>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
WISCONSIN CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN
MOORE CALLS FOR A GROUND-UP
DISMANTLING OF STRUCTURAL
RACISM.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MANDELA
BARNES SHARES HIS INSIGHTS ON
POLICE BUDGETS AND RACIAL
JUSTICE.
PLUS, A RECENT HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATE LEADING THE CHARGE
AGAINST RACISM AFTER HIS FATHER
MADE NATIONAL HEADLINES.
"HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 12TH.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW,"
FO -- FUNDED BY JOURNALISM AND
PBS WISCONSIN.
>> PROTESTS OVER GEORGE FLOYD'S
DEATH AT THE HANDS OF
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE HAVE MAINLY
BEEN IN WISCONSIN'S LARGER
METROPOLITAN AREAS.
NOW GAINING TRACTION IN SMALLER
CITIES LIKE THIS PROTEST IN
WAUSAU.
THE CITY'S THIRD PROTEST IN A
WEEK.
SOME 1500 PROTESTORS MARCHED
DOWNTOWN CHANTING FOR AN END TO
POLICE BRUTALITY.
>> BLACK LIVES MATTER.
>> IN MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK,
THOUSANDS TURNED OUT FOR A
PROTEST LED BY BUCKS PLAYER
STERLING BROWN.
THOSE ON THE STREET SAID THEY
FEEL A SENSE OF CONNECTION TO A
NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT.
ISSUES OF RACE AND INEQUALITY IN
THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES.
THIS WEEK DEMONSTRATORS IN
DOWNTOWN MADISON PAINTED A HUGE
YELLOW BLOCK LETTERS DEFUND
POLICE.
THOSE WORDS APPEAR ALONG M.L.K.,
JR. BOULEVARD JUST DOWN FROM THE
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING.
SEVERAL OF THE GROUPS PROTESTING
HAVE EXPRESSED DEFUNDING OR
DISMANTLING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IS A PRIORITY.
FOLLOWING ANOTHER WEEK OF STATE
AND NATIONWIDE PROTESTS OVER THE
DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, U.S.
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE OF
BUILDING IS CALLING TO BUILD A
GROUND-UP APPROACH TO DISMANTLE
STRUCTURAL RACISM.
AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK
CAUCUS WHICH SHE IS A MEMBER,
ROLLED OUT A PACKAGE OF
LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS POLICING.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE
JOINED US EARLIER THIS WEEK AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH
US.
>> WONDERFUL.
ALWAYS TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO YOU IN
THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S
DEATH.
AFTER POLICE HAVE INFLICTED
DEADLY FORCE ON OTHER BLACK MEN
OVER SO MANY YEARS, INCLUDING IN
YOUR DISTRICT IN MILWAUKEE, WHY
THIS TIME DO YOU THINK HIS DEATH
SPARK THE WORLDWIDE PROTEST?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT IS A LOT OF
PONDERING AND HISTORIANS WILL
TELL US WHY, BUT THE ENTIRE
WORLD WAS AN EYEWITNESS TO THIS
LYNCHING, AND IT WAS A
STRANGULATION, VERY INHUMANE,
REMINISCENT OF THE LEGACY OF
SLAVERY, AND EVEN THOSE FOLKS
WHO DOUBTED THAT THERE WERE,
THAT THERE WAS DISCRIMINATION
AND THAT POLICE WERE
PARTICULARLY VIOLENT TO THE
AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY,
COULD NO LONGER DENY IT.
I THINK THAT IT REALLY MADE A
HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE TO
HAVE TO BEAR WITNESS TO SUCH A
HORRIFIC ACT.
>> YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE PROUD
THAT AS LAWMAKERS YOU ARE
DIRECTING YOUR OUTRAGE INTO
LEGISLATIVE ACTION, SPECIFICALLY
PROVISIONS OF THE JUSTICE IN
POLICING ACT OF 2020, INCLUDE
BANNING CHOKEHOLDS, TRACKING
POLICE MISCONDUCT, MAKING IT
EASIER TO SUE POLICE OFFICERS,
AND MAKING LYNCHING A FEDERAL
CRIME.
AND YET YOU CALL THIS JUST A
STARTING POINT.
HOW SO?
