Milwaukee, WI
Live: UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee students organize pro-Palestinian rallies Monday
As pro-Palestinian encampments pop up at colleges across the country, student groups have scheduled Monday morning rallies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Milwaukee.
Since the Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7, protests on Wisconsin campuses have been largely peaceful. The Monday rallies are among the first scheduled in the state since New York police arrested more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia University, which set off protests at other colleges nationally.
Check back for updates as the day progresses.
What’s driving students to protest?
The rallies come as the semester winds down and commencement nears. The past school year has left both Palestinian and Jewish students on edge, with many feeling misunderstood, anxious and isolated.
The organizing groups, which include Students for Justice in Palestine chapters and the Students for Democratic Society at UW-Milwaukee, have pushed for their schools to cut ties with Israel.
The groups did not make clear whether their rally plans included setting up encampments. A UW-Milwaukee organizer said the rally would last two hours, while UW-Madison organizers didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Will students be arrested?
The UW-Madison dean of students and interim police chief warned in a Friday email to the 50,000-student campus that disobeying university protest policies and rules “can and will have consequences, both within our code of student conduct and more broadly under Wisconsin law.”
State rules ban people from camping on university land.
At UWM, five students were arrested earlier this semester following a sit-in outside the chancellor’s office that university officials said was unauthorized.
“In the extremely rare instances when UWM Police have made arrests at the site of prior demonstrations, not one person has been arrested because they were protesting,” university spokesperson Angelica Duria said. “Rather, they were arrested and subsequently cited for violations of the laws by which we must all abide.”
More: As pro-Palestinian protests sweep U.S. campuses, here’s what’s happening at Wisconsin universities
Why are pro-Palestinian students protesting at UW-Milwaukee?
The students’ demands include:
- Renaming Golda Meir Library. Meir, who grew up in Milwaukee and is one of UWM’s most notable alumna, was Israeli prime minister from 1969-74. UWM says the UW Board of Regents is in charge of campus building names.
- Ending study abroad trips to Israel. UWM said it has no study-abroad activity in Israel and no jurisdiction over Hillel, an international organization through which local Jewish college students can join and take birthright trips to Israel.
- Divesting from weapon manufacturersinvolved in the war. UWM said its foundation supports the university by investing in mutual funds but it cannot divert money from individual companies within its funds.
About two dozen student protesters staged a six-hour sit-in outside the office of UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone in February. Police arrested five students for assembly blocking, obstructing, unauthorized occupation, prohibited signs and prohibited noise.
The students pleaded not guilty to the citations, which carry fines but no jail time.
More recently, protesters have picketed outside Mone’s home.
MILWAUKEE – A former high-end Milwaukee real estate broker charged with human trafficking, sexual assault and false imprisonment is headed to trial.
What they’re saying:
A district attorney’s office investigator and Milwaukee police detective testified in the case against 38-year-old Austin Chronister.
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“He’d lift her up, underneath her neck, pick her up off the ground, and slam her onto the staircase landing,” said MPD Det. Michael Walker.
Walker testified a woman said Chronister sexually assaulted her. She lived with Chronister at a State Street home for roughly six-and-a-half years, along with other women – including the co-owner of the house, Attorney Christin Saint Pierre.
Christin Saint Pierre leaves court on March 21
Saint Pierre was in court for Chronister’s preliminary hearing. She didn’t comment afterward. Saint Pierre is named in the complaint, but she is not charged in connection to the case.
“She was threatened at one time with being injected with some type of ingredient that would render her in a coma state,” said Sarah Blomme, an investigator with the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
Blomme testified a second woman said she met Chronister on a dating website. She, too, signed a contract but felt she couldn’t leave. The investigator said the woman described a sexual assault, as well.
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The women said they weren’t allowed to turn down sex and would be subject to punishment.
“Physically beating her or doing some sort of reprimanding if chores weren’t done,” Blomme said. “She was prohibited from attending family events.”
The women told investigators they entered into a contract as a part of a BDSM lifestyle to live at the home, but became unhappy with the living situation and wanted to leave but felt they couldn’t.
“Her participation in sex parties was consensual?” Defense Attorney Nicole Muller said.
“I think there were some parties that were, and some parties where I think she felt like she was expected to do it,” Walker testified.
What’s next:
Neither Chronister nor his attorney commented after Friday’s hearing, at which he was bound over for trial. He is due back in court next month.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.
Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsin Weekend in a Minute: March Madness hits Milwaukee, the state's largest chili cook-off, and more!
MILWAUKEE — March Madness is taking over downtown Milwaukee! The Marquette men’s Golden Eagles will serve as one of the host schools for both the first and second rounds. Games tip off Friday afternoon and you can still score tickets.
Davidson Park is hosting the ultimate NCAA watch party on Saturday. The free family-friendly event is open to all fans, you’ll find a big screen, food, drinks, and merch giveaways. It starts at Noon.
The Pink Pony Club has arrived in Milwaukee! The Cooperage is throwing a Chappell Roan dance party on Saturday night. This party is 21+ and tickets start at $17.
If an older sound is more your style you can relive the rock and roll magic of Fleetwood Mac with ‘Rumors’ — a tribute band. They’re playing at the Marcus Center!
Wisconsin’s largest chili cook-off takes place Sunday at the Kern Center. Thousands of people show up to sample and vote on 40 different chili recipes. If you bring two non-perishable food items for the Hunger Task Force you’ll get two free sampling tickets.
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MILWAUKEE — Downtown Milwaukee will be extra busy as an estimated 19,000 people arrive for the first round of March Madness.
“We just love basketball so we bought tickets this year not knowing Iowa State would be here, but was very excited when we learned that they did,” Rich Renner told TMJ4 News.
Related content: Wisconsin back in March Madness win column with 85-66 over Montana
“If you grew up in Iowa it’s all college sports all the time,” Kelly Farris-Renner added.
The couple joined fans at open practice at Fiserv Forum on Thursday.
Visit Milwaukee estimates the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will spark a $3.4 million economic impact.
Watch: 19,000 people expected to fill Milwaukee for March Madness weekend
NCAA brings excitement to Milwaukee
“Eight years ago, we opened to the NCAA Tournament in town so that’s kind of especially nice for us to see them back in again,” said Jimmy Hall, general manager at DOC’s Commerce Smokehouse.
The restaurant is stocked up on extra food and help in the kitchen. It will open early at 10 a.m. through this weekend.
“It just does wonders for us. This can be a sleepy part of downtown at times, but we’re expecting huge crowds,” Hall stated.
It is not just basketball taking over Milwaukee. Hall is also bracing for the Badger Region Volleyball Championships which is drawing 420 teams and approximately 16,000 athletes and spectators to the city, according to Visit Milwaukee.
As the Renners also cheer for Wisconsin and Marquette to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament they believe Milwaukee is a clear winner.
“We’ve been here like I said 37 years, and we love it. We’re excited that people are going to be here,” Renner said.
Talk to us:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
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