The Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice is a network of left-of-center civic, anti-war, pro-union, and environmentalist organizations, which organizes protests, circulates petitions, and promotes the activities of its member organizations.
Background
According to the website of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, the organization was conceived following a Gulf War protest in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin State Capitol that took place on February 23, 1991, which was organized by Frank Boyle, then a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. On May 11 of that year, the organization was incorporated as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization in Wisconsin. 1 Afterwards, the organization acquired 501(c)(3) status, filing regularly with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) between 2003 and 2016 and then again since November 2020. 2
As of May 29, 2023, the organization claims on its website’s “Who We Are” page to have over 70 member organizations and on its “History” page to have over 170 member organizations. 3 4
Activities
In 1997, the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice organized a petition opposing a proposed prison project in Wisconsin, which was later sent to the Wisconsin Governor’s Office. 1
In February 1999, members of the Network circulated petitions protesting United States sanctions on Iraq and supporting an initiative, “Abolition 2000,” which called for the decommissioning of nuclear weapons. Later in the October of that year, the Network also coordinated a protest at the five Wisconsin offices of then-U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), calling for him to vote against a proposed use of force resolution in connection with the ongoing military actions against Iraq and the regime of Saddam Hussein. 1
In November 2005, the Network collected signatures in support of a “Bring the Troops Home Now” referendum initiative, which the organization later sent to the Madison, Wisconsin, City Clerk’s office. 1
Members
Member organizations of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice include a variety of left-of-center civic, anti-war, pro-union, and environmentalist organizations such as the Casa Maria Catholic Worker Community, Crawford Stewardship Project, Fox Valley Peace Coalition, and Kickapoo Peace Circle. In that vein, the Network also includes the local and state chapters of similarly aligned larger, national and international organizations, such as the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, Veterans for Peace, the United Nations Association, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Democratic Socialists of America. 5
People
Mary Kay Baum
Mary Kay Baum is the co-chair of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. Previously, Baum was a member of the Madison Metropolitan School Board, Treasurer of the Madison District; member from 1970 to 1974 of the Dane, Wisconsin County Board; director of the Neighborhood Centers of Dane County; director of the Menomonee Legal Committee of the Menomonee Reservation; a member of the independent Labor Farm Party; and a candidate in the Madison, Wisconsin 1987 mayoral race. 6 7 8
Tynetta Jackson
Tynetta Jackson is the co-chair of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice as well as the co-founder and director of Solomons Outreach and Urban Learning Sessions (SOULS), a Wisconsin-based civic organization. In 2003, Jackson registered to run as a candidate for the Milwaukee, Wisconsin City Council, but did not submit the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot. 9 10
References
- “A SUMMARY OF WNPJ’S ACTIVITIES.” Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. 2012. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://staging.wnpj.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/WNPJ_history1991-2012.pdf
- “WISCONSIN NETWORK FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE.” ProPublica. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/391722546
- History.” Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.wnpj.org/history
- “Who We Are.” Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.wnpj.org/copy-of-who-we-are
- “WNPJ Member Organizations.” Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://www.wnpj.org/members
- Lueders, Bill. “Thirty-five for 35: Mary Kay Baum.” Isthmus. April 7, 2011. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://isthmus.com/archive/isthmus-35/thirty-five-for-35-mary-kay-baum/
- “Mary Kay Baum (Wisconsin political vertical file, 1873-circa 2012; Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, Box 2, Folder 22).” Wisconsin Historical Society. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/p15932coll9/id/3333
- “Board Members.” Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://www.wnpj.org/board
- Jannene, Jeramey. “More Than 15 Candidates Running For Three Council Seats.” Urban Milwaukee. January 5, 2023. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2023/01/05/city-hall-more-than-a-dozen-candidates-running-for-three-council-seats/
- “8 O’Clock Buzz: Just Talk To Young People As They Are.” WORT. December 14, 2021. Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.wortfm.org/just-talk-to-young-people-as-they-are/