On Nov. 12, advocates from WISDOM and affiliated organizations packed a hearing room at the Capitol for a Listening Session on key issues affecting our state. Unusually for those of us in MOSES, this event provided an opportunity to hear not only from those seeking reforms to the criminal-legal system, but also from immigrant families, dairy farmers who employ immigrants, and a representative of the “Rights of Nature” movement about strengthening environmental protection. All agreed on the urgent need for legislation that would give undocumented workers
the legal right to drive and a license to prove it. The event drew two familiar members of the Legislature – Reps. Darrin Madison and Ryan Clancy of Milwaukee – and two new ones – Reps. Amaad Rivera-Wagner of Green Bay and Karen DeSanto of Baraboo. Another seven legislators sent staff members from their offices.
Organizers agreed that the event was successful in getting our issues onto the radar of more lawmakers, but we need to follow up with a campaign of office visits and sustained conversations before this session ends.