>> WELL, I JUST WANT TO POINT
OUT MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BLACK CAUCUS HAVE BEEN WORKING
ON THIS LEGISLATION FOR YEARS
PRIOR TO THE UNTIMELY AND
UNFORTUNATE DEATH OF GEORGE
FLOYD.
ONE OF THOSE PROVISIONS, THE
DEESCALATION TRAINING, REALLY
WAS INSPIRED BY THE DEATH OF
DANTRAY HAMILTON IN MY OWN
COMMUNITY, WHERE SOMEONE WHO WAS
ASLEEP ON A PUBLIC PARK BENCH
ENDED UP BEING SHOT 14 TIMES BY
A POLICE OFFICER.
AND SO THAT, I CAN REMEMBER AS
FAR BACK AS ERNEST LACEY, ALMOST
40 YEARS, DYING BY STRANGULATION
IN THIS TOWN AND PARTICIPATING
IN THOSE MARCHES AS WELL.
AND THIS, OF COURSE, IS A VERY
INHUMANE WAY TO TRY TO SUBDUE
ANY PRISONER, AND I THINK THESE
ARE COMMON SENSE THINGS THAT WE
THINK ARE A START BECAUSE WE
DON'T THINK THAT THEY ARE
DRACONIAN MEASURES.
NOW, THERE IS A MEASURE TO LOOK
AT QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AND I
THINK THAT WILL BE THE HARDEST
PIECE TO GET OVER THE FINISH
LINE.
>> IN REGARD TO THAT, WOULD YOU
FAVOR WEAKENING THE ROLE OF
POLICE UNIONS, FOR EXAMPLE,
PARTICULARLY THEIR ROLE OF
PROTECTING AND DEFENDING
OFFICERS' BEHAVIOR?
>> WELL YOU KNOW, I'M AN ARDENT
DEFENDER OF UNIONS.
I THINK UNIONS ARE VERY
IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF BARGAINING
FOR WAGES AND BENEFITS.
BUT I THINK IT'S OUTSIDE OF THE
SCOPE OF A UNION TO BE ABLE TO
NEGOTIATE LACK OF
ACCOUNTABILITY, TO BE ABLE TO
NEGOTIATE THOSE KINDS OF THINGS
AWAY.
I THINK THAT HAS GONE, THAT'S A
BRIDGE TOO FAR.
AND SO YES, I SUPPORT UNION
RIGHTS AT LARGE, BUT I DO THINK
THAT THE LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY,
THE LACK OF TRUST, WE ARE NEVER
GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD GOOD
POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS,
COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING
UNLESS WE HAVE SOME
ACCOUNTABILITY.
YOU KNOW, THE PIECE THAT I HAVE
PUT INTO THIS LEGISLATION
DEESCALATION IS SOMETHING THAT
EVERYBODY AGREES WITH.
BUT DEESCALATION WILL NOT WORK,
YOU CAN'T TRAIN OUT OF A PERSON
THE PROPENSITY TO KILL, TO, IF
THAT IS, IN FACT, WRITTEN INTO
AN ACCOUNT THAT THEY ARE NOT
GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO
GET RID OF THAT PROVISION IN
UNION CONTRACTING.
>> VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, WHAT WILL
IT TAKE FOR GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH
NOT TO BE IN VAIN?
>> IT WILL TAKE CAPTURING THIS
MOMENT NOT ONLY LEGISLATIVELY TO
DEAL WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORMS, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK
AT STRUCTURAL RACISM, PERIOD.
I MEAN, THE HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES, THE DERTH OF
HOUSING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES,
THE DERTH OF EDUCATIONAL
OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK THAT HERE IS A MOMENT
WHERE EVERYONE IN THE UNITED
STATES, 60, 70% OF PEOPLE IN THE
UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY HAVE
JUST HAD A -- AN A-HA MOMENT OF
HOW RACISM AFFECTS BLACK PEOPLE
IN AMERICA AND GEORGE FLOYD'S
DEATH WAS JUST THE END OF THE
STORY.
IT'S NOT THE BEGINNING OF THE
DISCRIMINATION.
>> REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE,
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JAMES SENSENBRENNER SITS ON
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHICH
TOOK TESTIMONY ON THE HOUSE BILL
ON POLICE REFORM.
