June 24, 2022
by Matthew Rothschild, Executive Director
Thursday afternoon at the State St. side of the Capitol, two dozen activists gathered to kick off the “Your Democracy Needs You” tour.
The tour, which will visit 30 communities all over Wisconsin in the next 90 days, is designed “inspire and motivate voters’ and to hammer home the need for “peace, justice, sustainability, and democracy,” as the sign said on the enormous van that will be going around the state.
The tour is the brainchild of Tim Cordon and Charlie Uphoff, who both spoke at the kickoff event.
Cordon stressed the importance of “building unity” and “coming together.”
“Enough is enough,” said Uphoff, who said economic inequality is ruining our country. He quoted Justice Louis Brandeis, who 81 years ago said, “ We can have a democratic society or we can have the concentration of great wealth in the hands of a few. We cannot have both.”
Other speakers included Larissa Joanna of Voces de la Frontera, who stressed that “immigrants are not safe” in Wisconsin or the rest of the country right now. She, too, called for unity, warning that those who are opposed to democracy and human rights are trying to divide us. “We can’t get much done if we are divided,” she said. “When we’re together, we’re more powerful.”
Representative Francesca Hong also spoke. “Voter suppression is happening every day here,” she said, pointing to the Capitol. “It’s not a democracy when people who are disabled or people of color don’t have access to the vote.” She added: “We have to center care for one another.”
Earnestine Moss of the Dane County NAACP talked about the need to “fight against racism where we find it,” and about the importance of voting. “The best way we can help defend democracy is to be sure we have the right to vote,” she said. “We are fighting that fight time and time again. Now is no time to relax or think that we have achieved or arrived. Exercise your voice. Exercise your vote. It’s the only way they’re going to listen.”
When the speeches were over, Tim Cordon got behind the wheel and drove that big van off. Bon Voyage!
For more information about the tour, go to https://www.wnpj.org/node/14081 or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..