% PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
% PRODUCTION.
% >> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
% LOOK AT JUNETEENTH, THE DAY 155
% YEARS AGO THE LAST SLAVES WERE
% FREED.
% WE'LL ALSO SPEAK WITH WISCONSIN
% APPEALS COURT JUDGE JOSEPH
% DONALD ABOUT THE LACK OF
% DIVERSITY ON THE BENCH AND
% RACISM IN THE COURTS.
% PLUS U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MARK
% POCAN ON THE HISTORIC SUPREME
% COURT DECISION FOR THE LBGTQ
% COMMUNITY.
% AND AN UPDATE IN THE COVID-19
% PANDEMIC, AS TWO NEW HOT SPOTS
% EMERGE.
% IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 19.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
% WISCONSIN.
% ♪ ♪
% >> AT THIS HOUR, THE JUNETEENTH
% FLAG IS FLYING OVER THE EAST
% ENTRANCE TO THE WISCONSIN STATE
% CAPITOL, JUST BELOW THE U.S. AND
% WISCONSIN FLAGS.
% TODAY IS JUNETEENTH, A DAY THAT
% MARKS 155 YEARS SINCE THE LAST
% ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN THE UNITED
% STATES LEARNED THAT THEY WERE
% FREE.
% IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN WISCONSIN
% HISTORY THE JUNETEENTH FLAG HAS
% FLOWN AT THE CAPITOL.
% ON THIS JUNETEENTH DAY, AND IN
% THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S
% MURDER AND DEMONSTRATIONS,
% WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS
% AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MANDELA
% BARNES TODAY ANNOUNCED A PACKAGE
% OF REFORM COOPERATION, CALLING
% FOR BIPARTISAN COOPERATION,
% SAYING THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT
% HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION
% WHEN "PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE
% ARE DEMANDING WE TAKE ACTION."
% THIS WEEK, WE TURN TO AN
% AWARD-WINNING COLUMNIST TO
% DISCUSS JUNETEENTH, AT A TIME
% WHEN RACIAL JUSTICE IS FRONT AND
% CENTER.
% REGGIE JACKSON IS A SENIOR
% COLUMNIST FOR THE MILWAUKEE
% INDEPENDENT.
% THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
% HERE.
% >> IT'S A PLEASURE.
% THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO JUNETEENTH IS A
% CELEBRATION OF THE END OF
% OFFICIAL SLAVERY.
% THIS YEAR, OF COURSE, COVID-19
% STIFLES THE CELEBRATORY NATURE
% OF IT, ALONG WITH GLOBAL
% DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST RACISM
% AND POLICE BRUTALITY.
% AS TO THE PROTESTS, YOU HAVE
% SAID, QUOTE, WE HAVE NOT
% SUDDENLY REACHED THE BREAKING
% POINT.
% EACH DAY IS A BREAKING POINT FOR
% US."
% HOW SO?
% >> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK
% ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE
% CURRENTLY OCCURRING THAT THE
% WORLD IS PAYING ATTENTION TO,
% THESE ARE THINGS THAT THOSE OF
% US IN THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR,
% PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICANS,
% THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'VE
% EXPERIENCED FOR MANY, MANY
% YEARS.
% THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE TALKED
% ABOUT OPENLY, COMPLAINED ABOUT,
% ASKED FOR REFORM ABOUT.
% AND SO FOR US, THIS IS NOTHING
% NEW.
% YOU KNOW, THE DEATH OF GEORGE
% FLOYD, WHICH HAS KIND OF
% GALVANIZED PEOPLE AROUND THE
% WORLD TO PROTEST, THESE ARE NOT
% NEW OCCURRENCES FOR US.
% THIS IS, YOU KNOW,
% EVERY-DAY-LIVED EXPERIENCES FOR
% PEOPLE OF COLOR, PARTICULARLY
% BLACKS.
% >> YOU'VE ALSO SAID THIS.
% QUOTE, "WE WANT CHANGE.
% WE ARE TIRED OF BEING TREATED
% LIKE OUR LIVES ARE
% INCONSEQUENTIAL."
% DESCRIBE THE CHANGE THAT YOU
% WANT.
% >> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE SIMPLY
% WANT WHAT EVERY OTHER AMERICAN
% HAS.
% WE WANT OUR LIVES TO BE VALUED
% IN THE SAME WAY AS THE MAJORITY
% COMMUNITY HAS BEEN VALUED.
% YOU KNOW, I DID A PRESENTATION A
% NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS
% TITLED "DO BLACK LIVES MATTER:
% THE HISTORIC DEVALUATION OF
% BLACK LIVES IN AMERICAN
% HISTORY," AND THERE ARE
% COUNTLESS WAYS TO EXPLAIN HOW
% OUR LIVES HAVE NOT BEEN VALUED
% IN THE SAME WAY.
