{"id":1862,"date":"2025-07-09T08:46:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T13:46:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/wisconsin\/?post_type=article&p=1862"},"modified":"2025-08-12T08:54:57","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T13:54:57","slug":"actions-you-can-take-now-to-defend-democracy-and-advance-reform","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/wisconsin\/articles\/actions-you-can-take-now-to-defend-democracy-and-advance-reform\/","title":{"rendered":"Actions You Can Take NOW to Defend Democracy and Advance Reform"},"template":"","class_list":["post-1862","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","article_type-blog-post"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"We can rise up, fight back, organize and mobilize through action and engagement.","featured_image":"","article_type":166,"authors":["{\"site_id\":\"83\",\"post_type\":\"person\",\"post_id\":167}"],"related_issues":[112,408,117,74,406],"related_work":[170,241],"location":64},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":"","name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":"","component_wysiwyg":{"content":"The 4th of July has just passed and Trump\u2019s big, awful bill to destroy the American economy, cut taxes for the wealthiest segment of our society, pour billions into terrorizing all Americans through further weaponizing domestic raids, interrogations, incarceration and deportation of tens of thousands of people all over the nation for any variety of reasons and to cut health care for millions of Americans -- was just signed into law on Friday after passing both houses of Congress last week by the narrowest of margins.\r\n\r\nWe have two courses of action to take. We can simply despair and do nothing which is what Trump and his allies are counting on most Americans to do. Or,\u00a0we can rise up, fight back, organize and mobilize through action and engagement.<\/strong>\u00a0American politics is very much a contact sport now and to have any chance of prevailing, we need to take action.\r\n\r\nHere are some specific actions you can take now that can make a real difference in preserving our democracy and in advancing reforms we have long sought and need. During these \u201cdog days\u201d of Summer, you can join others in making you voice heard and in fighting back against the assault on our state and country by:\r\n

Tell Governor Evers to Veto the \u201cPoll Tax\u201d Bill - ONLINE ACTION<\/h4>\r\nLast month, the Wisconsin Legislature, along party lines,\u00a0passed Senate Bill 95 \/ Assembly Bill 87<\/a>\u00a0that would prevent people with felony convictions from regaining their constitutional right to vote until they have paid all \u201cfines, costs, fees, surcharges and restitution\u201d imposed as part of their sentence.\r\n\r\nThis amounts to nothing more than a modern-day poll tax on many voters in Wisconsin \u2013 which American courts and lawmakers of both political parties have long opposed and fought against. The goal of this misguided and partisan legislation is to make it more difficult for long marginalized and over-policed communities in Wisconsin who are disproportionately Black, Indigenous and other people of color, as well as people living in poverty and those with disabilities to be able to exercise their right to cast a vote.\r\n\r\nThe people pushing this bill want us to believe it\u2019s about protecting crime victims. But using people who have been subject to crime as political cover for voter suppression is dishonest and deeply disrespectful.\r\n\r\nYou can use this\u00a0letter writing form here<\/a>\u00a0to let Gov. Evers know you oppose this measure and encourage him to use his veto power to prevent this bill from becoming law. Hundreds of Wisconsinites have already contacted the Governor so please add your name and have your voice heard so that Gov. Evers knows how outrageous this voter suppression measure really is.\r\n

Fair Maps Community Hearings - IN PERSON EVENTS<\/h4>\r\nJoin the Fair Maps Coalition for our community townhalls in many\u00a0places throughout Wisconsin over the next several weeks. While Wisconsin currently has fair maps, these are only in place until the 2030 Census when the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions both require the voting district maps be redrawn. To prevent gerrymandering by either party and to prevent legislators from carving out districts that help them retain their seat, the people of Wisconsin need to advocate for LEGISLATION to ensure FAIR VOTING MAPS for FUTURE GENERATIONS.\r\n\r\nLearn about the process and the advocacy for sustainable fair maps! Bring your questions, comments, and your friends.\r\n\r\n>>>SIGN UP TO ATTEND A COMMUNITY HEARING NEAR YOU!<\/a><\/strong>\r\n

Make Good Trouble in Wisconsin - IN PERSON EVENT<\/h4>\r\nFive years ago, our nation lost civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis of\u00a0Georgia - but his legacy of making \u201cGood Trouble\u201d lives on. On July 17, Common Cause will join thousands of people across the country to honor his life by taking peaceful, nonviolent action to protect our democracy and confront attacks on our civil rights. And we know the power of coming together. Unity is our victory. Whether you\u2019re outraged by attacks on our civil rights, the gutting of Medicaid and SNAP, or the erasure of our history in schools \u2014 this is your moment to stand up. Join us to honor John Lewis & defend democracy!\r\n\r\n>>>FIND AN EVENT IN WISCONSIN NEAR YOU<\/a><\/strong>\r\n

People\u2019s Promise Campaign - ONLINE ACTION<\/h4>\r\nThe People\u2019s Promise Campaign<\/a>\u00a0is our vision - not just for what democracy should be, but how we can build it together, and sooner than you might think.\r\n\r\nWe\u2019re calling on our elected leaders to honor the power entrusted to them by the people - and to help deliver an America with:\r\n