Milwaukee 16 resist bogus charges

A diverse coalition of student and labor organizations at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and in the wider campus community is fighting trumped-up charges against the Milwaukee 16.

“On March 4, as part of the National Day of Action to Defend Education, 16 people were arrested at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for protesting a university administration that is relying on students and workers to pay for an economic crisis that the bankers and wealthy elite created,” Daniel Jaeckle of SDS Milwaukee and the UWM Education Rights Campaign told Workers World.

In videos on YouTube and elsewhere, Milwaukee and UWM cops are seen engaging in an unprovoked riot against students who were attempting to deliver their demands to UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago. Santiago had barricaded himself and his staff inside Chapman Hall, where his office is, and refused to meet the students and workers. Santiago watched through a window as cops physically assaulted, handcuffed and racially profiled protesters.

Some students courageously resisted and defended themselves by throwing snowballs at the cops and at the Chapman Hall building. For this they were violence-baited by the administration, the cops and the corporate media. The 16 students have been charged with municipal citations of unlawful assembly and the UWM administration has threatened academic sanctions against them. Immediately following the arrests, supporters sprang into action and thus far several progressive lawyers have volunteered to work pro bono to defend the arrested students. Rallies, vigils and fundraisers for the students have taken place and legal training is ongoing.

Due to the ongoing resistance and protests by the UWM Education Rights Campaign, Santiago has agreed to attend a public town hall meeting on campus to address the arrests of the Milwaukee 16 and the effects of the economic crisis on students and workers at UWM and in education generally.

“The UWM Education Rights Campaign remains committed to fighting all citations and charges against the Milwaukee 16. It was wrong and unjust for our university administration to declare our protest an unlawful assembly and bring in city police to arrest us. We will continue fighting the furloughs, layoffs and tuition hikes that plague the workers and working-class students on our campus. We’re continuing to organize dozens of events despite this intimidation and assault on our right to fight back against unjust cuts. Education is a right!” concluded Jaeckle.

The UWM Education Rights Campaign is asking supporters to contact Chancellor Santiago’s office to demand all charges be dropped against the Milwaukee 16. Call 414-229-4331 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information and updates on the campaign, go to www.sdsmke.com.