% THE IDEA OF RACE, THE CONCEPT OF
% RACE, WAS CREATED A COUPLE
% HUNDRED YEARS AGO AND THERE WAS
% THIS HIERARCHY THAT PUT PEOPLE
% BASED ON THEIR SKIN COLOR AT
% DIFFERENT LEVELS OF VALUE.
% BLACK PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AT
% THE BOTTOM OF THAT HIERARCHY.
% WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING THAT YOU
% DON'T DO THAT ANY LONGER, THAT
% WE BE TREATED THE SAME AS
% EVERYONE ELSE, THAT WE BE
% TREATED FAIRLY, EQUITABLY.
% AND IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT ASK,
% I DON'T THINK.
% >> WHAT IS YOUR HOPE AND
% EXPECTATION ABOUT SEEING
% CONSEQUENTIAL CHANGE OR THAT
% CHANGE EVEN BY THE NEXT
% JUNETEENTH DAY OR EVEN IN OUR
% LIFETIMES?
% >> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULT
% THING IS THAT CHANGE OCCURS VERY
% SLOWLY.
% IN MANY CASES, IT OCCURS AT A
% PACE THAT WE DON'T EVEN NOTICE.
% AND SO IT APPEARS THAT NO CHANGE
% IS OCCURRING, NO PROGRESS IS
% BEING MADE, BUT ULTIMATELY I
% THINK THE ANSWER TO YOUR
% QUESTION IS WHEN WE REVISIT THIS
% YEAR, THIS JUNETEENTH A YEAR
% FROM NOW, WE LOOK BACK AND WE'LL
% ASK WHAT HAS REALLY CHANGED IN A
% CONSEQUENTIAL WAY.
% YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THE PROTESTS
% WILL BE OVER.
% WE KNOW THAT WE'LL GO BACK TO
% BUSINESS AS USUAL AS A NATION.
% BUT WHAT WILL PEOPLE DO?
% ONCE THEY STOP PROTESTING, WHAT
% WILL THEY DO IN THEIR
% INSTITUTIONS THEY WORK IN?
% WHAT WILL ELECTED OFFICIALS DO
% TO ERASE THE PATTERN OF SYSTEMIC
% RACISM IN OUR COUNTRY?
% THOSE ARE THE THING WE'LL BE
% PAYING ATTENTION TO.
% A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN TALK THE
% TALK, BUT WILL THEY BE WILLING
% TO WALK THE WALK?
% >> DO YOU FEEL AS THOUGH AT THIS
% MOMENT IN TIME, THAT FINALLY THE
% VOICES THAT HAVE SO LONG BEEN
% DECRYING WHITE SUPREMACY ARE
% BEING HEARD?
% >> YEAH.
% I THINK THOSE VOICES WHICH HAVE
% BEEN SILENCED FOR SO LONG ARE
% BEING HEARD IN A WAY THAT
% THEY'VE BEEN HEARD BEFORE.
% ONE OF THE INCREDIBLE THINGS
% ABOUT IT IS THERE ARE OTHER
% VOICES JOINING THE CONVERSATION
% SAYING THE SAME THINGS.
% I'VE BEEN DOING WORK.
% TRAVELING AROUND THE NATION, THE
% LAST SEVERAL YEARS IN
% PARTICULAR, I HAVE NOTICED A
% SHIFT IN THE WAY WHITE PEOPLE
% TALK ABOUT RACISM.
% THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN WHAT
% WHITE PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT
% THEIR HISTORY.
% AND THEY HAVE WILLINGLY ADMITTED
% TO ME IN MANY PLACES, SMALL
% RURAL TOWNS IN WISCONSIN, THAT
% RACISM IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
% WE'VE BEEN AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT
% IT.
% BUT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
% NOW.
% WE WANT TO LEARN HOW WE GOT TO
% WHERE WE ARE SO WE CAN FIX
% THINGS.
% THESE ARE THINGS THAT
% COMMUNITIES OF COLORS HAVE BEEN
% ASKING WHITES TO JOIN US IN THAT
% FIGHT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
% AND WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THAT
% AT A LEVEL WE'VE NEVER SEEN
% BEFORE.
% >> THANK YOU.
% THANK YOU.
% WE'RE ALL GLAD TO HEAR THAT AND
% MAY WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
% REGGIE JACKSON, THANK YOU SO
% MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> YEAH.
% IT'S MY PLEASURE.
% THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME,
% FREDERICA.
% >> LAST YEAR GOVERNOR EVERS
% APPOINTED JUDGE JOSEPH DONALD TO
% THE STATE COURT OF APPEALS.
