Wisconsin
Wisconsin Democrats pass pro-Palestinian resolution ignoring Hamas attack hours after Israeli hostage rescue
MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Democrats overwhelmingly passed a pro-Palestinian resolution at their state party convention the same weekend four Israeli hostages were rescued in a daring Gaza raid.
And the resolution didn’t even mention the Israelis killed or taken hostage in Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack.
The Sunday vote revealed a dark underbelly of a party that hosted a “Unity Fair” all weekend long.
Convention delegates approved by 136-91 a resolution demanding a cease-fire in Gaza and calling the Jewish state’s response to the massacre “genocide” and “an egregious violation of humanitarian law.”
It didn’t acknowledge the Oct. 7 attack or the hostages, including Americans, Hamas still holds.
Delegates did approve a floor resolution condemning antisemitism but struck the line noting that “antisemitic incidents have skyrocketed nearly 400% since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, according to Anti-Defamation League data.”
A Milwaukee Jewish Federation/Jewish Community Relations Council Antisemitism Audit found a 570% increase in such incidents in Wisconsin from 2015 to 2022, with an estimated 13% increase in 2023.
Heba Mohammed, a Palestinian American who co-led the push on the cease-fire resolution, also worked on the effort intended to send President Biden a message during the state’s April presidential-preference primary, in which 48,000 Democrats cast an “uninstructed” vote to protest his handling of the war in Gaza.
That was only 8% of the primary’s Democratic vote, but former President Donald Trump lost the battleground state by just 20,000 votes in 2020.
“So, if Joe Biden has any common sense, he’ll listen to what happened in April and to what happened today,” Mohammed, who doesn’t plan to vote for Biden, said after the vote.
The Milwaukee Jewish Federation roundly condemned the Democrats’ resolutions: “On the same weekend that four hostages were rescued from two residential apartments in Nuseirat, the Convention resolution falsely accuses Israel of genocide while entirely ignoring that Hamas is in violation of humanitarian law by embedding hostages amongst civilian populations in order to use civilians as shields.”
Delegates defeated a motion calling to drop the word “genocide” from the resolution.
A state party committee urged convention delegates to vote against Palestinian cease-fire resolutions that did not condemn Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, WisPolitics reported.
Convention attendees reflected the party split on Biden’s handling of the conflict.
Susan Molls, a 6th Congressional District delegate from Cedarburg who nannies her grandchildren, told The Post Saturday she wasn’t even aware of the controversial Palestinian resolutions up for vote Sunday.
Molls said she agrees with Biden’s position on the war: “Yes, Israel has a right to defend itself, but civilians are suffering and something needs to change.”
Monroe attendee Stefani Butts, 32, who works with abused children, is the Democratic Party of Green County’s vice chair and believes the conflict is the most important issue in the election this year.
Asked how she thinks Biden is handling it, she bluntly responded, “Not doing a great job.”
She’d prefer the president consistently condemn Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It’s a genocide, not a war,” Butts declared, saying Saturday she “1,000% supports” the Palestinian resolutions.
What should Biden have done after the Oct. 7 attacks? Butts said he should have brought people “together to have a conversation about what happened.”
“Killing of private citizens is inexcusable,” she added — confirming the “private citizens” she referred to are Palestinians, not Israelis.
Most Saturday night convention speakers skirted the issue, but pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to disrupt Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s speech with cries of “Free Palestine!”
Baldwin whispered, “It’s OK,” as she paused briefly before restarting her speech while attendees attempted to drown out the demonstrators’ noise with chants of “Tammy, Tammy!” and force them to sit down before security escorted them out of the room.
The senator, who’s been plagued by pro-Palestinian protests in Wisconsin since December, supports a cease-fire.
Her pro-Gaza positions have not been enough to appease the protesters, however.
An April poll of Wisconsin registered voters found 46% said Trump would do a better job handling the Israel-Hamas war, with just 26% saying Biden would.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin man arrested in Colorado in connection with deadly hit-and-run in north suburbs
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
Wisconsin
TOUR KICKS OFF: Kids from Wisconsin begins 56th annual tour Thursday in Whitewater
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Wisconsin
Democrat Missy Hughes drops out of Wisconsin governor race
Marquette poll shows Wisconsin voters unfocused on governor race
A Marquette University Law School poll reveals Wisconsin voters lack focus on the governor’s race, with most undecided 5 months before the primary.
MADISON – Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes is dropping out of the Democratic primary race for governor and endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
Hughes, who was the most moderate candidate in the Democratic field for governor, suspended her campaign days after placing last in a straw poll of party delegates at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention in Madison.
Her endorsement of Rodriguez comes as some Democrats are eyeing an alternative to state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who leans further left than current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hong and Barnes are considered frontrunners in the primary race.
In a statement, Hughes flicked at the approach of Hong and other candidates to her left who have proposed significant changes to state government.
“I believe there is great hope in these small efforts to find common ground. I wanted to make sure that Wisconsinites understand we have created something valuable and that investing in ourselves and our communities is well-deserved,” Hughes said. “We do not need to tear it all down, and there is real and important work to do to improve what we already have.”
Hughes suggested Rodriguez would make more reasonable decisions as governor than her primary opponents.
“This job is about running the state, and getting things done. As you consider what is important to you, I urge you to look beyond the talking points, social media posts, and gilded promises and consider what you think is essential to do the job,” she said. “Stop asking, ‘Who will win?’ and start asking who you trust to make big decisions that impact our families and the wellbeing of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”
This developing story will be updated.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
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