>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
THIS WEEK ON "HERE & NOW,"
A NEW CORONAVIRUS SURGE IN
WISCONSIN ON THE EVE OF THE
BUSIEST SUMMER HOLIDAY WEEKEND
OF THE YEAR.
WE TALK WITH STATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. RYAN
WESTERGAARD.
AND CONTINUING COVERAGE ON THE
ISSUE OF RACIAL JUSTICE.
THIS WEEK, ANGELA LANG FROM
BLACK LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR
COMMUNITIES.
PLUS, MADISON SCHOOL BOARD
PRESIDENT GLORIA REYES ON
PULLING POLICE OFFICERS FROM
HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JULY 3.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> AS WE LEAD INTO THE 4TH OF
JULY WEEKEND, DANE COUNTY AND
THE CITY OF MADISON TIGHTEN
RESTRICTIONS AGAIN AS THE NUMBER
OF CORONAVIRUS VIRUSES CASES
SOAR.
MUCH OF THE SPREAD HAS COME FROM
PUBLIC GATHERINGS, RESTAURANTS
AND BARS.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE WITH US
FOR A LONG TIME.
WE ARE ALL TIRED OF DEALING WITH
THIS VIRUS.
BUT JUST BECAUSE WE'RE TIRED OF
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ANY LESS
DANGEROUS OR CONTAGIOUS THAN IT
WAS IN MARCH.
>> AND THE AVERAGE AGE OF THOSE
WITH THE CORONAVIRUS IN DANE
COUNTY HAS DROPPED TO 23 YEARS
OLD WE CANNOT KEEP MOVING IN
THIS DIRECTION.
>> IT'S CLEAR THAT ALCOHOL AND
CORONAVIRUS DO NOT MIX.
>> IN THE CITY OF MADISON,
TESTING SHOWS MORE THAN HALF OF
THE NEW CASES ARE AMONG YOUNG
ADULTS AGE 18 TO 25.
54% OF THOSE NEW CASES WERE
DISCOVERED BECAUSE OF TESTING AT
THE ALLIANT ENERGY CENTER.
MADISON'S NEW COVID-19
RESTRICTIONS INCLUDE INDOOR
DINING FOR RESTAURANTS REDUCED
TO 25%.
BARS CAN PROVIDE TAKEOUT DINING
ONLY.
BARS AND RESTAURANTS CAN HAVE
OUT DOOR SEATING WITH SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
MADISON MAYOR SAYS THE NEW RULES
WILL BE ENFORCED.
ON THE SAME DAY DANE COUNTY
ENACTED STRICTER GUIDELINES, A
RACINE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ORDERED AN END TO SIMILAR RULES
IN RACINE.
JUDGE JON FREDRICKSON SIDED WITH
BUSINESSES THAT TOOK THE CITY TO
COURT, CALLING THE "FORWARD
RACINE" ORDINANCE, QUOTE, "VAGUE
AND UNENFORCEABLE."
THE CO-OWNERS OF HARBOR PARK
CROSS FIT FILED THE SUIT, SAYING
IT WOULD LEAD TO BUSINESS
CLOSINGS AND SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF
REVENUE.
>> DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD IS
HELPING LEAD WISCONSIN'S
RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC.
THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> SO WHAT IS THE SITUATION
REPORTED IN WISCONSIN NOW IN
TERMS OF SPIKES IN CASES?
>> WELL, LIKE MANY AREAS OF THE
COUNTRY, WE'RE SEEING A SURGE OR
AN INCREASE IN CASES STATEWIDE
COMPARED TO THIS TIME ABOUT TWO
WEEKS AGO.
OUR DAILY CASE COUNTS ARE ABOUT
TWICE WHAT THEY WERE, SO 500 TO
600 NEW CASES PER DAY DURING
THIS PAST WEEK.
>> HOW ALARMING IS THAT?
>> WELL, I THINK THE BIG PICTURE
IS QUITE ALARMING.
AS I'M SURE EVERYONE'S AWARE,
THERE ARE AREAS OF THE COUNTRY
THAT ARE SEEING LARGE, LARGE
SURGES.