DURING THE HEARING,
SENSENBRENNER SAID LEGISLATION
MUST LOOK AT POLICE UNIONS TO
GET RID OF WHAT HE CALLS BAD
COPS.
>> THE SOONER WE GET THE BAD
COPS OFF THE FORCE, THE SOONER
THERE WILL NO LONGER BE ANY BAD
APPLES TO SPOIL THE WHOLE
BARREL.
>> THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS ENDED THE NATIONAL GUARD
MISSION TO RESTORE PEACE AND
ORDER IN THE WAKE OF THE GEORGE
FLOYD PROTESTS.
NEARLY 1500 TROOPS MOBILIZED IN
RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FROM CITIES
ACROSS THE STATE.
125 TROOPS WERE DEPLOYED IN
MILWAUKEE.
ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR HELP
FROM GUARD TROOPS CAME FROM
AUTHORITIES IN MADISON, GREEN
BAY, KENOSHA, AND RACINE.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MANDELA
BARNES JOINED MARISA WOJCIK TO
TALK ABOUT POLICE REFORM,
REALLOCATING POLICE BUDGETS.
>> EVERY OTHER BUDGET THAT GETS
CUT IT SEEMS LIKE OH, WELL, YOU
KNOW, WE HAD TO CUT THIS BUDGET,
DO WHAT WE HAD TO DO, TIGHTEN UP
THE PURSE STRINGS, TIGHTEN UP
OUR BELT.
BUT THE MINUTE YOU TALK ABOUT
REDUCING A POLICE DEPARTMENT'S
BUDGET, IT'S LIKE ALL HELL
BREAKS LOOSE AND EVERYBODY ACTS
LIKE YOU ARE SIGNALLING
ARMAGEDDON.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
IT'S ABOUT REALLOCATING FUNDS IN
A WAY THAT PROMOTES SAFETY AND
WHEN VIRTUALLY EVERY LEVEL OF
GOVERNMENT SEES THE SWEEPING
CUTS THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN POLICE
OFFICERS ARE BEING ATTACKED
BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING ASKED TO
DO THE SAME THING AS EVERYBODY
ELSE IN GOVERNMENT, AND
ESPECIALLY AT TIMES LIKE NOW
REVENUES ARE DOWN, GIVEN THE
ECONOMIC DEVASTATION THAT
COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT ABOUT, YOU
KNOW, CITIES ARE GOING TO BE
STRAPPED FOR CASH, COUNTIES
STRAPPED FOR CASH, THE STATE IS
STRAPPED FOR CASH, TAKE A HARD
LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING FUNDED AT
WHAT LEVEL AND YOU KNOW, WHAT IS
GOING TO MAKE THE SENSE.
WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE THE MOST
SENSE TO SEE A FULL RECOVERY IN
WISCONSIN.
AND NOT JUST BACK TO NORMAL, BUT
BECAUSE LIFE AFTER COVID IS MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN LIFE AFTER COVID,
THAT'S A REALITY I THINK PEOPLE
ARE NOT NECESSARILY -- HAVE NOT
NECESSARILY GRASPED BECAUSE IT'S
A TOUGH ONE.
IT'S A TOUGH ONE TO NOT IMAGINE
THINGS GOING BACK TO THE WAY
THEY WERE, BUT WE SHOULDN'T LET
THINGS GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY
WERE, WE SHOULD WANT THINGS TO
BE MUCH BETTER AND MORE
EQUITABLE.
>> YOU'VE WORKED ON THESE ISSUES
FOR A LONG TIME AND YOU'VE SAID
YOU'RE TIRED OF DISREGARD FOR
BLACK LIVES.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO ARE
LIKE YOU WHO ARE EXPERIENCING
THIS FATIGUE IN THIS TIME?
>> THAT IS -- THAT IS A REALLY
GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE FOLKS ARE
EXPERIENCING FATIGUE, AND NOW
THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF
THIS, OF MASS DEMONSTRATIONS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I THINK THAT
OUR MENTAL HEALTH IS EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT BECAUSE WITH EVERY
SPEECH, EVERY SIGN, EVERY LIST
OF DEMANDS LAID OUT BY
PROTESTORS AND ORGANIZERS, WE
SEE THINGS WITHIN OUR OWN LIVES
THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT WE
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO,
THINGS THAT FOLKS HAVE BRUSHED
OFF, ADVERSITY THAT WOULD, YOU
KNOW, UNDUE AND UNJUST AND THAT
CAN WEIGH HEAVILY.
