Voters Come Together to Celebrate Democracy in Madison

Saturday, November 7th

Wisconsin community leaders, activists and voters gathered at the Capitol to celebrate a smooth and successful election 

VIEW/DOWNLOAD PHOTOS FROM EVENT

MADISON, Wis.— Community leaders and activists gathered together in Madison today to celebrate democracy and congratulate Wisconsin officials on smooth election and vote count. With all eyes on Wisconsin in November, the Badger State played a pivotal role in sending a new president to the White House for the second time in a row. By a margin of just over 20,000 votes, the state’s ten electoral votes will go to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, record turnout, and close margins, by all accounts the election was well administered and smoothly run. Speakers at today’s press conference sent a clear message: the voters decided, now it’s time to get to work.

Video from the event can be found on the Opportunity Wisconsin Facebook page.

“Now that the voters have decided, it is critical that we come together in recognition of what we have achieved and continue to speak up for our shared values and what we believe in: representation of all voices in our democracy, justice and equity across race and place, and reminding all politicians that voters choose our leaders, not the other way around,” said Kevin Gundlach, President of the South Central Federation of Labor.

“We have come here this morning to affirm that in Wisconsin every vote was counted. We’ve come to make our voices heard. We are not obligated to finish the work of fighting for a just nation, but we must not stand idly by,” said Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman. “We must never give up our struggle for democracy, and we must never give up our struggle for justice.

“The American people are very resilient, hard working, and determined. Just about five days ago we went to the polls, to assess and make a statement about Donald Trump and his administration,” said Madison City Councilman and Assemblyman-elect Samba Baldeh. “We’ll make sure that every vote is counted. Be patient, sit tight, all the votes will come through.”

“None of us forget how powerful [the vote] is, especially in the African American community,” said SEIU member and frontline worker Michael Elvord. “Black power is the Black vote.”

“Power is in us. Power is in our people, in our streets, in our communities — taking care of each other, feeding each other, keeping each other safe. I saw that power this week when I watched people in Wisconsin — in Madison, Milwaukee, and across the state — rising up to come together and make our voices heard,” said Maya Banks of Sunrise Madison. “That power is what decided this election.”

“[Our democracy] hasn’t always been perfect, we all know that. When it started you had to be a landowning white male to vote. Slowly, over time, we have become more inclusive. And because we have become more inclusive, because more people have voted, have used their voice in this democratic process, our society has improved greatly. We have a long ways to go still, but we have come a long way. And in this election, in 2020, it’s never been more true,” said Awais Khaleel of the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Alliance.

“We have a voice. Not only at a national level, but at a local level, we have a voice. One of the most important ways to use your voice is to vote,” said Fitchburg Alder Joe Maldonado. “You all made the outcome of this election possible. Black people in Milwaukee, in Detroit, in Georgia made things possible. Hmong communities and indeginious communities in Wisconsin made this possible. Don’t ever lose that voice.”

“Young people turned out in waves because their lives literally depended on it this cycle. Young people, particularly young people of color, decided this election all across the state. They made a difference at every level. But we know the work’s not done. We know that young people didn’t just have a moment, that this is going to be a movement. We know that young people are going to be turning out at historic rates, taking their power back, and making sure that they have a government that represents their values,” said Kade Walker of NextGen Wisconsin.

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Opportunity Wisconsin Launches Digital Ads Thanking Election Officials

Friday, November 6th, 2020

[Example display ad]

MADISON, Wis. — Today, ahead of Saturday’s statewide “Voters Decided” celebrations, Opportunity Wisconsin announced a six figure digital display ad campaign thanking Badger State election officials for a faithful counting of votes and encouraging them to continue protecting Wisconsintes’ decision this election season. Opportunity Wisconsin is also running a patch-through call program to local election officials thanking them for counting every vote.

“The Badger State has spoken and our votes have been cast, counted, and called,” said Reba Krueger, Opportunity Wisconsin Deputy Program Director. “We’re incredibly grateful to our local election officials for counting and protecting every vote. Despite the pandemic and deliberate barriers, Wisconsin voters have done our job and turned out in record numbers. And now election officials are doing theirs. It’s time to move forward together so we can tackle challenges like COVID, healthcare and making sure we can all make ends meet.”   

