ASM Passes Support for the Stop Cop City Movement in Atlanta
Posted: 2023-11-09 05:22:04 Expiration: 2033-11-16 15:22:04
Associated Students of Madison
333 East Campus Mall, 4301 Student Activity Center, Madison, WI
Website: asm.wisc.edu Phone: 608/265-4ASM
E-mail: press@asm.wisc.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09 November 2023
CONTACT:
Kate O’Malley, Press Office Director
press@asm.wisc.edu
262.665.8800
ASM Passes Support for the Stop Cop City Movement in Atlanta
MADISON, WI — The Associated Students of Madison Student Council met on Wednesday, November 8th. Majority of the meeting was dedicated to the Supporting the Stop Cop City Movement Legislation proposed by the ASM Sustainability Committee, which involved a presentation on the issue given by student Quinn Henneger during the meeting.
The legislation was brought forward in response to the Atlanta Police Foundation attempting to build a police training compound on land that is home to the Muscogee people, and has a history of being used for slavery and prison camps. 4 UW-Madison alumni protested against building the compound, but were indicted under RICO laws in September which falsely claim that their actions were behind a larger conspiracy group.
At the Open Forum portion of the meeting, students and members of the student council expressed their support for this legislation. Many emphasized how staying silent sets the precedent for policing and protesting within our campus. Students also mentioned how a failure to address these events shows hypocrisy in our land acknowledgements and efforts towards sustainability.
“Although this legislation may feel like it's supporting a cause that is a hundred miles away…all of these subjects are extremely relevant to the issues students on our campus are facing and fighting for right now,” said Open Forum speaker Winston Thompson.
A written statement from Ray Kirsch mentions, “UW-Madison regularly gives ‘land acknowledgements’ at public events for the land which it is currently occupied on. But to say a land acknowledgement should be more than just words, it should be an action…I encourage UW to Stop Cop City and for ASM to pass this legislation.”
The legislation urges the university to stand with the Madison co-defendants of the September RICO indictment, in addition to supporting a tabling event held by Amnesty UW on November 13th, as well as the demonstrations taking place in Atlanta opposing the creation of Cop City. This legislation was passed on a 12-1 vote and can be viewed here.
Further business included approving 4 bills in which RSOs were granted over $5,000 by the Grant Allocation Committee. All were passed under unanimous consent.
The next Student Council meeting will be on Wednesday, November 29th at 6:30 p.m. in the Hearing Room on the 4th Floor of the Student Activity Center at 333 East Campus Mall.
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-- Associated Students of Madison: Kate O’Malley