BECAUSE YOU CARRY A DIFFERENT
BURDEN.
AND MYSELF IN THIS POSITION, I'M
HONORED TO HAVE THIS POSITION,
ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS,
BUT THERE ARE SO MANY FOLKS WHO
ARE JUST KIND OF COMFORTABLE AND
THAT COMFORT IS AGAIN ONE OF THE
MANY REASONS WHY WE ARE WHERE WE
ARE AND THERE'S A BURDEN THAT I
NOTICE THAT A LOT OF FOLK, TOO
MANY PEOPLE IN ELECTED OFFICE
DON'T HAVE TO CARRY.
SOME PEOPLE, AND IT'S AMAZING,
TOO, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW
MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE ABLE
TO GET INTO OFFICE WITHOUT EVER
CONSIDERING THE ISSUE OF RACIAL
JUSTICE, NEVER HAVING TO TALK
ABOUT THE ISSUE OF RACIAL
JUSTICE, NEVER HAVING TO
CONFRONT THEIR OWN BIAS, NEVER
HAVING TO CONFRONT THEIR OWN
COMFORT WITH RACISM, AND THEY
HAVE GOTTEN PRETTY FAR.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST
FINE AND SOME PEOPLE WHO, YOU
KNOW, MIGHT SIT BACK AND NOW
LOOK AT THE POLLING DATA AND SEE
THEM SEND OUT AN EMAIL THAT
TALKS ABOUT THE ISSUES OF THE
DAY, BECAUSE THE POLLING DATA IS
IN FAVOR OF THE PLIGHT OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS, MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE OF COLOR
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND SEND OUT
A TWEET AND THAT WILL BE IT, AND
THEY GO HOME AND REST
COMFORTABLY.
AND SOMETIMES I WISH I HAD THE
SAME COMFORT.
BUT THESE THINGS REMAIN IN MY
LIFE BECAUSE I THINK ABOUT MY
OWN FAMILY MEMBERS WHO GOT MIXED
UP IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM, MY OWN FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO EXPERIENCED POLICY VIOLENCE,
MY OWN FRIENDS AND FAMILY
MEMBERS THAT HAVE HAD VIOLENCE,
TOO.
AND NOT EVERYBODY SHARED THE
GOVERNING PART THE SAME WHEN IT
COMES TO AN ISSUE THAT IS THIS
HEAVY.
>> FOR HIS PART, GOVERNOR EVERS
WAS NOT ABLE TO JOIN US FOR THIS
PROGRAM.
HIS ADMINISTRATION IS UNDER FIRE
THIS WEEK FROM REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS FOR TAPING A
PHONE MEETING ABOUT A COVID-19
PLAN.
AT A MEDIA BRIEFING ON THURSDAY,
EVERS SAID A STAFFER WANTED THE
RECORDING FOR NOTE TAKING, AND
HE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT IT.
HE SAID THE PRACTICE HAS ENDED.
HE SAYS HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT
MATTER SHOULD STALL TALKS ON
POLICE USE OF FORCE AND SYSTEMIC
RACISM.
FIRST, REPUBLICANS AND THE
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WERE AT ODDS
OVER THE PATH FORWARD DEALING
WITH CORONAVIRUS.
NOW ANOTHER CONTENTIOUS ISSUE
WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE REFORM.
JIM STEINEKE JOINS US FROM
KAUKAUNA.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WE HAVE NOT SPOKEN IN A
COUPLE WEEKS.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
DEADLY FORCE USED IN THE DEATH
OF GEORGE FLOYD?
>> ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYBODY THAT
COULD WATCH THAT VIDEO, OVER
EIGHT MINUTES THE OFFICER
KNEELING ON GEORGE FLOYD'S NECK,
HIM PLEADING FOR HELP, AND
EVENTUALLY PASSING AWAY AND NOT
FEEL THE OUTRAGE THAT I THINK
EVERYBODY SHOULD FEEL.
IT WAS DISGUSTING.
SOMETHING THERE IS NO PLACE FOR
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE HAVE
TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THESE CASES
DON'T REOCCUR.
