In Wisconsin, a diverse group of low-wage workers and immigrants has taken a stand against President Joe Biden‘s approach to the conflict in Gaza, calling for an open vote in the upcoming Democratic primary.
This movement, galvanized by a similar effort in Michigan that criticized Biden for his military support to Israel, has garnered support from grassroots trade union members disappointed with the President’s actions.
Biden with Wisconsin union members (Credits: Colorado Springs Gazette)
Janan Najeeb, leading the initiative dubbed “Listen to Wisconsin,” emphasized the active participation of labor individuals. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked a debate within the labor movement, with many members using their unions to demand the U.S. administration press Israel to cease the hostilities.
Jacob Flom, representing Milwaukee Public Museum workers and a Milwaukee Area Labor Council member, expressed a sense of duty among trade unionists to show solidarity and pressure both elected officials and unions to take a stronger stance against U.S. support for the actions in Gaza.
Despite the fervor among certain union members, major U.S. unions have largely avoided endorsing the protest vote. Similarly, Wisconsin’s unions have not officially supported this movement, as noted in reports.
President leans into ‘Bidenomics’ (Credits: Wisconsin Examiner)
Christine Neumann-Ortiz, head of Voces de la Frontera, an organization advocating for immigrants’ rights, supports the “Listen to Wisconsin” campaign. For her and the members of the Latino voter network she represents, choosing an open vote critiques Biden’s immigration policies, particularly his push for stricter measures at the southern border and limitations on asylum seekers.
Neumann-Ortiz argues that Biden should utilize his executive powers to extend protections for undocumented immigrants. In the 2022 midterm elections, her organization was pivotal in rallying support for the Democratic Party.
Through direct outreach, volunteer members contacted tens of thousands of voters, further amplifying their influence via phone banking and door-to-door campaigns to sway the political world in favor of their causes.
