Sign Now to Support courageous student occupiers at UW-Milwaukee!

Sign Now to Support courageous student occupiers at UW-Milwaukee! Sign petition demanding no to their eviction by the administration!

SIGN the E-LETTER / ONLINE PETITION below to send emails to University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Chancellor Lovell, University of Wisconsin Board of Regents President Pruitt, Wisconsin Governor Walker, the Wisconsin Legislature, the Wisconsin Congresssional Delegation, the Obama administration, and members of the media saying "DO NOT EVICT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MILWAUKEE STUDENT OCCUPIERS!"

Students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are protesting the administration’s planned eviction of their occupation by midnight Friday, May 6.

Students who are members of the organization UWM Occupied are reaching out to their supporters, have created a petition targeting administration officials, and are hosting a de-occupation event May 6 at 8 p.m. at their occupation site in the Union Terrace at the Student Union at UW-Milwaukee among other activities. As of May 5 the students are in their 65th day of their occupation.

“For the past 65 days our occupation has been an aid and inspiration to students, unions, and community organizations. We have participated in marches, rallies, the days-long occupation at the state capitol, educational activities, canvassing, and even improvisational musicals. We have been organizing and building solidarity for the benefit of Wisconsin’s educational system, our communities and the labor movement worldwide. We are also fighting against the voter ID bill and against the racist Arizona copycat bill being proposed by some in the Wisconsin legislature both of which would limit students and the wider working class’ ability to engage in the democratic voting process,” said Jeremey Kowalski of UWM Occupied.

In addition to the student’s supporting labor union’s fight against union-busting in the state of Wisconsin, the students are fighting the proposed millions in cuts to the UW System which includes at least $22 million in cuts to UW-Milwaukee in Governor Scott Walkers 2011-13 state budget proposal. The students also oppose the billions in proposed cuts by Walker to a host of programs in the state that service millions of poor and working people.

“Unfortunately, as of this past Monday, the administration at UWM has decided that we should be evicted from our space. We were under the impression that the UWM administration had more respect for us,” said Kowalski.

The text of e-letter / online petition says:

TO: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Chancellor Lovell, University of Wisconsin Board of Regents President Pruitt

cc: Wisconsin Governor Walker, the Wisconsin legislature, the Wisconsin Congressional delegation, President Obama, Vice President Biden, Education Secretary Duncan, and members of the media

DO NOT EVICT UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MILWAUKEE STUDENT OCCUPIERS!

Dear Chancellor Lovell and Regent President Pruitt,

I greatly disapprove of the impending removal of the students currently occupying the UWM campus, and your handling of the situation.

I believe that this group's work is important to the continuing fight for labor, education, and human rights. It seems that the situation would have been better handled if you were open to discussion/negotiation with the occupiers. Instead, you led two members into a meeting under false pretenses, and informed them that they had 24 hours to leave the space.

Despite your extension of the deadline to Friday night, I believe that the University's means of removing the occupation was disrespectful, and am voicing my disappointment with your actions.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

(Your signature will be appended here based on the contact information you enter to the right)

Please also sign on at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/showing-solidarity-with-uwm-occupied/ to be listed online with other signers.

UWM Occupied’s petition is garnering signatures nationwide for a letter directed to UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell and UW System Board of Regents President Charles Pruitt. Thus far signers from at least 20 states and five nations have signed the petition supporting the students but they need more help-every signature and act of support helps. Many of these signers, including alumni, have visited the student’s occupied site. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/showing-solidarity-with-uwm-occupied/

Supporters of the student’s occupation are encouraged to visit the site in the Union Terrace of the UW-Milwaukee Student Union, 2200 East Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53211.

Statements of support can be sent to the email address: uwmoccupied@yahoo.com.