% AT THAT TIME, DONALD WAS ONLY
% THE SECOND AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO
% SERVE AT THAT LEVEL.
% THIS WEEK, HE JOINED LIBERALS ON
% THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND
% OTHER WISCONSIN APPEALS COURT
% JUDGES IN CALLING FOR MAKING THE
% BENCH MORE DIVERSE AND
% ACKNOWLEDGING RACIAL BIAS WITHIN
% THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
% WE ASKED JUDGE DONALD TO JOIN US
% EARLIER THIS WEEK AND WE THANK
% YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE,
% JUDGE.
% >> I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE AND
% THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO THE OPEN LETTER THAT YOU
% SIGNED ON TO SAYS, QUOTE, "WE
% NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE ONGOING
% INJUSTICES IN OUR LEGAL SYSTEM
% AND THE BARRIERS THAT STAND IN
% THE WAY OF JUSTICE."
% WHAT ARE THE ONGOING INJUSTICES?
% >> WELL, FIRST LET ME SAY THIS,
% WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER
% COSIGNERS OF THAT LETTER.
% I AM JUST DELIGHTED AND VERY
% PROUD OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO
% STEP FORWARD AND TO RECOGNIZE
% THAT WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM IN OUR
% JUSTICE SYSTEM.
% THE MAIN ISSUE IS TO ENSURE THAT
% WE TREAT PEOPLE WITH FAIRNESS
% AND EQUALITY.
% AND ANYONE THAT HAS SPENT ANY
% TIME IN THE SYSTEM UNDERSTANDS
% THAT THERE ARE AREAS THAT REALLY
% NEED IMPROVEMENT.
% YOU KNOW, IT'S MY BELIEF THAT WE
% HAVE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE LOCKED
% UP AND LOCKED UP FOR WAY TOO
% LONG.
% BUT WE HAVE TO TRY AND FIGURE
% OUT WHAT ARE THOSE SORT OF
% SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND PROCESSES
% THAT ARE CREATING THIS INEQUITY.
% >> SO WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF
% THE BARRIERS?
% >> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE BIGGEST
% BARRIER, IF I HAD TO PUT THEM IN
% SORT OF BROAD TERMS, IGNORANCE
% IS A BARRIER, DENIAL, AND
% SILENCE.
% YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS A
% NEED FOR THOSE WHO WORK OR WHO
% ARE LEADERS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL
% JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JUSTICE
% SYSTEM TO SPEAK OUT.
% AND I THINK THAT THIS LETTER
% GOES A LONG WAY TO AT LEAST
% ENGAGE AND START THE
% CONVERSATION.
% THERE WAS A TIME WHEN JUDGES
% TYPICALLY SORT OF JUST LAID BACK
% IN THE BACKGROUND AND NEVER
% REALLY ASSERTED THEMSELVES INTO
% THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.
% BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE NOW IN A
% NEW ENVIRONMENT, PARTICULARLY
% GIVEN ALL OF THE ANGER AND GRIEF
% AND FRUSTRATION THAT THE PEOPLE
% FEEL.
% AND SO I THINK THERE IS A NEED
% FOR JUDGES TO STEP FORWARD AND
% TO SPEAK TO THESE ISSUES.
% >> YOU TALK ABOUT IGNORANCE AND
% DENIAL.
% ON WHOSE PART?
% >> WELL, SORT OF THOSE WHO JUST
% SAY THAT THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM.
% YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WILL
% TAKE THE POSITION, WELL, I
% DIDN'T CREATE THIS PROBLEM.
% I DON'T GO OUT AND ARREST PEOPLE
% AND BRING THEM TO COURT.
% YOU KNOW, THEY'RE BROUGHT TO MY
% COURT.
% BUT TO SAY THAT YOU'RE NOT PART
% OF THE SYSTEM AND TO NOT ASK
% QUESTIONS AS TO HOW SOMEONE
% COMES INTO THE SYSTEM, WHY THEY
% COME INTO THE SYSTEM.
% YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO SAY THAT AS
% -- WHEN I WAS A TRIAL COURT
% JUDGE, I WOULD SIT THERE AND
% ROUTINELY SEE, YOU KNOW, BLACK
% DEFENDANT AFTER BLACK DEFENDANT,
% AND THE QUESTION ULTIMATELY
% COMES, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS AND
% WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT
% IT?
% IT ISN'T ENOUGH TO JUST SAY,
% WELL, YOU KNOW, IF PEOPLE JUST
% STOPPED COMMITTING CRIMES, THEY
% WOULDN'T END UP IN THE CRIMINAL
% JUSTICE SYSTEM.
% BUT AS YOU LOOK AT SORT OF WHAT
% ARE THE ROOT CAUSES, TRAUMA,
% MENTAL HEALTH, ECONOMIC.