THE SOUTHERN STATES, FLORIDA,
ARIZONA AND TEXAS ARE SEEING
PRETTY DRAMATIC INCREASES.
OUR CURRENT IS GOING IN THE SAME
BAD DIRECTION, AND IT SEEMS TO
BE DRIVEN BY SOME OF THE SAME
FACTORS, WHICH ARE AN INCREASE
IN CLOSE CONTACT AT SOCIAL
GATHERINGS, PARTICULARLY
INDOORS.
A LOT OF THE CLUSTERS THAT WE'RE
DETECTING ARE DRIVEN BY CLOSE
CONTACT IN SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND
RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND SO
FORTH.
>> HOW CONCERNING IS THAT,
CONSIDERING THAT UW-MADISON, FOR
EXAMPLE, IS POISED TO REOPEN IN
SOME FASHION TO IN-PERSON
LEARNING?
>> WELL, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE
LEARNED ABOUT WHAT THE EPIDEMIC
CAN DO, WHAT THE VIRUS CAN DO IN
A POPULATION, I WOULD SAY IT'S
VERY CONCERNING THAT WE ARE ON
CLEARLY THE WRONG TRACK.
IF THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO
SPREAD, IF THE LEVEL OF -- IF
THE LEVEL OF NEW CASES CONTINUES
AT THE PACE THAT IT'S ON AND
STARTS TO REFLECT SOME OF THE
OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT
ARE BURNING QUITE HOT IN TERMS
OF NEW CASES, IT'S GOING TO
TRANSLATE TO A LOT OF CASES AND
A LOT OF BURDEN ON OUR
HOSPITALS.
I THINK THE GOOD NEWS OR THE
REASON FOR OPTIMISM IS THAT THE
OTHER THINGS WE'VE LEARNED IS
THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY
SHORT-LIVED INFECTION.
WHEN PEOPLE BECOME INFECTED,
THEY DON'T STAY INFECTED FOR A
LONG TIME, WITHIN A COUPLE
WEEKS.
SO WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO
SHUT DOWN THESE TRANSMISSION
CHAINS, AND EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT
THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO.
SO PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND
WEARING MASKS IN PUBLIC, IF WE
DID THIS AT A HIGH LEVEL, WE
COULD TURN THE CORNER ON THIS
RELATIVELY QUICKLY.
>> PEOPLE MIGHT WONDER WHY
WISCONSIN DOES NOT IMPOSE
MANDATE FOR PEOPLE TO WEAR
MASKS, AS OTHER STATES HAVE
DONE.
>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION.
THE EVIDENCE HAS BECOME QUITE
STRONG -- AND THIS IS A CHANGE
FROM JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO,
WHERE WE WERE DASHED WITH A LOT
OF CONFIDENCE THAT MASKS
PREVENTS TRANSMISSION IN HEALTH
CARE SETTINGS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW MASK WEARING BY
THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD REALLY
HAVE AN IMPACT ON TRANSMISSION
IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE NOW KNOW THAT IT DOES.
RECENT STUDIES WITH LARGE
NUMBERS OF PATIENTS IN A LARGE
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES HAVE GIVEN
US CERTAINTY THAT WEARING MASKS
PREVENT PEOPLE FROM BECOMING
INFECTED AND SPREADING THE
INFECTION TO OTHER PEOPLE.
MY PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE IS IT'S
NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT RULES AND
LAWS ARE THE BEST WAYS TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS.
AS WE'VE SEEN, THERE'S A LOT OF
POLARIZATION ABOUT OPINIONS
RELATING TO MASK-WEARING, SO MY
VIEW AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT,
WHO CARES ABOUT IMPROVING HEALTH
BEHAVIOR FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND
NOT IN THE ARENA OF GOVERNMENT
AND LAWS, WE NEED TO EDUCATE
PEOPLE THAT THE SCIENCE IS IN
THAT MASKS ARE ONE OF THE MOST
EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF TRANSMISSION.
