About PROGRESSIVE LAKESHORE PEOPLE
A History of Progressive Lakeshore People of Manitowoc, WI
2025
*After demonstrating on the street corner in Sheboygan, Jill and Debbie decided to try waking up Manitowoc. They started a Facebook page with Sara and Pam and ….
2026
2025
*After demonstrating on the street corner in Sheboygan, Jill and Debbie decided to try waking up Manitowoc. They started a Facebook page with Sara and Pam and ….
- 3/15: Though Debbie and Jill thought they might be protesting alone, 170 citizens showed up with signs to the corner of Calumet and Crawford Streets after a Call for Action was put out. Passing motorists waved and honked support.
- 4/5: We answered the call for National Mobilization ~ HANDS OFF demonstration brought people to Washington Park, and we marched to the County Courthouse. Importantly, we hosted De-Escalation Training at the Manitowoc Democratic Party Headquarters before this one. The Manitowoc Democratic Party were invited to co-sponsor our demonstration. We assigned roles: Marshal, Chant Leaders, Safety Captains, etc. And 659 -700 citizens participated.
- 4/19: A community care demonstration in Washington Park brought out 400, or more, citizens. Pastor Matt Sauer spoke. We collected truckloads of breakfast foods for pantries that are affected by Musk and Trump administration cuts.
- 5/3: MAY DAY National Mobilization demonstration in Shipbuilders Park brought out 300 citizens. We had 5 passionate speakers. Marched through downtown. Raised goods and dollars for striking UAW workers from Oshkosh.
- 6/14: NO KINGS DAY - National Mobilization demonstration - 700 people protested - we rented a shelter in Lighthouse Park and marched to Shipbuilders Park and back. Pastor Matt spoke. We had live music and broke bread together. A love fest and celebration of flag day on the day that the people all over the USA and around the world showed that the power is with the people NOT the fascists.
- 6/27: An emergency demonstration on 8th and Maritime streets in reaction to illegal bombing of Iran. Many people saw us as the car parade passed by.
- 6/28: Official logo for Progressive Lakeshore People created.
- 7/7: The leaders have a workday at the Parkview Playhouse which Bernie has generously made available. A hanging system, paid for by Bernie, is hung on walls for the upcoming Resistance Art Show which is in progress. The leaders of PLP are connecting with Creatives for Action of GB and the lakeshore, to bring out the artists to the resistance. Creativesforaction.com is created. Lots is happening behind the scenes and the PLP community continues to grow: 650 on our Facebook page now. George Lottermoser and Richard Greenwood have been documenting our demonstrations and we have quite a collection of great images.
- 7/13: Opening and Brainstorming meeting with over 25 activists in the new Parkview Playhouse. We collectively wrote our Points of Unity and planned possible activities. Growing our leadership team. Many more wanted to come but were not free that night - we promised to offer many new opportunities in the future. We invited all PLP members to get involved in development of Playhouse activities.
- 7/17: GOOD TROUBLE LIVES ON - National Mobilization - candlelight vigil in Shipbuilders Park - we focus on human rights abuses, raised $1,700 for Voces de la Frontera, to help targeted neighbors, with help of co-sponsors Manitowoc Democratic Party. Pastor Carly Kuntz was the guest speaker. 200 to 300 people came, and many stayed after listening to covers of Dylan song ‘Blowing in the Wind” on our new Bluetooth speaker and connecting with each other.
- Work on website starts and Call for Art for Resistance Art Exhibition goes out. FB page approaches 700 people. More training and connections with Indivisible are planned in Zoom meetings in Playhouse. Members also begin planning other activities such as films, live theater, art making activities. Upcoming demonstrations are planned by a team of activists now and more people step up to help as some of founders take time to recoup.
- 8/2: SAVE OUR NATIONAL PARKS - Our local vision for the Resist the Regime National Mobilization, co-sponsored by the Manitowoc County Democratic Party. We meet at the pavilion at Lighthouse Park, which is on the Ice Age Trail. We listened to speakers from The Ice Age Trail and Woodland Dunes on the importance of conservation and preservation of our precious natural resources. We marched to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum and back and were on shore when the Badger Carferry launched from Manitowoc, showing our presence to those on board. Donations to The Ice Age Trail and Woodland Dunes were accepted. 125 people participated.
- 9/20: We partnered with Voces de La Frontera and three other communities on a four-city rally to support immigrants called “Immigrants Are Welcome Here.” We had a number of speakers.
- 10/18: NO KINGS - We held a joyous No Kings rally in Washington Park. 700+ people attended - many in costume. The Raging Grannies from Green Bay and the Fox Cities started the rally with three songs. We were part of the largest peaceful demonstration in US history with 7 million participants in our country. Over 2700 demonstrations were held in the USA. 19 other countries also held demonstrations.
- 10/18: ART OF RESISTANCE GALLERY SHOW - We opened the doors and welcomed 60 people at the Parkview Playhouse for the Art of Resistance opening reception. Sixteen artists from Wisconsin and (one from) Canada, submitted a variety of different kinds of art. The show stays up for two months and the leaders are hosting a number of different kinds of activities to bring people into the space to see the powerful work and read the accompanying artists' statements which accompany each piece.
- In October of 2025 we started almost weekly Friend’s Table meetings for socialization and support.
- 10/30: We celebrate a Halloween-themed Friend’s Table gathering.
- 11/11: VETERANS AGAINST FASCISM protest at the Calumet and Crawford intersection (the site of our first demonstration!), in two shifts, 7 - 9 a.m., and 4 - 6 p.m. We joined the national "VETS SAY NO" movement calling for change.
2026
- January - Manitowoc's own Raging Grannies chapter was formed and began practice at the Parkview Playhouse.
- 1/25/2026: Pop-up Demonstration, ICE OUT in solidarity with protestors in Minneapolis after the brutal killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Approximately 50 people arrived at Shipbuilders Park, 8th and Maritime, in Manitowoc in zero-degree weather with 24-hour notice. PLP page reaches 854 people as outrage over ICE abuses continue.
- 3/12 - Pop-up demonstration in response to March 8th appearance of Patriot Front, a white supremacist group, in Manitowoc and Sheboygan. This group of 8 men marched through Manitowoc with hoods, sunglasses and face masks, obscuring their identities, carrying a banner with white supremacist rhetoric. Posters from this group also appeared on many light poles and other surfaces around town. PLP urged City of Manitowoc leadership to make a statement condemning this ideology and affirming that everyone is welcome here.
- 3/28 - NATIONAL ACTION: NO KINGS 3 Rally in Washington Park. 900 people attended. The premiere of Manitowoc's own Raging Grannies started the rally with three songs. Rev. Matt Sauer presented an inspirational message. The theme song, "Hold On" was learned and sung by the participants. The march proceeded from Washington Park, east on Washington Street, around the County Courthouse, to Hancock Street, 9th Street, circled back to Washington Street and returned to the park. We were part of the largest peaceful demonstration in US history with 8.5 million participants in our country. Over 3300 demonstrations were held in the USA. Countries around the globe also held demonstrations in solidarity.