% YOU KNOW, SO THOSE ARE THE
% THINGS THAT SORT OF BRING PEOPLE
% -- THE ROOT CAUSES THAT BRING
% PEOPLE INTO THE SYSTEM.
% I RECOGNIZED THAT AS A TRIAL
% COURT JUDGE WHEN I CREATED THE
% DRUG TREATMENT COURT TO TRY AND
% FIGURE OUT WAYS TO DIVERT PEOPLE
% FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
% SYSTEM.
% IT ISN'T ALL ABOUT RETRIBUTION
% AND PUNISHMENT.
% AND SO I THINK THAT THERE IS --
% THERE IS -- WE ARE IN A NEW
% ENVIRONMENT NOW, AND I THINK
% PEOPLE ARE DEMANDING THAT WE
% TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN
% ENSURING THAT THERE IS FAIRNESS.
% >> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
% THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO TALK
% ABOUT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU
% JOINING ON THIS.
% JUDGE DONALD, THANKS.
% >> WELL, THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
% I'M DELIGHTED TO BE ON AND I
% LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE
% CONVERSATION.
% >> POLICE REFORM IS JUST ONE OF
% THE POLICY POINTS WISCONSIN U.S.
% REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN HAS
% BEEN PUSHING THIS WEEK.
% HE PRAISES THE SUPREME COURT
% DECISION THAT PROTECTS GAY,
% LESBIAN AND TRANSGENDER
% EMPLOYEES FROM DISCRIMINATION
% BASED ON SEX, WHILE SAYING THERE
% IS MORE TO BE DONE.
% REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN JOINED
% US EARLIER THIS WEEK TO TALK
% ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND THANKS
% VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> YEAH.
% THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
% GLAD TO.
% >> FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO GET
% YOUR REACTION TO THE SUPREME
% COURT RULING BLOCKING THE TRUMP
% ADMINISTRATION FROM DEFERRING
% THE DEFERRED ACTION FOR
% CHILDHOOD ARRIVALS.
% >> YEAH.
% IT'S BEEN A GOOD WEEK FOR THE
% SUPREME COURT ON A FEW FRONTS
% AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WHERE
% THE PRESIDENT WAS USING A GROUP
% OF PEOPLE TO BE POLITICAL
% LEVERAGE IN HIS DEMAND FOR A
% WALL.
% AND YOU NEVER CAN USE PEOPLE
% LIKE THAT.
% AND THE PRESIDENT OF COURSE DID.
% AND THE SUPREME COURT OVERRULED
% THAT ABILITY FOR HIM TO TRY TO
% MAKE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HERE
% MAYBE SINCE THEY WERE TWO WEEKS
% OLD, TWO MONTHS OLD, TWO YEARS
% OLD, THEY MAY NOT SPEAK THE
% LANGUAGE OF THE COUNTRY THAT
% THEY ORIGINALLY CAME FROM, AND
% THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE THROUGH
% NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
% TO SAY YOU'RE GOING TO DEPORT
% PEOPLE LIKE THAT MADE NO SENSE.
% NOW THE SUPREME COURT MADE SURE
% THAT DONALD TRUMP ALSO
% UNDERSTANDS THAT.
% >> WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR PEOPLE
% IN WISCONSIN?
% >> WELL, IT MEANS I THINK THAT
% ANYONE WHO'S A DACA RECIPIENT OF
% WHICH THERE ARE MANY.
% I'VE HAD INTERNS IN MY OFFICE,
% PEOPLE WE'VE BROUGHT TO THE
% STATE OF THE UNION.
% WE'VE HAD OTHERS THAT ARE VERY
% ACTIVE AS FRONT LINE ESSENTIAL
% WORKERS.
% IT TELLS THEM THAT THEY DON'T
% HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SOME
% POLITICIAN USING THEIR LIFE AT
% POLITICAL FODDER.
% IT PROVIDES A SENSE OF RELIEF.
% THE REAL RELIEF WILL HAPPEN WHEN
% THERE'S A NEW ADMINISTRATION AND
% NEW APPROACH TOWARD IMMIGRATION.
% JOE BIDEN SAID ON HIS FIRST WEEK
% IN OFFICE, WE'LL MAKE SURE DACA
% RECIPIENTS AREN'T USED AS
% POLITICAL LEVERAGE.
% THAT'S AN IMPORTANT SIGNAL TO
% PEOPLE SO THEY CAN LIVE THEIR
% LIVES.
% >> ON POLICE REFORM, BOTH THE
% HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE VERSIONS
% OF BILLS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO
% HEAD TO THE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.
% WHAT'S YOUR EXPECTATION THAT
% COMMON GROUND ON THESE CAN BE
% FOUND?
% >> WELL, I WOULD HOPE SO.