PEOPLE SHOULD WEAR A MASK NOT
BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET A
TICKET OR ARRESTED IF THEY
DON'T, BUT BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO TO
STAY SAFE AND KEEP OUR FAMILIES
SAFE.
>> IT SEEMS FROM EVERYONE NOW
FROM PUBLIC HEALTH ON UP, EVEN
TO NATIONAL POLITICAL FIGURES
AND OFFICIALS, ARE SAYING TO
WEAR A MASK, AND YET IT IS SO
COMMON STILL TO PEOPLE NOT
WEARING MASKS WHEN THEY'RE OUT
AND ABOUT.
I MEAN, AS THE PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICIAL IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE
GOING UP TO THOSE PEOPLE AND
WAGGING YOUR FINGER AT THEM AND
TELLING THEM HOW IMPORTANT THAT
IS?
>> NO.
I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY THE WRONG
APPROACH.
I THINK THE APPROACH IS TO
EDUCATE AND EMPOWER.
WE HAVE SCIENCE ON OUR SIDE.
WE HAVE HARD EVIDENCE THAT THE
RISK OF TRANSMISSION GOES DOWN
DRAMATICALLY WHEN PEOPLE WEAR
MASKS.
I'M OPTIMISTIC.
I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF TIME
WHERE THAT KNOWLEDGE WILL BE
SEEN AS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH AND
A POSITIVE OF THING.
I THINK PEOPLE WAGGING THEIR
FINGERS AT EACH OTHER IS
ENTIRELY THE WRONG APPROACH.
BUT THE FACT WE HAVE SCIENCE ON
OUR SIDE GIVES ME HOPE, AND I
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SHARE THAT
SAME VIEW WHEN YOU'RE
COMMUNICATING WITH COLLEAGUES
AND FRIEND AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
IT'S NOT RIGHT OR WRONG.
IT'S OBJECTIVELY AN EFFECTIVE
WAY TO KEEP OURSELVES SAFE.
>> WE TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE
BIT, BUT AS BUSINESSES AND
SCHOOLS REOPEN OR PREPARE TO
REOPEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
TREPIDATION ABOUT THAT.
SHOULD THEY?
>> YEAH.
I THINK THERE'S, AGAIN, A LOT OF
THINGS WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT HOW
TO DO OUR ACTIVITIES SAFELY.
AND SENDING KIDS TO SCHOOL IS AN
ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY, JUST AS WE
TALKED ABOUT GOING TO GET FOOD
AND GROCERIES IS AN ESSENTIAL
ACTIVITY.
IF SCHOOLS INVOLVE A LOT OF
CHILDREN IN CLOSE CONTACT, IT'S
A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO DO
THIS SAFELY.
BUT, AGAIN, THE SCIENCE THAT
WE'RE SEEING ABOUT THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF MASK-WEARING
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
DISTANCING, TWO METERS, ONE
METER, EVEN THREE TO SIX FEET
SEEMS TO CUT DOWN TRANSMISSION
QUITE A BIT.
SO WE'RE BENEFITING FROM HAVING
SOME TIME, A LOT OF SCIENCE
BEING GENERATED ON HOW TO DO
THESE ESSENTIAL THINGS SAFELY.
FRANKLY, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO
SCHOOLS AND GATHERINGS SAFELY IN
THE FALL.
WE JUST HAVE TO ADHERE TO THESE
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES THAT
WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT.
>> WE'RE COMING INTO A BUSY
HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO PEOPLE
IN WISCONSIN?
>> THE MESSAGE IS TO STAY SAFE.
KEEP YOURSELF SAFE AND OTHERS IN
YOUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
AND, AS WE'VE SAID, THERE'S
SIMPLE, EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES THAT
PEOPLE CAN DO TO STAY SAFE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO GET TOGETHER,
OUTSIDE IS BETTER THAN INSIDE.
IN ALL SETTINGS, PHYSICAL
DISTANCE OF AT LEAST SIX FEET IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AND WE CAN WEAR MASKS.
THEY'RE SIMPLE TO TAKE ON AND
OFF.
YOU CAN BREATHE JUST FINE WITH
THEM.