>> A DEMOCRATIC BILL AT THE
STATE CAPITOL WOULD MAKE THE
PRIMARY DUTY OF ALL LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO PRESERVE THE LIFE
OF ALL INDIVIDUALS AND THE
DEADLY FORCE IS TO BE USED ONLY
AS A LAST RESORT.
HOW WILLING IS THE REPUBLICAN
MAJORITY TO GET BEHIND THIS
LEGISLATION?
>> WELL, YEAH, I GUESS WHEN IT
COMES TO THAT PARTICULAR PIECE
OF LEGISLATION I'M NOT EXACTLY
SURE WHAT THE GOAL IS BECAUSE
THAT IS ALREADY IN PLACE IN
POLICE HEADQUARTERS ALL OVER THE
STATE.
POLICE HEADQUARTERS ALL OVER THE
STATE ALREADY HAVE A GOAL OF
DEESCALATION, MINIMIZING THE USE
OF FORCE, I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT THE USE OF FORCE IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT I THINK IT'S
SOMEWHERE AROUND LESS THAN 1% OF
THE CASES WHERE THERE'S ANY KIND
OF USE OF FORCE IN AN ARREST.
SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A SMALL
MINORITY OF THE CASES, BUT
OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE
SITUATIONS LIKE GEORGE FLOYD,
AND OTHERS WHO HAVE FELL VICTIM
TO POLICE BRUTALITY, IT
HEIGHTENS THE ISSUE AND
HIGHLIGHTS IT MORE, BUT THERE'S
ALREADY THESE POLICIES ON THE
BOOKS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
>> POLICIES ON THE BOOKS WOULD
BE DIFFERENT THAN STATE
STATUTES, SOMETHING PASSED BY
LEGISLATORS.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN
YOUR INITIAL COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR
HORROR ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO
GEORGE FLOYD.
YOU SAID THAT REALLY SOMETHING
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
>> I MEAN, IT'S HARD AS A
LEGISLATOR TO ADMIT THAT WE
DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS.
IT'S HARD TO PUT FORWARD PIECES
OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL END
RACISM AND CHANGE THE HEARTS AND
MINDS OF PEOPLE THAT DO HARBOR
THOSE RACIST TENDENCIES.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
GOING FORWARD THAT WHATEVER WE
DO IS DONE IN A VEIN THAT MAKES
SURE WE PROTECT THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OUR CITIZENS.
MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR
LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITIES DON'T
FEAR THE POLICE, THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT AS A WHITE MALE I
JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SO I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT
BETTER AND THE CONVERSATIONS
HAVE TO BE HELD WITH PEOPLE OF
COLOR THROUGHOUT THE STATE,
LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, LAW
ENFORCEMENT, THE FAITH
COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO HAVE A
BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE
AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS A SOCIETY
AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST THROUGH
LEGISLATION, BUT THROUGH
SOCIETAL CHANGE AND REFORMS THAT
WILL HELP MOVE THIS PROCESS
ALONG FURTHER.
>> I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR EVERS
WOULD LIKE TO SEE LEGISLATION
HIT HIS DESK AROUND THIS ISSUE
OF POLICE REFORM.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN AND THAT -- ARE
YOU WILLING TO SPEAK WITH AM
ABOUT THIS?
>> WELL, YES.
CERTAINLY WE ARE WILLING TO
SPEAK WITH HIM.
I MEAN -- THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
I WOULD, I THINK EVERYBODY IS
OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
LEGISLATION GOING FORWARD.
I THINK LIKE I SAID, WE ARE NOT
SEEING LEGISLATION DOES NOT NEED
TO HAPPEN, BUT I THINK THE
BROADER CONVERSATION NEEDS TO
HAPPEN.
PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER IN
WISCONSIN WE HAVE ALREADY DONE
SOME REFORMS TO HOW
OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS ARE
INVESTIGATED AND OTHER THINGS
THAT KIND OF HAVE CHANGED THE
CONVERSATION OVER THE COURSE OF
THE YEARS AND MOVED US FORWARD.
BUT CONTINUING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS IS CRITICAL AND
ESPECIALLY HEADING INTO THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
>> HAVE YOU HAD ANY OF THOSE
CONVERSATIONS YET WITH THE
EVERS' ADMINISTRATION?
