalition Monthly Vigil. Houdini Plaza on College Avenue. All are welcome. For more information, contact Ronna Swift at ronnajean61@gmail.com.
Virtual
4/1 @ 7:00pm-8:00pm: To Whom Does the Land of Israel/Palestine Belong: A Biblical Perspective; A Bible Study with Dr. Dennis Olson. Via zoom. Sponsored by the Interfaith Peace Working Group. As the scene of important encounters with God at the origin of their religions, Jews, Christians, and Muslims all claim a special relationship with the land of Canaan/Palestine. This raises a theological question: "To whom does this land belong?”. This question has become an important dimension of the political debate about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. Based on their understanding of certain texts from Jewish scriptures, some biblical scholars claim that God gave this land to the Jews, and they have the right to remove all non-Jewish inhabitants. Many others interpret these texts differently and reject that claim.
In this Bible Study, Dr. Olson examines and evaluates this interpretation with reference to the debate between Palestinian theologian Mitri Raheb and Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggeman. This study will also examine biblical texts that appear to encourage work for a peaceful or multi-state solution for this conflicted land and suffering land and people. Following the presentation, participants will be able to engage in conversation with Dr. Olson and one another about the use of these biblical texts to support political violence in the Middle East struggle and how other texts might be used to support peace-making going forward. REGISTER here. info@interfaithpeacewg.org
4/3 @ 12:00pm-1:00pm: WNPJ Weaving the Web Monthly Drop-in Zoom Hour. Join in. All welcome. Learn more in the Spotlight above.
4/3 @ 5:30pm-6:30pm: Dane Sanctuary Coalition-wide Meeting. Via zoom.
https://www.facebook.com/DaneSanctuary ·Contact: for the zoom link and more information 608-513-7121or danesanctuary@gmail.com
4/3 @ 6:30pm-7:30pm: WILPF Monthly Book Circle Conversation - virtual
The first Thursday of each month. All welcome. Let's talk about... The book tonight:
They Called me a Lioness a Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom by A. Tamimim and D. Takruri. For questions or more information on getting the zoom link, send a message to: wilpfmadison@gmail.com Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom-Madison 608-609-7961 http://wilpfmadison.org/
4/5 @ 4:00pm-5:00pm: WI Right to Boycott Campaign webinar. See SPOTLIGHT above on how to register.
WNPJ has a NEW website page on IMMIGRATION JUSTICE! Many WNPJ member groups are organizing around Immigration with webinar events and more. Send any events you're involved with to WNPJ info@wnpj.org and we'll add them to this developing page!
Tabling Opportunity at the Saturday Farmers Market in Madison!
Starting April 12th! WNPJ enjoys public interface at a variety of locations. The Network shares the spots we reserve with interested member groups. We already have a spot reserved at the largest farmer’s market in WI at the state capitol in Madison on Saturday mornings. Site no. 15 at the King St corner of the Square https://dcfm.org/
Click here for your member group to sign up to share the table!
Join WNPJ - Individual members and groups welcome!
For individuals, join at a sliding scale rate of $35/year – or whatever fits your budget!
For between $50 - $75/year, a WNPJ membership keeps your group connected with peace and justice efforts and helps keep the Network going - and growing!
Visit our website to find out more about the benefits of membership and join us!
We help our member organizations reach a wider audience by amplifying your peace and justice events and actions on our list-serve and Facebook page. Membership also provides access to our community tabling opportunities, our online toolbox of peace and justice resources, and a community that cares about your peace and justice journey.
If your group would like to get your events posted in the weekly e-bulletin – JOIN US!
WNPJ has a YouTube Channel! Check it out here to view members videos!
Interested in a yard sign? WNPJ has yard signs available! yardsigns@wnpj.org
Follow us on Facebook!
Questions? Contact info@wnpj.org
The WI Network for Peace and Justice is the umbrella non-profit organization
supporting the work of 86 member groups around Wisconsin.
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