THE CLOSER WE CAN GET TO
MASK-WEARING BEING THE NEW
NORMAL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A
LOT OF BENEFICIAL EFFECT IN THE
FALL WHEN VIRUSES START
SPREADING MORE QUICKLY.
>> DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD, THANK
YOU FOR CHECKING IN WITH US.
NICE TALKING TO YOU.
>> REPUBLICAN RULES TO RESTRICT
VOTING IN WISCONSIN CAN STAND.
THAT'S THE RULING THIS WEEK FROM
A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT.
THE THREE-JUDGE PANEL, ALL
REPUBLICAN APPOINTEES, RULED
THAT EARLY VOTING CAN ONLY
HAPPEN 12 DAYS PRIOR TO AN
ELECTION AND NOT ON WEEKENDS.
PEOPLE MUST LIVE IN A DISTRICT
28 DAYS BEFORE THEY CAN VOTE,
AND E-MAILING OR FAXING ABSENTEE
BALLOTS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THE STATE'S PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT
WASN'T IN QUESTION, ALTHOUGH THE
PANEL DID FIND THAT EXPIRED
STUDENT IDS ARE OKAY AND ALLOWS
PEOPLE TO VOTE WITHOUT AN ID
IF THEY SHOW AN AFFIDAVIT SAYING
THEY TRIED TO OBTAIN ONE.
REPUBLICANS CALLED THE DECISION
A "WIN FOR FAIR ELECTIONS."
DEMOCRATS CALLED IT AN "ASSAULT
ON DEMOCRACY."
>> IN A SIGN OF AN IDEA WHOSE
TIME HAS CALL THIS WEEK, THERE
ARE CALLS TO HONOR ONE OF
WISCONSIN'S BEST-KNOWN CIVIL
RIGHTS PIONEERS, JUST WEEKS
AFTER PROTESTERS TOPPLED A
REPLICA OF THE "FORWARD" STATUTE
AND ANOTHER OF HANS CHRISTIAN
HEG, A NORWEGIAN IMMIGRANT FROM
WISCONSIN WHO DIED FIGHTING FOR
THE UNION ARMY IN THE CIVIL WAR.
THE PROPOSED STATUTE WOULD HONOR
VEL PHILLIPS.
SHE DIED TWO YEARS AGO AT THE
AGE OF 94 AFTER BREAKING RACE
BARRIERS HER ENTIRE LIFE.
PHILLIPS WAS THE FIRST BLACK
WOMAN ELECTED AS WISCONSIN'S
SECRETARY OF STATE, THE FIRST IN
THE NATION ELECTED TO STATEWIDE
OFFICE, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO
GRADUATE FROM THE UW LAW SCHOOL
AND THE FIRST BLACK PERSON
ELECTED TO MILWAUKEE'S CITY
COUNCIL AND TO BE A WISCONSIN
JUDGE.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VEL PHILLIPS
GO TO PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND WATCH
"VEL PHILLIPS: DREAM BIG
DREAMS."
>> THIS WEEK THE MADISON SCHOOL
BOARD VOTED TO REMOVE POLICE
OFFICERS FROM ITS SCHOOLS.
IT'S ONE OF THE DEMANDS OF
PROTESTERS, WHO SAY
AFRICAN-AMERICANS CAN FEEL
THREATENED BY THEIR PRESENCE.
EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH
SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT GLORIA
REYES, WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A
FORMER POLICE OFFICER.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHY DID YOU VOTE IN FAVOR
OF REMOVING POLICE RESOURCE
OFFICERS FROM MADISON'S HIGH
SCHOOLS?
>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS A REALLY
DIFFICULT DECISION.
YOU KNOW, AFTER GEORGE FLOYD'S
MURDER BY A POLICE OFFICER, IT
REALLY CHANGED THE ENVIRONMENT
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND HERE
LOCALLY.
I LEARNED EARLY ON SHORTLY
THEREAFTER THAT I LOST THE
MAJORITY OF BOARD MEMBERS'
SUPPORT TO KEEP SROs IN OUR
SCHOOLS.