>> NO, THE EVERS' ADMINISTRATION
HAS NOT REACHED OUT TO US, WITH
THE NEWS OF HIS SECRETLY TAPE
RECORDING OUR CONVERSATIONS THAT
HAS PUT A WEDGE IN BETWEEN THE
TWO SIDES EVEN FURTHER THAN WAS
ALREADY THERE, AND HAS DAMAGED
SOME OF THE TRUST THAT WE WERE
TRYING TO BUILD GOING FORWARD SO
WE CAN HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT THESE MONUMENTAL ISSUES.
BUT HOPEFULLY THE EVERS'
ADMINISTRATION WILL RECOGNIZE
HOW SERIOUS A MISTAKE THAT WAS
TO SECRETLY RECORD THESE
CONVERSATIONS AND DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
>> I DO KNOW ON THAT THAT THE
GOVERNOR SAID HE HIMSELF WAS NOT
AWARE OF THAT BUT UNDERSTOOD AND
THANKS VERY MUCH, REPRESENTATIVE
STEINEKE, FOR JOINING US.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND THANK YOU.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT, IF HE DID
NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WAS GOING
ON, I TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD.
BUT WHOEVER AUTHORIZED THIS IN
HIS OFFICE SHOULD PAY THE
CONSEQUENCES FOR IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE STEINEKE, THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AMONG THE PROTESTORS THIS
WEEK THE VOICE OF A TEENAGER IS
BEING HEARD.
NOAH ANDERSON IS A RECENT
MADISON WEST HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATE.
ACTIVE IN ISSUES OF RACE AND
EQUALITY AFTER HIS FATHER MADE
NATIONAL HEADLINES.
MARION ANDERSON WAS A SECURITY
GUARD, NO TOLERANCE AND USED THE
N-WORD, HE TOLD KIDS TO STOP
USING IT AND HE REPEATED IT AND
WAS FIRED.
HE EVENTUALLY GOT HIS JOB BACK.
AND NOAH JOINS US FROM MADISON
WHERE WE TALKED WITH HIM
EARLIER.
NOAH, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO, AS A MEMBER OF THE BLACK
STUDENT UNION YOU HELPED
ORGANIZE A SCHOOL WALKOUT IN ARE
SUPPORT OF YOUR FATHER AND
AGAINST THE POLICY THAT DID NOT
ALLOW FOR THE NUANCE OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCE.
THAT WALKOUT PROTEST DREW SOME
1500 PARTICIPANTS.
HOW DID THAT EXPERIENCE HELP
SHAPE WHO YOU ARE TODAY?
>> YEAH, NO, YEAH, YOU WERE
ABOUT 1500 PEOPLE HAD WALKED
OUT.
MY EXPERIENCE IN THE SCHOOL WAS
PRETTY IFFY.
THAT REALLY SHOWED ME THAT, YOU
KNOW, I HAD PEOPLE THAT STAND IN
MY LINE, STANDING WITH ME IN
SOLIDARITY.
BUT IT WAS ABOUT, I BELIEVE,
80%, 85% OF THE SCHOOL THAT HAD
WALKED OUT THAT DAY.
REALLY WHAT THAT DAY AND WHAT
THAT EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME WAS
THIS IS MY CALLING IN LIFE, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS WHAT GOD SET ME ON
THE EARTH FOR BECAUSE OF HOW
EVERYTHING PLAYED OUT.
NO WAY IN THE WORLD WOULD THAT
HAVE, THAT CASE GET THE AMOUNT
OF ATTENTION THAT IT DID.
YOU KNOW, CHER REACTED TO IT,
THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND REACTED TO
IT, THE WHOLE WORLD REACTED TO
IT AND YOU SEE RIGHT NOW WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH BLACK LIVES
MATTER, IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE I
HAD AN EXTREME LIKE YOU KNOW,
NOT MARTIN LUTHER KING BUT I HAD
A DREAM, I'M A RELIGIOUS PERSON
AND GOD SHOWED ME THAT THIS IS
THE FINAL WALK TO THE PROMISED
LAND FOR MY PEOPLE.
SO THAT EXPERIENCE REALLY SHAPED
ME AND GOD WAS JUST SHOWING ME
THROUGH THAT LITTLE EXPERIENCE
THAT THIS IS, THIS IS THE
BEGINNING OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S
SOON TO COME.
