>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> A BUSY WEEK AT THE STATE
CAPITOL AS LAWMAKERS DEBATE
BILLS RANGING FROM POLICE REFORM
TO VOTING RIGHTS.
>> AND THE FDA GREEN LIGHTS
COVID-19 VACCINES FOR CHILDREN
NINE AND OLDER AND OFFER SHOTS
TO FAMILIES WITHIN THAT AGE
GROUP.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A UW
PEDIATRICIAN SPEAKS TO THE
SAFETY OF CHILD VACCINATIONS.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE
LAC DU FLAMBEAU BAND DELIVERS
THE TRIBE'S ADDRESS.
LAUREL WHITE SPEAKS TO A BUSY
WEEK AT THE STATE CAPITOL.
AND MURV SEYMOUR TELLS THE STORY
OF A MILWAUKEE FAMILY'S
EXPERIENCE WITH COVID-19.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 14.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE PFIZER VACCINE IS 100%
EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING
INFECTION IN CHILDREN AGES 12 TO
15.
AND THAT IS VERY, VERY GOOD
NEWS, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE
SEEN AN INCREASE IN CASES AMONG
CHILDREN RECENTLY.
VACCINATING CHILDREN IN THIS AGE
GROUP WILL PREVENT INDIVIDUAL
ILLNESS AND HELP STOP THE SPREAD
AMONG OUR CHILDREN AND IN OUR
COMMUNITIES.
>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH SERVICES SAYS THERE ARE
SOME 300,000 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLDS
IN WISCONSIN NOW ELIGIBLE TO GET
A VACCINE.
A MONTH AGO ON THIS PROGRAM OUR
NEXT GUEST TOLD IT IT WAS VITAL
THAT CHILDREN GET COVID-19
VACCINATIONS AS SOON AS THEY ARE
CLEARED TO DO SO.
THEY ARE NOW CLEARED AND SHOTS
ARE ALREADY GOING IN THEIR ARMS.
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE
SPECIALIST AT UW, DR. JIM
CONWAY, IS HERE AND THANKS A LOT
FOR BEING HERE.
>> NICE TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
>> SO WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO
THE ABILITY OF THE 12 TO
15-YEAR-OLDS NOW BEING ABLE TO
GET VACCINATED?
>> I'M NOT SURPRISED BUT REALLY
QUIT THRILLED THAT WE'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO MOVE IN THIS
DIRECTION.
SINCE WE'VE TALKED LAST, THE
PROPORTION OF CASES RELATED TO
CHILDREN HAS INCREASED TO THE
POINT WHERE ALMOST ABOUT A
QUARTER OF THE POSITIVE TESTS IN
THE UNITED STATES ARE IN
CHILDREN.
WE RECOGNIZE AS WE'VE IMMUNIZED
BROADLY IN THE OLDER
INDIVIDUALS, WE'VE GOT THIS
SUSCEPTIBLE GROUP OF CHILDREN
THAT ARE REALLY VULNERABLE.
WHILE THEY GENERALLY DO WELL
WITH THE DISEASE, WE FEEL
STRONGLY THAT EVERY KID NEEDS
AND DESERVES TO BE PROTECTED
AGAINST THIS.
>> AS A PEDIATRICIAN, WHAT ARE
YOU TELLING FAMILIES AND THEIR
CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOULD
EXPECT IN TERMS OF SIDE-EFFECTS?
>> IT'S SIMILAR TO OTHER YOUNG
ADULTS.
FIRST DOSE MOST PEOPLE TOLERATE
FAIRLY WELL.
IT'S THAT SECOND DOSE WHEN YOUR
IMMUNE SYSTEM IS READY AND
PRIMED WHERE YOU GET MORE OF AN
IMMUNO LOGIC RESPONSE.
THE REACTIONS DO SEEM TO BE MORE
SIGNIFICANT IF PEOPLE HAVE
PREVIOUSLY HAD COVID.