AND I HAD TO SET MY PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR
POLICE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS AND
LISTEN TO MY COLLEAGUES AND THE
MANY VOICES IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO
WERE ADVOCATING TO REMOVE OUR
OFFICERS FROM OUR SCHOOLS.
WHILE I KNOW THAT OUR MADISON
POLICE DEPARTMENT, SROs
PARTICULARLY, HAVE PROVIDED OUR
SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS MANY
BENEFITS THAT HAVE BUILT TRUST
AND RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR
MADISON POLICE OFFICER OFFICERS
SERVE OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY
WITH INTEGRITY AND COMPASSION, I
KNOW THAT, BECAUSE I SERVED AND
WORKED ALONGSIDE MANY OF THEM.
I ALSO FELT THAT THE COMBINATION
OF THE RACIALLY-MOTIVATED
INCIDENTS IN OUR COUNTRY HAS
SERVED REALLY TO INCREASE THE
EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
IMPACT OF HAVING SROs --
HAVING SROs IN OUR SCHOOLS AND
HAD -- AND THE IMPACT THAT IT
HAD ON OUR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY
OUR STUDENTS OF COLOR.
SO AS A RESULT I FELT WE OWED IT
TO THEM TO PURSUE A VIABLE
ALTERNATIVE TO SROs.
WE HAVE UTILIZED POLICE OFFICERS
WHO RESPOND TO EVERY SOCIETAL
CHALLENGE, AND WE NEED TO STOP
PLACING OUR OFFICERS IN THOSE
POSITIONS, INVEST IN RESOURCES
THAT GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF
VIOLENCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY
CHALLENGES INSTEAD OF RELYING ON
OUR OFFICERS AND PLACE THEM IN
THESE POSITIONS TO SOLVE A LOT
OF OUR COMPLEX SOCIETAL
CHALLENGES.
SO CONSIDERING THE INCIDENTS OF
RACIAL INJUSTICE OUR NATION HAS
EXPERIENCED AND AS MMSD
CONTINUED PLANNING FOR THE
REOPENING OF SCHOOLS FOR THIS
FALL, I FELT THAT THE TIMING WAS
RIGHT.
IT GIVES US SOME TIME FOR THE
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO
INCORPORATE A STRATEGY OF
OPTIONS TO REMOVE SROs FROM
OUR SCHOOL.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY
COMPLEX TIMES, AS YOU KNOW.
AND HAVING LASTING AND PAINFUL
MEMORIES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND
STAFF AND FELT IT WAS TIME TO
PRESS HARDER TO DISMANTLE THE
SYSTEMS THAT PERPETUATE RACISM
AND CREATE NEW STRUCTURES, AVOID
HARMFUL INEQUITIES AND WITH THE
WELL-BEING OF EVERY STUDENT AT
THE CENTER.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THAT, RIGHT, NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION, BUT
ALSO WITHIN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
>> I KNOW THAT YOU WERE JUST
SAYING THAT THE STUDENT RESOURCE
OFFICERS PROVIDE A LOT OF
DIFFERENT SERVICES OTHER THAN
JUST BEING KIND OF PEACEKEEPERS
OR, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH
ISSUES WITHIN A SCHOOL.
IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING,
OKAY, IF YOU REMOVE THESE
OFFICERS FROM THE SCHOOLS, THEN
YOU REALLY NEED TO BACKFILL WITH
THINGS LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS AND
PSYCHOLOGISTS, COUNSELORS AND
NURSES.
IS THAT IN THE PLANNING IN TERMS
OF TRYING TO REPLACE ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT THESE OFFICERS
PROVIDED IN THE SCHOOLS?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, THAT HAS TO BE PART OF
THE PLAN.
WE HAD -- WE HAD RELIED ON
OFFICERS TO BE SOCIAL WORKERS,
MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS, WHEN THEY
CAN'T DO THAT.
WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR BUDGET
AROUND SOCIAL SERVICE
OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES TO
OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE
TO INVEST OUR FUND IN A
DIFFERENT WAY TO PROVIDE THOSE
MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL,
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR
OUR STUDENTS.
>> AND SO ARE THERE THOSE FUND
WITHIN THE DISTRICT TO DO THAT?
