On September 23, CVI and community leaders rallied in Eau Claire after Rep. Van Orden introduced legislation to block federal funding — a move widely seen as retaliation against communities that dared to speak up.

The protest drew one of the broadest coalitions CVI had assembled: community members, city leaders, and advocates united behind the principle that elected officials don’t get to punish the people they represent for exercising their rights.

The coverage was extraordinary. The Wisconsin Examiner, WQOW, Civic Media, the Barron News-Shield, Up North News, and Eye on Dunn County all reported on the rally. The Dworkin Report — reaching more than 222,000 subscribers — featured it. Jess Craven’s Chop Wood Carry Water highlighted the action in both her newsletter and a “Two Minutes of Wins” Instagram reel.

When a congressman tries to silence his constituents, the Chippewa Valley gets louder.