“Folks in my community and across the state showed up and spoke up, and we made our voices heard,” said Anna Landmark, Opportunity Wisconsin steering committee member and Landmark Creamery co-owner. “Our election officials did their jobs with integrity and the result we are seeing today is what Wisconsinites have decided. Democracy worked, and we must make sure democracy is upheld.”

“We have always counted every vote. Republican and Democratic poll watchers guaranteed the integrity of the counting. This period is normal and to be expected. The people have spoken and that voice, those votes must be respected. We believe in representative democracy, and we know democracy will prevail,” said Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, Opportunity Wisconsin steering committee member and UW-Eau Claire professor. 

“Election officials are committed to making sure that every eligible voter has an opportunity to cast a ballot, every voice is heard and every ballot is counted. We need to let them do their jobs, and I am confident in results they’ve tabulated,” said Carlene Bechen, Opportunity Wisconsin steering committee member and Fair Maps Organizer with Wisconsin Voices.

Earlier this week, Opportunity Wisconsin joined with partners in Green Bay and La Crosse for “Count Every Vote” demonstrations to ensure Wisconsinites’ voices were heard and respected. Click HERE for recordings and photos from the November 4 La Crosse event and HERE for the November 3 Green Bay event. 

If you would like to speak with any of the voters featured in these events, please contact press@opportunitywisconsin.org  

About Opportunity Wisconsin

Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies that put the wealthy few first and leave the rest of us behind. Together, we’re demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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Wisconsin Voted for an Economy That Works for Everyone — Not Just the Wealthy & Well-Connected

Tuesday, November 4th

MADISON, Wis. — This election season, Wisconsinites turned out in unprecedented numbers to vote for an economy that works for all of us — not just President Trump and his friends.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh released the following statement in response to the latest results in the Badger State:

“Wisconsinites across race, place of origin and zip code, turned out in record numbers this election to stand with and for each other. While this isn't over until every vote is counted across America, the Badger State spoke loud and clear: President Trump’s economic agenda only worked for wealthy people like him, not our families and neighbors here in Wisconsin. That’s why voters here rejected him.

“Our leaders should take it as a clear sign that Wisconsinites won’t accept an agenda that leaves us behind while giving handouts to the rich. In the next administration and the new Congress, we need champions who will do what it takes to deliver economic relief to working Wisconsinites who are facing the double-crisis of the pandemic and the economic downturn. We are depending on them to deliver. 

“However, if they choose to stand in the way of this relief, like Senator Ron Johnson has this year, we will hold them accountable for not supporting economic relief for hard working Wisconsinites.

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies that put the wealthy few first and leave the rest of us behind. Together, we’re demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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Green Bay Residents Call for Every Vote to be Counted

Tuesday, November 3rd

VIEW/DOWNLOAD EVENT VIDEO AND PHOTOS

GREEN BAY, Wis.— Tonight, shortly after polls closed in the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin held a press conference at the KI Convention Center featuring area residents who voted either early in-person or by mail/dropbox this election season. Participants in the press conference reminded folks in Green Bay, and their friends and neighbors across the Badger State, why it is important that every eligible Wisconsin voter have their voice heard and their vote counted. The event was livestreamed on Facebook. 

“My ballot is inside this building, and I’m one of the thousands of Green Bay voters who cast their ballot by absentee,” said Jon Shelton, UW-Green Bay Professor and Opportunity Wisconsin steering committee member. “We are here today to say that, no matter what candidate you support, as Americans, we can all agree that EVERY VOTE COUNTS, and we call on our leaders to COUNT EVERY VOTE.”

“We all voted a little differently this year. All our votes matter and have the right to be counted, no matter how long it takes! Let's be patient and let the process work, as designed,” said Jane Benson, a local small business owner. 

For democracy to work for all of us, every voter must have their voice heard and vote counted. Even in the midst of a pandemic that has left more than 2,000 Wisconsinites dead and hundreds of thousands searching for their next paycheck, our friends, family, and neighbors across the Badger State turned out in record numbers. And now our election officials are doing their job to count the votes, as they have in every previous election.

“It is exciting to see that so many people have voted early and by mail, it's energizing to see that so many people are willing to stand in long lines today. But with so many more people voting, there needs to be more time given to count the votes fairly and justly,” said Deb Hutchinson, a retired science teacher and sustainability advocate.  