>> WE WILL -- CURRENTLY, RIGHT
NOW, WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
STATE BUDGET, AND SO WE DON'T
HAVE ANYTHING SET IN PLACE RIGHT
NOW.
BUT THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR
PRIORITY.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT OUR
MADISON TEACHERS UNION DID COME
OUT AND HAD SUPPORTED REMOVING
SROs OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS IF WE
WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH AN
ADDITIONAL 33 STAFF PEOPLE.
AND I CAN'T SAY EITHER WAY RIGHT
NOW.
HOWEVER, WE'RE CONSIDERING A
VARIETY OF DIFFERENT APPROACHES.
WE ARE, LIKE I SAID, CURRENTLY
WAITING FOR THE BUDGET REPAIR
BILL FROM THE STATE, AND IT'S
UNLIKELY, THOUGH, THAT WE WILL
BE ABLE TO HIRE ANYWHERE NEAR
THAT AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL STAFF
IN TIME.
BUT WE ANTICIPATE -- BECAUSE WE
ANTICIPATE SOME BUDGET
REDUCTIONS.
HOWEVER, I THINK WE HAVE TO
FIGURE OUT AND BE INNOVATIVE AND
DIVERT CURRENT RESOURCES TO
THESE SUPPORT SERVICES.
>> YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE
SAID THAT IN FACT
NOTWITHSTANDING EVERYTHING WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THESE
OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS HAD BEEN
ABLE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND
PROVIDE AS ROLE MODELS TO SOME
STUDENTS.
WHAT ABOUT THE LOSS OF THAT?
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG LOSS.
IT IS.
I THINK THEY HAVE -- THEY WERE
ONE COMPONENT OF OUR SAFETY AND
SECURITY PLAN.
THEY WERE ABLE TO BUILD
RELATIONSHIPS, AS YOU SAID,
DEESCALATE SITUATIONS, OFFER
FAMILY AND TRAINING SUPPORT.
AND SO THEY HAVE PROVIDED GREAT
SERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS AT OUR
COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND I THINK WE'RE JUST GOING TO
HAVE TO REIMAGINE WHAT OUR
PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS LIKE RIGHT
NOW.
WE HAVE TO PUT OUR STUDENTS,
PARTICULARLY OUR STUDENTS OF
COLOR, AT THE CENTER AND TO BE
ABLE TO LEAD US TO A SOLUTION.
LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A -- HAS
BEEN PLACED IN POSITIONS THAT
HAS CAUSED HARM
DISPROPORTIONATELY FOR OUR
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WE HAVE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT ON RE-INVENTING
WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS LIKE IN
OUR SCHOOLS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GLORIA REYES, WE NEED TO LEAVE
IT THERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON
THIS.
>> SURE.
THANK YOU.
>> THIS WEEK A DOZEN YOUNG
WISCONSINITES ARE MARCHING FROM
MILWAUKEE TO MADISON, CALLING
FOR POLICE REFORM FROM GOVERNOR
EVERS AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
THEY WANT TO BAN THE USE OF TEAR
GAS AND RUBBER BULLETS.
THEY ARE CALLING FOR SPECIAL
SESSIONS TO TACKLE POLICING AND
GUN REFORM.
>> WE DEMAND PUBLIC OFFICIALS
PROTECT BLACK COMMUNITIES, BLACK
WOMEN AND BLACK QUEER PEOPLE AND
COMMIT TO BEING ANTIRACIST AND
REFLECTING THAT IN THEIR
POLICIES.
>> THE SAME GROUP TWO YEARS AGO
MARCHED FROM MADISON TO
JANESVILLE TO CALL FOR GUN
REFORM IN THEN-HOUSE SPEAKER
PAUL RYAN'S HOMETOWN.
THE GROUP WILL FINISH THEIR
MARCH ON THE STATE CAPITOL ON
JULY 4.
>> IT WILL TAKE ALL HANDS ON
DECK TO HEAL OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S IN THE AGENDA OF BLACK
LEADERS ORGANIZING FOR COMMUNITY
BASED IN MILWAUKEE.
JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO WE SAT
DOWN WITH BLOC'S EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR ANGELA LANG, IN THE
DIRECT AFTERMATH OF THE KILLING
OF GEORGE FLOYD.
ANGELA LANG JOINS US TONIGHT
WITH HER THOUGHTS ON WHERE WE'VE
COME.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOUR WEEKS AGO YOU SAID THAT
IN PRIOR CASES OF POLICE
BRUTALITY OF BLACK PEOPLE THERE
ARE THESE OUTCRIES AND A COUPLE
OF MONTHS LATER IT SEEMS TO GO
BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.
ARE WE NOW SLIPPING BACK INTO
BUSINESS AS USUAL, OR IS THIS
OUTCRY ENDURING?
>> I THINK IT'S ENDURING.
I'M ACTUALLY REALLY HOPEFUL AND
EXCITED TO SEE PROTESTS AND
PEOPLE BE IN IT FOR THE LONG
TERM.
WE ARE LIVING IN THIS MOMENT
THAT FEELS DIFFERENT FROM
ANYTHING ELSE WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.
THERE'S A NARRATIVE SHIFT THAT'S
HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
WE'RE ABLE TO SEE REAL CHANGES
AND CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING IN
WAYS THAT HAVE NEVER HAPPENED
BEFORE.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE
PROTESTERS TO BE ABLE TO
CONTINUE WITH THE PRESSURE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS
ANYMORE, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY
BEEN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEK.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE IN IT FOR THE
LONG HAUL.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
BE OUTRAGED.
I WAS JUST MADE AWARE EARLIER
THIS WEEK ABOUT THE SHOOTING IN
THE SHEBOYGAN AREA, THE
OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING,
LOOKING TO LEARN MORE DETAILS
AROUND THAT.
IT JUST IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT
THESE INCIDENTS AND THESE
MURDERS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AND
THIS BRUTALITY CONTINUES TO
HAPPEN.
AND AS LONG AS THAT CONTINUES, I
THINK THE PROTESTERS AND ALL OF
US ORGANIZERS AND ACTIVISTS ARE
REALLY IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL
TO MAKE THAT SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE
THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
>> IN TERMS OF WORKING TOWARD
CONCRETE REFORMS, HOW WOULD YOU
REGARD PROGRESS ON THAT SO FAR,
CONCRETE REFORMS?
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE'RE SEEING SOME MORE
IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE
THE COMMON COUNCIL IS EVALUATING
AT LEAST A 10% DECREASE IN THE
POLICE BUDGET FOR THE FALL.
WE ARE IN THE VERY, VERY
BEGINNING STAGES OF THE CITY
BUDGET HERE IN MILWAUKEE.
AND THE FACT THAT THE COMMON
COUNCIL IS EVALUATING RIGHT NOW
A 10% DECREASE AND KNOWING THAT
THOSE NUMBERS COULD FLUCTUATE,
THEY COULD GO UP, BUT THEY SET
THE STANDARD THAT THEY'RE
LOOKING TO REDUCE THE POLICE
BUDGET BY AT LEAST 10%.
THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS.
IT REALLY FEELS LIKE A PERFECT
STORM AND REALLY THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CONCRETE
CHANGES.
I THINK BEING ABLE TO CHANGE
WHAT IS HAPPENING INTERNALLY
WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS A
VERY IMMEDIATE THING.
BUT WE REALLY ALSO SHOULD BE
THINKING LONG-TERM STRATEGIES.
HOW ARE WE DEFINING SAFETY AS A
COMMUNITY?
HOW ARE WE KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE?
AND WHAT ARE BIGGER REFORMS THAT
WE ARE LOOKING AT, WHETHER IT'S
TARGETING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
BUDGET BUT ALSO ON THE OTHER
HAND MAKING SURE WE'RE INVESTING
THOSE RESOURCES INTO MENTAL
HEALTH, YOUTH PROGRAMS,
TRANSPORTATION SO PEOPLE CAN
HAVE ACCESS TO LIVING WAGE JOBS.