% I'VE SEEN SOME POLLING THAT WEEK
% THAT WAS REALLY AMAZING AND VERY
% HEARTENING THAT THE PUBLIC GET
% IT.
% THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE HAD
% RACISM THAT HASN'T GONE AWAY.
% ALL THE RALLIES AND THE FIGHTS
% FROM THE '60s, WE SHOULD BE
% MUCH FARTHER THAN WE ARE AND
% HERE WE ARE DECADES LATER AND
% PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY CREATED OR
% TREATED AS EQUAL UNDER THE LAW
% IN TOO MANY CASES.
% BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY
% IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
% LEGISLATION THAT ADDRESSES
% THINGS LIKE CHOKEHOLDS AND
% NO-KNOCK WARRANTS FOR DRUG
% CASES, THAT KEEPS TRACK OF THE
% POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE CAUSING
% PROBLEMS, THAT DOES ALL THE
% THINGS THAT WE NEED TO.
% THAT'S IN THE HOUSE BILL THAT
% WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING UP NEXT
% THURSDAY.
% BUT SOME OF THOSE ARE GOING TO
% BE IN THE SENATE BILL.
% WE'LL HAVE TO COMPROMISE TO THE
% FINAL BILL.
% BUT PUBLIC SUPPORT IS THERE AND
% I THINK WE NEED TO RISE TO THAT.
% >> WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THE
% HISTORIC SUPREME COURT RULING
% THIS WEEK THAT PROTECTS GAY AND
% TRANSGENDER WORKERS?
% >> YOU KNOW, IT'S ANOTHER ISSUE
% THAT I WAS VERY HEARTENED TO
% SEE.
% YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULDN'T BE FIRED
% FROM YOUR JOB SIMPLY FOR WHO YOU
% ARE OR WHO YOU LOVE.
% AND THAT'S WHAT THE SUPREME
% COURT SAID.
% THE PROBLEM IS THE MAJORITY OF
% STATES, YOU COULD BE FIRED FOR
% WHO YOU LOVE.
% YOU COULD LOSE YOUR HOUSING FOR
% WHO YOU LOVE.
% AND THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER
% RAMIFICATIONS WHEN YOU DON'T
% HAVE A LAW LIKE WISCONSIN HAD.
% WE WERE THE FIRST STATE IN THE
% NATION IN 1982 TO HAVE A LAW
% PROTECTING GAYS AND LESBIANS BUT
% NOT TRANSGENDER AT THAT TIME.
% IT TOOK SEVEN YEARS FOR ANOTHER
% STATE TO HAVE A LAW LIKE THAT.
% SO THEM SAYING IN THE SUPREME
% COURT PROTECTS PEOPLE ON
% EMPLOYMENT, BUT WE HAVE SO MUCH
% MORE TO STILL DO AND THAT'S WHY
% WE HAVE THE EQUALITY ACT IN
% CONGRESS.
% IT PASSED THE HOUSE WITH
% BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
% MITCH MCCONNELL HAS TAKEN IT TO
% KENTUCKY AND BURIED IT.
% WE CAN GET THAT DONE WITH A
% DIFFERENT SENATE AND A DIFFERENT
% PRESIDENT.
% >> WHAT WOULD THE EQUALITY ACT
% DO?
% >> THE EQUALITY ACT IS A
% CATCH-ALL OF EVERYTHING THAT'S
% NOT COVERED BY MARRIAGE EQUALITY
% UNDER THE LAW SO THAT NO MATTER
% WHERE YOU LIVE, WHAT STATE IN
% THIS NATION, YOU'D BE TREATED
% THE SAME.
% INCLUDES DISCRIMINATION IN
% HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, WHOLE BUNCH
% OF AREAS.
% IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE BILL.
% AGAIN, WHEN WE PASSED IT IN THE
% HOUSE, WE HAD BIPARTISAN
% SUPPORT.
% SO THE PUBLIC IS WITH US ON THE
% BILL.
% IT'S UNFORTUNATELY SOME
% POLITICAL LEADERS STILL USE THIS
% AS A POLITICAL LEVERAGE POINT.
% AGAIN, I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD
% EVER USE PEOPLE AS LEVERAGE.
% >> ON COVID, YOU'RE BLASTING
% PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HOLDING THIS
% RALLY SATURDAY IN TULSA, BUT
% ALSO FOR HAVING PEOPLE WHO
% ATTEND IT SIGN LIABILITY
% WAIVERS.
% BUT THE QUESTION MIGHT BE WHY
% SHOULDN'T PEOPLE GET TO MAKE THE
% CHOICE WHETHER TO ATTEND, FIRST
% OF ALL.
% AND, SECOND OF ALL, WHETHER
% THEY'RE OKAY WITH SIGNING THIS
% WAIVER.