“No politician, regardless of party should try to silence citizens by not allowing them to vote or cast their ballots. Every ballot must be counted so that every voice can be heard,” said Jarrett Brown, a local factory worker. “Any attempt to subvert the will of the people is a threat to democracy and to our legitimacy on the world stage.”

The United States has always held elections and upheld a peaceful transfer of power, even in times of great crisis. We held successful presidential elections amid the Civil War, the Great Depression, and both World Wars. Now it's our turn to prove that nothing will stand in the way of counting every vote and delivering our democracy.

Members of the media wishing to speak with event participants should email press@opportunitywisconsin.org. 

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As COVID Cases Surpass 200,000 in Wisconsin, Sen. Johnson Confirms an Illegitimate Supreme Court Justice Instead of Delivering Relief to Wisconsinites

Monday, October 26, 2020

MADISON, Wis. —  Today, as COVID cases in Wisconsin surpassed 200,000, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) joined his fellow Senate Republicans in voting to appoint Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. In February 2016, after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senator Johnson said he strongly agreed "that the American people should decide the future direction of the Supreme Court by their votes for president."

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh released the following statement in response to Johnson’s vote:

“More than 200,000 Wisconsinites have battled COVID, more than 1,800 loved ones have been lost to the pandemic here, countless families are struggling to make ends meet, and all Sen. Johnson has done is push through the illegitimate confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Sen. Johnson’s vote for Barrett — who has all but guaranteed the rollback of key health care protections through the Court —  is a direct attack on Wisconsinites’ health care during a pandemic. He has spent his Senate career prioritizing special interests and corporate bailouts over Wisconsin families and working people, and his vote to confirm Barrett is a shameful political ploy to stack the Court with President Trump’s appointees and ensure the Supreme Court keeps putting corporate interests over the American people’s interests.” 

About Opportunity Wisconsin

Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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COVID-19 Memorial Welcomes President Trump to Janesville

October 17th, 2020

WATCH: 1,500 seconds of silence in honor of all the lives lost to COVID-19 across the Badger State

JANESVILLE, Wis.— Today, COVID Survivors for Change and Opportunity Wisconsin welcomed President Trump to Janesville with an outdoor memorial dedicated to the over 1,500 lives lost across Wisconsin to COVID-19. The tribute, which consisted of 1,500 empty chairs, was erected to not only remember our friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors killed by this deadly virus, but to also hold President Trump to account for his failure to lead during this crisis—which has undoubtedly led to unnecessary illness and even death. 

Visitors were able to read stories from Wisconsinites personally impacted by COVID-19, in addition to a message that lined the perimeter of the memorial, “He knew in January…But 'wanted to always play it down'…They told their friends on Wall St. the truth, who made millions…But never did what needed to be done to protect us…Now, Wisconsin has lost tens of thousands of jobs…And more than 1,500 of our friends, neighbors, and family members have been lost forever…#WeRemember”

Those unable to attend in person were able to pay tribute virtually with 1,500 seconds of silence livestreamed from the memorial on the Opportunity Wisconsin Facebook page.

This morning, Dr. Rachel Hughes, a southern Wisconsin Emergency Medicine physician and Opportunity Wisconsin steering committee member, published an open letter to President Trump in the Capital Times:

Your decision to politicize prevention has directly led to the inability of schools to open this fall. The fallout from your lack of leadership has fragmented families and pushed many Americans into poverty as the economy continues to sputter. Your refusal to address the gaps in our healthcare system and your on-going attacks against the Affordable Care Act show your lack of respect for hardworking families and demonstrate your belief that excellent healthcare is only for the wealthy. Moreover, your failure to mobilize the full capacity of your office to support front-line medical workers across the country leaves those Wisconsinites most at risk to fall through the widening gaps, and is a death sentence for many.

Members of the media wishing to speak with Dr. Hughes via phone/Zoom should email press@opportunitywisconsin.org. 

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About COVID Survivors for Change

COVID Survivors for Change is a national, non-partisan movement bringing together Americans who have lost a loved one to COVID-19, as well as those who have survived the virus and those whose lives have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. As part of COVID Survivors for Change, Americans are mobilizing to make sure that communities have the funding, resources and leadership in place to address future public health emergencies. Survivors will also find community and healing in meeting other people whose lives have been forever changed by the pandemic. For more information, please visit: covidsurvivorsforchange.org.

