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.