% >> WELL, I THINK IT'S
% IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ANYONE,
% ESPECIALLY THE PRESIDENT, WHO
% KNOWS -- SHOULD KNOW BETTER WHEN
% IT COMES TO COVID-19 THAT YOU
% CAN'T HAVE A RALLY IN AN AREA
% WITH INCREASING CASES IN AN
% INDOOR ARENA WITH 1,000 OR MORE
% PEOPLE.
% HE'S TALKING 10,000 PEOPLE.
% AND YOU KNOW IT'S SO BAD THAT
% YOU'RE ASKING THEM TO SIGN A
% WAIVER SO YOU CAN'T SUE YOU.
% EVERYTHING ABOUT IT STINKS.
% AND, YOU KNOW, HE SHOULD HAVE
% BETTER SENSE.
% BUT BY NOW WE'VE SEEN DONALD
% TRUMP DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF
% SENSE.
% SO THEREFORE I'M SAYING THROUGH
% THE RALLIES ACT THAT IF YOU TRY
% TO DO THAT IN A CONDITION IN A
% COMMUNITY WITH 14 DAYS OR MORE
% OF INCREASING CASES, WHICH IS
% HOW WE MEASURE THIS, IN AN
% INDOOR FACILITY WITH 1,000 OR
% MORE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE NOT
% ALLOWED TO HAVE A LIABILITY
% WAIVER TO PROTECT YOURSELF
% BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
% BETTER THAN TO HAVE THE EVENT IN
% THE BEGINNING.
% A LOT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AROUND
% THE COUNTRY DON'T WANT THESE
% RALLIES BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE
% BEST INTEREST FOR THE PUBLIC IN
% THOSE COMMUNITIES.
% THE PRESIDENT CAN FLY IN AND
% OUT.
% BUT THE PEOPLE IN TULSA OR
% WHEREVER ELSE IS RALLY IS BEING
% HELD ARE GOING TO LIVE THERE
% WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE
% ACTIONS.
% >> ALL RIGHT.
% WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
% REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN,
% THANKS VERY MUCH.
% >> SURE.
% THANK YOU.
% >> VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
% WILL MAKE A VISIT TO WISCONSIN
% NEXT TUESDAY FOR A CAMPAIGN
% RALLY IN PEWAUKEE.
% PBS WISCONSIN'S ZAC SCHULTZ WILL
% BE COVERING THAT STORY.
% THE OTHER BIG STORY THIS WEEK
% CONTINUES TO BE THE CORONAVIRUS
% PANDEMIC IN WISCONSIN.
% MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE ACROSS THE
% STATE HAVE NOW DIED DUE TO
% COVID-19.
% HEALTH OFFICIALS REMIND THE
% PUBLIC THAT FREQUENT HAND
% WASHING, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND
% OTHER PRECAUTIONS HAVE NOT GONE
% AWAY.
% >> WE CAN COMMUNICATE AND
% COALESCE AROUND THE IDEA THAT
% ADOPTING THESE INFECTION
% PREVENTION STRATEGIES, LIKE
% WEARING MASKS IN PUBLIC AND
% MAINTAINING PHYSICAL DISTANCING
% IN PUBLIC, I THINK THERE'S A LOT
% OF GOOD THAT CAN BE DONE.
% SO IT'S NOT A FOREGONE
% CONCLUSION THAT WE ARE GOING TO
% HAVE A WAVE.
% THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO TO
% PREVENT NEW CASES GOING INTO THE
% LATE SUMMER AND FALL.
% >> LA CROSSE COUNTY IS SEEING AN
% UPTICK IN COVID-19 CASES AT A
% RATE OF 40% HIGHER THAN THE
% STATE AVERAGE.
% A SEVERE RISK RED ALERT HAS BEEN
% ISSUED.
% THE PUBLIC WAS NOTIFIED OF
% POSSIBLE EXPOSURE IF THEY
% VISITED ANY OF SEVEN BARS AND
% RESTAURANTS IN THE DOWNTOWN
% LA CROSSE AREA.
% RESIDENTS ARE BEING ADVISED TO
% STAY AT HOME AND REDUCE
% GATHERINGS TO NO MORE THAN TEN
% PEOPLE.
% >> I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS.
% I KNOW WE CAN DO BETTER.
% I KNOW THAT WE CAN MAKE CHOICES
% TO ALWAYS WEAR FABRIC FACE
% COVERINGS AND ALWAYS PHYSICAL
% DISTANCE.
% AND WE CAN CHANGE THIS OUTCOME
% THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEING.
% SO DON'T BE -- DON'T BE
% DISCOURAGED THAT WE ARE IN RED.
