Feb 7 - Freedom March #4 Over The Winona Bridge
On February 7th the Buffalo County Dems & Friends and the Winona Rapid Response Team organized Freedom March #4. Minnesotans and Wisconsinites (including residents from Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau Counties) met at the top of the Winona Bridge and walked to Windom Park. Crowd size was estimated at between 300 and 400 people. Keynote speaker and Puentes/Bridges Co-Founder John Rosenow talked about the organization’s 20 year effort in building cultural bridges between the immigrants’ home communities and rural farming communities in west central Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota.
Marchers called for supporting our immigrant friends and neighbors, and for ending ICE’s occupation of the Twin Cities. Channel 8 from La Crosse covered the event (see video here).
Protect Our Small Farms and Drinking Water
People Protecting Pepin (PPP) reminds us of two bills in the WI Legislature where voting is imminent!
The Dairy Innovation Bill (SB 323 & AB 363). This bipartisan bill is authored by our Sen. Stafsholt and supports small and medium size cattle operations with low-interest loans to boost efficiency. The Wisconsin dairy industry is rapidly consolidating into large factory farms that are pushing out smaller farms. Lobbyists such as the WI Farm Bureau and the Dairy Business Association are working hard to make these low-interest loans available to factory farms, but Sen. Stafsholt wants to benefit smaller farms only. There is a chance that this bill could be amended to include CAFOs as a result of pressure from Big AG.
The Water Pollution Notification Act (AB 635 & SB 628). Many of us in Buffalo County rely on private wells for our drinking water. This bill would require the DNR to notify local health officials when they’ve identified groundwater contamination. We have a right to know what is in our drinking water.
Contact our legislators immediately:
Sen. Rob Stafsholt (SD 10)
Phone: 608-266-7745
Rep. Treig Pronschinske (AD 29)
Phone: 608-237-9129
Jan 24 - Freedom March #2
Saturday, Jan. 24th the Winona Rapid Response Team organized a second Freedom March (in the spirit of MLK, Jr.). Over 300 like-minded citizens (some from Wisconsin) gathered in sub-zero weather. Judging by the number of vehicles honking horns and giving thumbs up along Hwy 61, many others share the same opinion of ICE in our communities.
Four hours before this second Winona Freedom March, another Minneapolis resident was killed by ICE agents. During the Sunday morning news programs it was striking to see the differences in reporting between the stations. Narratives from leaders at DHS and the Border Patrol strain credulity. How does one not believe what is seen in the videos?
Most of us could never imagine reading a sign recently posted on a door outside a Mexican restaurant in Minneapolis … “WE ARE OPEN. Please wait for us to unlock the door. Thank you for understanding.”
As our brothers and sisters in Minnesota are showing us, democracy is not a spectator sport.
Jan 17 - Guest Speaker
At our January meeting, we were happy to welcome Emily Berge (and husband Mike) to the group. Emily is running as a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District in the August Primary against Rebecca Cooke and Rodney Rave. The winner will take on Derrick Van Orden in the November 3 General Election.
2026 Election Dates:
February 17 – Spring Primary
April 7 – Spring Election
August 11 – Partisan Primary
November 3 – General Election
