Local Actions & Events
This is a very partial list of events and actions available to people in Madison and surrounding areas, compiled with input from people in our Friends community. Not all of these are are sponsored or endorsed by the Madison Friends Meeting but adhere to our principles of social justice and nonviolence.
ONGOING
World BEYOND War Community Vigil: Corner of Williamson & Blair, from 4:30 – 5:30 each Thursday: World BEYOND War Thursday vigils are a time to bear witness together to the desecration and to imagine a different world. This Thursday and future Thursdays we will stand in solidarity with all who suffer because of the U.S.’s unhinged warring and militarism, both domestically and around the world. Bring family and friends. Bring your own sign or use one of ours. Expect friendship and appreciative honks!
BY DATE
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Dignity Behind Bars: A Call for Change in Wisconsin Prisons – public action July 15
Wednesday, July 15 at 11:00 AM WISDOM’s Solitary and Conditions of Confinement Task Force and FREE invite you to join them outside the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (3099 E. Washington Ave.) to demand meaningful change. No one should be subjected to inhumane conditions while incarcerated. Yet far too many people in Wisconsin prisons continue to…
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Know Your Voting Rights Webinar – July 16
Thursday, July 16 Virtual 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM CT The ACLU of Wisconsin invites you to join our upcoming training webinar,Know Your Rights: Voting Edition! The KYR Webinar Series aims to provide education and resources that will increase people’s access, awareness, and knowledge of our constitutional rights. For yourself and for your community. This…
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John Lewis Community Cookout & Fair – July 17
Date: July 17, 2026 Time: 12-4 p.m. Location: Olin Park Shelter 1156 Olin-Turville Court in Madison, WI Cost: Free and open to all! Join us as we honor the extraordinary legacy of Congressman John Lewis—his courage, his conviction, and his call to make good trouble, necessary trouble. This free community celebration honors the life and…
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Madison Big Ride for Palestine – July 19
Madison’s 2026 Big Ride for Palestine, a fundraiser for Middle East Children’s Alliance Madison area cyclists of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in the 2026 Middle East Children’s Alliance Big Ride for Palestine on Sunday, July 19. This ride is for everyone, regardless of age, bike, and energy! Presented by the Madison-Rafah Sister City…
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Faithful Voice in a Critical Hour: A Call to Serve – Poll Chaplain Program – Aug 3 webinar
Did you know that people of faith can play a meaningful role in supporting voters on Election Day? Join the Wisconsin Interfaith Voter Engagement Campaign (WIVEC) for the fourth installment of our Faithful Voices in a Critical Hour webinar series as we explore the Poll Chaplain Program — a unique opportunity for faith communities to…
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Lanterns for Peace 2026 – Aug 6
Join Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin (PSR WI) for our annual Lanterns for Peace event, commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. This family-friendly gathering invites our community to reflect, create, and commit to a future free from the threat of nuclear weapons. ✨ Enjoy live music from the Backyard String Band…
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Conscientious Objection Workshop – Aug 10, 13 & 17 online
Conscientious Objection: Is This for You? Discerning, Deciding, Documenting and Defending a CO Claim with Selective Service Three sessions: August 10, August 13 and August 17, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Eastern. [That’s 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Central!] Join online through Zoom from anywhere, or attend in person at Durham Friends Meeting in Durham, North Carolina.…
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Talking About Trans Rights: Messages to Move People – Aug 11 (online)
We welcome Fair Wisconsin Executive Director Abigail Swetz and her team for a conversation about talking effectively about transgender rights. Learn how to respond to anti-trans attacks and disinformation, and discover how you and your community can best support transgender rights. Come together to find your footing and your voice — so that when the…
