WISCONSIN — Today, Black Voters Matter (BVM) and its local partners plan for a final push to increase voter turnout in the Wisconsin Supreme Court primary. Voters will decide which candidates for state supreme court justice will face off in the general election on April 4. This high-profile nonpartisan race has the potential to fundamentally shift the balance of power in Wisconsin’s highest court and affect policy on abortion rights and redistricting within the state. Black voters, a base that has widely been overlooked, are now essential to creating a more equitable state for all Wisconsinites. Reproductive justice is on the ballot in Wisconsin, alongside other issues facing Black communities, including affordable housing, healthcare, higher wages and safety.
BVM is a national organization with the goal to support and amplify the work of local and grassroots groups to increase voter turnout in Black communities. BVM has partnered with several organizations, including Black Leaders Organizing Communities (BLOC), Souls to the Polls, Wisconsin C3 Table, Working Families Power, Center for Racial Justice, Leaders of Kenosha, Wisconsin Voices, and Metcalfe Park Community Bridges to build power in predominantly Black communities in Wisconsin through voter education, advocacy, engagement and outreach. Their work to ensure that Black voters understand the issues and candidate stances has been tremendous in cities like Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha.
BVM’s partners at BLOC have been very active in building long-term political power through voter engagement and issue-based activism. BLOC has been knocking on doors, making calls, sending out text messages and sharing information via social media. In addition to providing rides to the polls, Souls to the Polls has been educating voters on the importance of this election and the ramifications this Supreme Court could have for the next ten years.
Working Families Power recently produced and distributed thousands of nonpartisan voter guides to help people understand the candidates’ stances on issues like reproductive rights and voting rights, and were key organizers of the Bigger than Roe march in Madison on January 22, the anniversary of the passing of Roe v Wade. Metcalfe Park Community Bridges provides numerous resources for the Milwaukee community through its Black Vote Rising campaign. Today, fellows are phone banking and canvassing the Metcalfe Park Community. They will be providing voter safety kits (masks, etc.) as well sharing precinct and other voter information.
Leaders of Kenosha (LOK) works to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities in Kenosha and throughout Wisconsin by empowering underrepresented and underserved communities with resources, education, and civic engagement, and through building a network of individuals dedicated to the creation of justice, equality, and unity in the Black community. Wisconsin Voices, in coalition with Building Unity, hosted a candidates forum in Racine recently and will continue Saturday stops in Beloit and Green Bay later this month.