% IF WE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AS A
% COMMUNITY, ALL TOGETHER, NOT
% JUST INDIVIDUALS, THEN WE WILL
% SEE THESE NUMBERS GO DOWN.
% >> IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE,
% HISPANICS AND LATINOS ARE NOW
% SHOWING THE LARGEST INCREASE IN
% COVID-19 CASES.
% THAT MARKS A TURNING POINT FROM
% WHEN THE DISEASE WAS
% DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING THE
% CITY'S AFRICAN-AMERICAN
% COMMUNITY.
% THE SURGE OF CASES IS
% CONCENTRATED ON MILWAUKEE'S
% SOUTH SIDE.
% JEANETTE KOWALIK IS MILWAUKEE'S
% COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND SHE
% JOINED US WITH HER INSIGHTS AND
% THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
% >> SO HOW DISPROPORTIONATE ARE
% THE NUMBER OF POSITIVE CASES IN
% THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY?
% >> SO AS OF THIS WEEK NOW, THE
% HISPANIC OR LATINX POPULATION IS
% THE MAJORITY OF CASES IN OUR
% CITY AND OUR COUNTY.
% AT THE CITY LEVEL, THE LATINX
% POPULATION ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT
% 40% OF CASES.
% AT ONE POINT IN TIME EARLIER IN
% OUR RESPONSE, AFRICAN-AMERICAN
% WERE BASICALLY LIKE 70% OF THE
% CASES.
% SO WE DEFINITELY ARE CONCERNED
% ABOUT THIS FLIP HERE, AND WE
% STARTED TO SEE THE FIRST HOT
% SPOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OR
% PREDOMINANTLY LATINX COMMUNITY
% IN MILWAUKEE IN MID-APRIL.
% SO WE WERE WORKING ON INCREASING
% OUTREACH AND RESOURCES, MAKING
% THINGS ARE NOT JUST TRANSLATED,
% BUT CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE,
% WORKING WITH 16TH STREET
% COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, WHICH
% IS A SOLID PARTNER OF THE
% MILWAUKEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S
% AND ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS
% ALSO WORKS FOR THAT
% ORGANIZATION.
% SO LEVERAGING THAT RELATIONSHIP
% TO REALLY HELP GET THE WORD OUT.
% AND THEN WE RECEIVED SOME
% FUNDING TO ASSIST WITH SOME OF
% THE OUTREACH EFFORTS.
% SO THAT WAS USED THROUGH THE
% ADVANCING HEALTHIER WISCONSIN
% MONEY, WHICH WE STILL HAVE AND
% WE'RE STILL WORKING ON A VARIETY
% OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND
% RESOURCES.
% AND THEN ALSO THIS STRONGER
% TOGETHER COLLABORATIVE, WHICH
% RECEIVES FUNDING FROM THE
% GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION TO
% CREATE A YOU MATTER CAMPAIGN, SO
% ALTERING THE MESSAGE FROM "STAY
% HOME, SAVE LIVES" OR "SAFER AT
% HOME" TO VALUING PEOPLE OF COLOR
% IN OUR COMMUNITY AND EQUIPPING
% OUR COMMUNITY WITH KNOWLEDGE AND
% RESOURCES SO THAT THEY CAN BE
% RESILIENT AND SURVIVE COVID-19.
% >> SO HAD YOU DETERMINED THEN
% THAT THE MESSAGING WAS NOT
% CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THE
% LATINX COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHAT
% YOU WENT TO WORK ON?
% OR WHY DID YOU DETERMINE THIS
% WAS HAPPENING IN THAT COMMUNITY
% IN PARTICULAR?
% >> WELL, INITIALLY WE WERE
% CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE
% SOURCES OF THOSE INITIAL
% OUTBREAKS, THAT THEY WERE
% RELATED TO EMPLOYERS OR FOLKS
% BEING CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL AND
% STILL HAVING TO GO TO WORK AND
% STILL BEING EXPOSED TO COVID-19
% BY JUST GOING TO WORK, WHETHER
% THEY WERE TAKING PUBLIC
% TRANSPORTATION OR PEOPLE ARE
% RIDE-SHARING OR WHATEVER THE
% CASE MAY BE, AND THEN WORKING IN
% SETTINGS THAT REALLY DIDN'T
% SUPPORT SOCIAL OR PHYSICAL
% DISTANCING, AS WELL AS ENHANCED
% CLEANING AND HYGIENE, WHICH
% CREATED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
% EXPOSURE FOR SOME PEOPLE IN OUR
% LATINX POPULATION.