MY DAD LOST HIS JOB AND THAT IS
SAD BUT WITHOUT HIM LOSING HIS
JOB IT WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT
LIGHT TO THE PROBLEM IN THE
SCHOOL.
SO, HIM LOSING HIS JOB, HE GOT
HIS JOB BACK WITH EXTRA
BENEFITS.
SO YOU KNOW, HE WAS TAKEN AWAY
FOR A LITTLE BIT BUT THEN IT WAS
GIVEN BACK TO HIM.
PRETTY MUCH A LOT LIKE THE STORY
OF JOB, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT.
IN THAT EXPERIENCE, GOD SHOWED
ME THIS IS MY CALLING AND IT'S
WHAT HE PUT ME ON THIS EARTH TO
DO.
SO -- YEAH, I MEAN, I'M REALLY
EXCITED FOR WHAT'S COMING UP
NEXT.
>> SO ALL OF THAT SAID, WHAT WAS
IT LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE THE DEATH
OF GEORGE FLOYD AND NOW TO SEE
THE GLOBAL PROTESTS OVER HIS
KILLING?
>> SO I ACTUALLY, I CHOSE NOT TO
WATCH THAT VIDEO.
I KNOW ABOUT IT, I KNOW ABOUT
EVERYTHING.
I COULDN'T SEE A MAN LOSE HIS
LIFE THROUGH A TEN-MINUTE VIDEO.
REALLY LIKE MY MIND, YOU KNOW,
LIBERATION OF MY PEOPLE, THAT'S
BEEN SET IN MY HEART FOR, SINCE
I WOULD SAY SOPHOMORE YEAR.
I WAS NOT ALWAYS, YOU KNOW,
CONSCIOUS IN MY BLACK HISTORY
AND CONSCIOUS OF WHO I WAS, BUT
ACTUALLY AHMAUD ARBERY STRUCK
ME, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM,
AHMAUD WAS KILLED BY CIVILIANS
AND GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED BY A
COP.
AND WE KNOW POLICE BRUTALITY HAS
BEEN GOING ON FAR BEFORE I WAS
BORN, FAR BEFORE ANY OF US WAS
BORN THAT'S LIVING TODAY, BUT
AHMAUD ARBERY WAS KILLED BY A
CIVILIAN, LATER FOUND OUT WAS AN
ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE K.K.K.
THAT IS WHAT REALLY SCARED ME.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, FOR THEM TO
GET AWAY WITH THAT FOR THREE
MONTHS UNTIL A VIDEO HAD CAME
OUT, THAT SCARED ME AND MADE ME
THINK HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT LOOK
LIKE ME ARE DYING AND I CAN'T
SEE IT.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T SEE JUST
BECAUSE THERE'S NO MEDIA
ATTENTION.
>> WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT THAT YOU
REALIZED THAT YOU COULD MAKE
CHANGE THROUGH ACTIVISM?
>> THE MOMENT I REALIZED I COULD
MAKE CHANGE THROUGH ACTIVISM WAS
DEFINITELY WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY
DAD.
AND NOT TO BE MISTAKEN, THAT WAS
NOT JUST ME, THAT WAS EVERYBODY,
YOU KNOW.
MY ENTIRE B.S.U. AND THE SCHOOL
COULD NOT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT
EVERYBODY BECAUSE CHANGE COMES
WITH NUMBERS.
BUT THAT WAS A TIME SHOWING ME
HOW MUCH CHANGE MADE, HOW MUCH
MEDIA ATTENTION IT GOT WITHIN,
LEGIT, A COUPLE OF DAYS.
THAT SHOWED ME THAT THIS COULD
ACTUALLY, WE COULD ACTUALLY
CHANGE, ESPECIALLY THAT IT WAS A
BIG CASE, YOU KNOW, MY FATHER
LOSING HIS JOB OVER SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
SAYING, BUT REALLY FOR IT TO GET
THAT MUCH ATTENTION SHOWED ME
THAT I COULD MAKE CHANGE, OR WE
CAN MAKE CHANGE THROUGH
ACTIVISM.
>> NOAH, WE LEAVE IT THERE.
WE WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR FUTURE
ENDEAVORS.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> OH, NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
HAVING ME.
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I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
??
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