About Opportunity Wisconsin

Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

Broadband Insecurity Exacerbated by President Trump’s Failed Leadership and Broken Promises

October 14, 2020

Conversation highlights the struggle of both rural and urban Wisconsinites 

Opportunity Wisconsin welcomes VP Pence to Waukesha with mobile billboard 

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — On Tuesday, as Wisconsin broke a new state record for the number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in a single day, Opportunity Wisconsin hosted a virtual discussion [DOWNLOAD] with Badger State residents and community leaders focused on the Trump administration’s failure to address the broadband access crisis across Wisconsin. The group was joined in conversation by Brittany Beyer, Chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband Access.  

Earlier in the day, Opportunity Wisconsin welcomed Vice President Mike Pence to Waukesha with a mobile billboard highlighting the administration’s failure to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Waukesha physician Dr. Peter Geiss, joined the billboard and shared a message for President Trump and Vice President Pence, “The people of Wisconsin are suffering. If we want to improve the economy, we have to get a handle on the pandemic. Their leadership is failing.” 

Participants in Tuesday’s conversation echoed similar sentiments, noting the Trump administration has failed in providing leadership on improving Badger State residents’ access to high speed internet.   

“COVID-19 has shown that [broadband] is an absolute necessity, we have to solve it in the framework that is possible and that happens to be infrastructure buildout. That means that we really need to be making a case that this is part of the solutions going forward,” [WATCH] said Beyer. “It’s way beyond the time we should’ve solved it, but we’re going to show good faith measures by being able to turn to one another and it’s a shame we can’t turn to our federal government as a partner inside of this, but that’s what we’re hoping to get.” [WATCH] 

410,000 Wisconsinites do not have any access to broadband internet. 836,000 Wisconsinites have access to only one provider. Under President Trump, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has spent $80.9 million on various rural broadband expansion programs in Wisconsin - but that’s only a fraction of the estimated $1 billion it will cost to get rural Wisconsin updated and competitive for the 21st Century. 

“You can look at lack of access to high speed internet in a few different capacities.” said Becca Cooke, Executive Director, Red Letter Grant and member of the Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee. “Obviously, It hurts our students and our education system, we look at it in how it hurts small businesses and access to marketplaces, but then also from the health perspective, with telemedicine and already rural communities having a physician shortage crisis where there aren’t providers in a  lot of small towns. So they’re focusing on telemedicine but how can you get to a telemedicine appointment if you can’t access the internet?” [WATCH] 

President Trump has portrayed himself as a pro-business and pro-jobs and economy president. As part of his economic promises, President Trump guaranteed Americans $550 billion towards revitalizing neglected and deteriorating American infrastructure - part of which could have gone toward improving internet access in Wisconsin. After nearly four years in office, we've seen no movement on that promise which has left Wisconsin communities behind and out of 21st century access to resources. 

“[President Trump] doesn’t understand that people really have problems, is my perspective. I think though as Wisconsinites, we’re just going to have to figure out how to come up with that. It has to be central, it can’t be a piecemeal approach, somebody has to be in charge,” said Kaye Ortman-Peters, a retired teacher from Highbridge, Wisconsin. [WATCH] 

About Opportunity Wisconsin

Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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TODAY: Opportunity Wisconsin Billboard to Welcome VP Pence to Waukesha

October 13hth, 2020

 Billboard to highlight Trump administration’s failure to combat COVID-19 

Waukesha physician available for onsite interviews

WAUKESHA, Wis. — TODAY, Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 10:00AM CT a mobile billboard from Opportunity Wisconsin will welcome Vice President Mike Pence to Waukesha. With almost 8 million cases nationwide and over 219,000 deaths, the billboard will highlight the Trump administration’s failure to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as Wisconsin continues to break records and claim an unwelcome title as one of America’s hotspots. The billboard will be circulating Weldall Manufacturing in Waukesha, ahead of the Vice President’s visit. 

Dr. Peter Geiss, a Waukesha Internal Medicine Specialist, will be available with the billboard at Prairie Park to speak with the media about how the mismanagement of COVID-19 has impacted both the physical and financial well-being of Wisconsinites.

WHAT:
Opportunity Wisconsin Billboard and Media Availability  

WHEN:
TODAY
October 13, 2020
10:00 AM CT 

WHO:
Dr. Peter Geiss, Waukesha Internal Medicine Specialist 

WHERE: 
Prairie Park, Waukesha
(Across from Weldall Manufacturing on South Prairie Avenue) 

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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