% SO WE STARTED TO SEE THAT PLAY
% OUT, AND WE WERE VERY CONCERNED
% EARLY ON IN GETTING THE MESSAGE
% OUT, WORKING WITH EMPLOYERS TO
% MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO
% TESTING AND THEN MAKING SURE
% PEOPLE ALSO ARE AWARE THAT THERE
% IS FEDERAL PROTECTIONS AND
% RESOURCES FOR SICK TIME IF YOU
% ARE INFECTED WITH COVID-19, HOW
% YOU ACCESS THOSE THINGS.
% WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN
% SOME BARRIERS THAT HAVE BEEN
% PRETTY MUCH PUT UP COMING FROM
% THE NATIONAL LEVEL ALL THE WAY
% DOWN LOOKING AT IMMIGRATION,
% THIS ANTI-IMMIGRATION SENTIMENT,
% WORKING WITH ICE TO DETAIN
% PEOPLE AND JUST THERE'S A LOT OF
% FEAR AND HAS BEEN A LOT OF FEAR
% AND THE TRUST HAS BEEN ERODED IN
% GOVERNMENT.
% AND OUR EXPERIENCE AT THE
% MILWAUKEE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS
% BEEN WE'VE BEEN SEEING A DECLINE
% IN SERVICE UTILIZATION AMONGST
% SOME OF OUR LATINX CLIENTS OVER
% THE LAST YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF.
% SO USING OTHER COMMUNITY
% PARTNERS AND LETTING THEM LEAD
% IS REALLY IMPORTANT NOW MORE
% THAN EVER BECAUSE OF THAT TRUST.
% JUST BY WAY OF NATURE, THE
% HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A
% GOVERNMENT ENTITY, SO HOW DO WE
% LET OTHERS LEAD AND GET THE
% MESSAGE OUT, HELP WITH THE
% CONTACT TRACING AND OTHER
% RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED.
% WE ALSO KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF
% PEOPLE IN OUR LATINX COMMUNITY
% DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE STIMULUS
% PAYMENTS, WHICH IS REALLY
% UNFORTUNATE.
% WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME
% OF THIS PUBLIC WILL, YOU KNOW,
% IF YOU RECEIVE SOCIAL SERVICES,
% THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO-- THAT
% WILL COMPROMISE YOUR
% CITIZENSHIP.
% YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL OF THESE
% POLITICAL OR POLICY LEVEL
% THREATS TO BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE
% A MORE COMPREHENSIVE COVID
% RESPONSE.
% SO WHAT ARE SOME WAYS FOR US TO
% STILL IMPACT THE LATINX IN A
% POSITIVE WAY BUT WORK AROUND
% SOME OF THOSE BARRIERS THAT HAVE
% BEEN SET UP TO CAUSE MORE
% DISCRIMINATION AND RACISM AMONG
% OUR LATINX POPULATION.
% >> THERE'S MUCH MORE TO TALK
% ABOUT AROUND THIS, BUT WE NEED
% TO LEAVE IT THERE.
% DR. KOWALIK, THANK YOU SO MUCH
% AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
% >> THANK YOU.
% >> DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, THE
% UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
% PLANS TO BEGIN IN-PERSON FALL
% CLASSES AS SCHEDULED ON
% SEPTEMBER 2.
% THE IN-PERSON CLASSES WILL
% SWITCH TO VIRTUAL CLASSES AFTER
% THANKSGIVING FOR THE FINAL NINE
% DAYS OF INSTRUCTION PLUS EXAMS.
% THAT DECISION IS BASED ON THE
% LIKELIHOOD THAT STUDENTS LEAVING
% MADISON OVER THANKSGIVING AND
% THEN RETURNING WOULD INCREASE
% THE RISK FOR COVID-19 INFECTIONS
% ON CAMPUS.
% >> WE'VE GOT TO STRIKE THE
% BALANCE HERE BETWEEN THE SAFETY
% THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE TO
% FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS ACROSS
% THE BOARD, WITH THE REAL DESIRE
% BY MANY, MANY PEOPLE TO HAVE AT
% LEAST SOME IN-PERSON
% DISCUSSIONS, SMALL CLASS
% EXPERIENCE, THE SORT OF
% EXPERIENCES YOU HAVE ON A
% COLLEGE CAMPUS.
% AND THE HYBRID MODEL THAT WE'RE
% PROPOSING WE THINK STRIKES THAT
% BALANCE IN ABOUT THE SAME WAY.
% >> AND THIS NEWS TODAY.
% FORMER GOVERNOR TOMMY THOMPSON
% WILL BE THE NEW UW SYSTEM
% INTERIM PRESIDENT.
% GO TO pbswisconsin.org FOR
% MORE INFORMATION.
% WE HAVE REQUESTED AN INTERVIEW
% WITH THE FORMER GOVERNOR.
% >> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE
% AND NOW."
% STAY WELL, WISCONSIN, AND WE
% WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
% I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
% HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
% >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
% PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
% JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.