I THINK THOSE ARE BROADER
CONVERSATIONS.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE THE
INITIAL CONVERSATIONS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I
THINK PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING
THAT'S LONG LASTING.
IT'S GOING TO BE OVER SEVERAL
YEARS.
>> YEAH.
AT THE STATE LEVEL THERE SEEMS
TO HAVE BEEN SO FAR VERY LITTLE
TRACTION ON AGREEMENT OVER
REFORMS IN THIS REGARD.
HOW IMPATIENT ARE PEOPLE FOR
CHANGE?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK PEOPLE ARE
INCREDIBLY IMPATIENT AND THAT'S
WHY WE'RE IN THE MOMENT WE ARE
NOW.
WHEN YOU REALLY HAVE TO JUSTIFY
YOUR EXISTENCE AS A BLACK
PERSON, PEOPLE ARE FED UP AND
PEOPLE ARE INPATIENT.
AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOOKING
FOR THAT TANGIBLE SOLUTIONS AND
RESULTS AND LEADERSHIP.
PEOPLE ARE MAKING THEIR VOICES
HEARD, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY
IF OUR LEADERSHIP AND
LEGISLATURE, IF THEY'RE NOT
WILLING TO ACT, THEN I IMAGINE
THESE PROTESTS ARE GOING TO
HAPPEN UNTIL THERE'S REAL
CHANGE.
>> YOUR ORGANIZATION IS IN THE
MIDST OF MOBILIZING THE VOTE.
HOW HAVE THE PANDEMIC AND
RESPONSE AND REACTION TO
SYSTEMATIC RACISM AFFECTED THAT
WORK?
>> YEAH.
IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN AN
INTERESTING YEAR FOR US.
WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO BE A
LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE
BECAUSE THIS IS OUR FIRST
PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE AS AN
ORGANIZATION.
SO THIS IS NEW FOR US.
BUT WE WERE READY FOR THE
CHALLENGE.
BUT LATER WITH THE COVID, WE'VE
HAD TO MOVE EXCLUSIVELY TO
DIGITAL.
WE ARE TEXTING AND PHONE
BANKING, RAMPING UP OUR SOCIAL
MEDIA PRESENCE.
WE'RE DOING VIRTUAL TOWN HALLS
WITH CANDIDATES THAT ARE ON THE
BALLOT FOR AUGUST.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING TO HAVE A
FELLOWSHIP ON JULY 14 AROUND
VOTER REGISTRATION AND HOW TO
REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT.
WE'RE STILL LOOKING TO EXPAND
OUR TEAM, SO WE'RE HOLDING
INTERVIEWS THIS WEEK TO HIRE
MORE AMBASSADORS.
EVEN KNOW WE'RE NOT ABLE TO BE
ON DOORS, WE'RE HOPEFUL WE'RE
ABLE TO DO THAT LATER ON.
WE'RE USING THIS OPPORTUNITY AS
A LEARNING AND EDUCATIONAL
MOMENT.
HOW ARE WE ACTUALLY BEING ABLE
TO CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN
HISTORY AND HOW WE'VE GOTTEN
HERE IN THIS MOMENT.
SO OUR TEAM, THEY GET HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENTS, THEY'RE LOOKING UP
THINGS LIKE BLACK WALL STREET,
GERRYMANDERING AND VOTER
SUPPRESSION EFFORTS IN THE
'60s.
SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO PAINT
THIS FULL PICTURE WITH OUR TEAM
ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.
WHEN I SEE THE PROTESTERS, I
FEEL THAT IT'S MIRRORING THE
CIVIL RIGHTS ERA AND IT'S THE
CLOSEST THING I HAVE SEEN TO ANY
COMPARISON TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS
ERA.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO REPEAT
HISTORY.
SO WE'RE USING THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT THE DOTS
OF HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHY IT'S
SO IMPORTANT TO MAKE OUR VOICES
HEARD IN NOVEMBER, TOO.
>> GREAT.
ANGELA LANG, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME ONCE AGAIN.
>> THANKS.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE
& NOW."
STAY WELL, WISCONSIN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
? ?
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.