KNOWING IF AND WHEN YOU THINK
YOU HAD COVID GIVES YOU A REASON
TO PAUSE AND TALK TO YOUR
PROVIDER BECAUSE WE'RE
RECOMMENDING SOME PEOPLE WAIT A
LITTLE BIT LONGER AFTER THEY'VE
RECOVERED TO MAKE SURE THEIR
IMMUNE SYSTEM HAS SETTLED DOWN.
>> OTHER THAN THAT, WHAT ARE YOU
TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT WHETHER OR
NOT IT'S WORTH THIS AGE GROUP TO
GET VACCINATED?
>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
EVERYBODY DESERVES THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROTECTED.
WHILE KIDS DO WELL, WE'VE HAD
13,000, 14,000 KIDS ADMITTED TO
HOSPITALS, ALMOST 300 DEATHS.
THIS IS LIKE THE WORST FLU
SEASON YOU'D SEE IN KIDS.
KIDS HAVE NOT COME THROUGH THIS
UNSCATHED, SO IT'S REALLY
WORTHWHILE TO BE PROTECTED.
ALSO FROM A MENTAL HEALTH
STANDPOINT.
FOR THOSE OF US VACCINATED, THE
SENSE OF RELIEF THAT YOU CAN
START TO FEEL MORE NORMAL IS
REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND KIDS HAVE REALLY BORNE THE
BRUNT OF A LOT OF THIS.
THEY AREN'T MEANT TO BE SITTING
IN FRONT OF SCREENS.
THEY NEED TO BE TOGETHER, BE
ABLE TO PLAY SPORTS,
INTRAMURALS, EXTRA CURRICULARS.
THIS IS WHAT GETS THEM BACK.
>> THE IMPORTANT BOTTOM LINE
QUESTION IS HOW SAFE IS IT FOR
CHILDREN TO GET THIS
VACCINATION?
>> YEAH.
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE
IS THE REASON IT TOOK A WHILE IS
BECAUSE IT REALLY DID NEED TO BE
STUDIED IN A SYSTEMIC WAY.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE
WORKED IN ADULTS FIRST AND THEN
GRADUALLY WORK OUR WAY INTO
THESE YOUNGER AGE GROUPS.
IT'S STILL GOING TO BE SOME
MONTHS UNTIL WE SEE DATA FROM
THE SIX TO 11-YEAR-OLDs.
AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO PROTECT
THE POPULATION, WE NEED TO BE
PATIENT AND LET SCIENCE WORK ITS
MAGIC.
>> HOW DO YOU EXPECT GETTING
YOUNGER AGES VACCINATED WILL
HELP GOING INTO BUSY, KIND OF
SUMMER ACTIVITIES?
>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO ALLOW
THEM TO FUNCTION MUCH MORE
NORMALLY THAN WE HAD HOPED THEY
WOULD BE ABLE TO.
THIS IS PART OF THE SEASON
YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF
DISCUSSION ABOUT CHANGING HOW
MASKING AND SOCIALIZING WORKS
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
VACCINATED.
THIS GIVES THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE
A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THOSE THINGS IN A LOT MORE
NORMAL MANNER.
LOOKING AT THE FALL AND WHAT
POTENTIALLY COULD BE FURTHER
REEE AMERICA JEBS OFEMERGENCE OF THE DISEASE, THIS
IS TO REMOVE THESE POCKETS OF
SUSCEPTIBLES THAT ARE GOING TO
DRIVE TRANSMISSION.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CDC
GUIDANCE THAT VACCINATED PEOPLE
CAN NOW GO WITHOUT A MASK
INDOORS EVEN?
>> IT MAKES SENSE FROM A
SCIENTIFIC STANDPOINT.
WE KNOW THAT THESE VACCINES ARE
PERFORMING BETTER THAN WE
THOUGHT THEY WOULD.
THE BREAKTHROUGH RATE OF PEOPLE
DEVELOPING INFECTIONS IS LESS
THAN 1%.
IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
THE WHOLE IDEA OF MASKING WAS TO
PROTECT PEOPLE THAT WERE AROUND
INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ILL.
I THINK THAT IT'S GOTTEN LOST IN
ALL THE DISCOURSE THAT THE MASK
ITSELF DOESN'T PROTECT THE
WEARER ALL THAT MUCH.
IT PROTECTS OTHERS FROM INFECTED
INDIVIDUALS AND DIMINISHING THE
AEROSOL THEY CAN GENERATE.
ONCE IMMUNIZED, A MASK ISN'T
THAT NECESSARILY.
THE OPTICS OF IT IS IS HARD
BECASE WE'VE DIVIDED VACCINE
PASSPORTS ARE NOT SOMETHING
WE'RE EMBRACING.
BUT FROM A SCIENTIFIC
STANDPOINT, IT ACTUALLY DOES
MAKE SENSE TO DROP MASKS FOR
THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED.
>> WISCONSIN HAS A 39% RATE OF
FULL VACCINATION.
HOW ENCOURAGED OR DISCOURAGED
ARE YOU BY THAT NUMBER?
>> I THINK WE'RE MAKING GOOD
PROGRESS.
I THINK WE WOULD LIKE IT TO GO
FASTER.
BUT I THINK ALSO WE'VE REALIZED
THAT PEOPLE DO WANT TO DO THIS
IN A MORE CONVENIENT WAY IN MANY
PLACES.
SO YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE
DECENTRALIZATION OF THESE
VACCINE CENTERS, MOBILE
VACCINATION TEAMS AND MOVING IT
INTO PRIMARY PROVIDER OFFICES.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO TALK
WITH THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER
AND DO IT IN THOSE SETTINGS.
THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE'RE GOING
TO BE MOVING NOW.
>> DR. JIM CONWAY, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.
>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND
GUARDIANS OF 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLDS
TO SCHEDULE A VACCINATION
THROUGH THEIR HEALTH CARE
PROVIDER, LOCAL AND TRIBAL
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OR AT
PHARMACIES.
YOU CAN GO TO VACCINES..GOV TO
LOCATE A SITE OR CALL THE
VACCINE HOTLINE AT
1-844-684-1064.
AT THE STATE CAPITOL IT'S BEEN A
BUSY WEEK.
THE REPUBLICAN-HELD LEGISLATURE
PASSED A SLATE OF BILLS DEALING
WITH ELECTION LAWS AND MEASURES
AROUND POLICING.
AND THIS AFTERNOON THE STATE
SUPREME COURT WEIGHED IN ON
REDISTRICTING.
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO CAPITOL
REPORTER LAUREL WHITE TAKES US
THROUGH IT NOW.
VERY NICE TO SEE YOU.
>> GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> SO TODAY'S MUCH-ANTICIPATED
ORDER FROM THE HIGH COURT
REPRESENTS A DEFEAT FOR
REPUBLICANS IN THE DRAWING OF
POLITICAL MAPS.
WHY?
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> BASICALLY WHAT REPUBLICANS
WERE ASKING FOR HERE -- AND THIS
IS A FORMER REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
SPEAKER AND THE WISCONSIN
INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY,
WHICH IS A CONSERVATIVE GROUP.
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A RULE
CHANGE ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO GET
LAWSUITS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH
WISCONSIN'S LEGISLATIVE MAPS TO
START OUT AUTOMATICALLY,
IMMEDIATELY SORT OF BY DEFAULT
WITH THE WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT
INSTEAD OF A LOWER COURT OR A
FEDERAL COURT.
AND BASICALLY THAT'S JUST KIND
OF SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS AND
GETTING THE STATE SUPREME COURT
TO RULE ON THESE MAPS, WHICH ARE
EXPECTED TO BE CONTROVERSIAL.
>> AND DEMS HAVE CALLED THIS A
GOOD THING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
DEMOCRATS THINK IT'S MORE
APPROPRIATE FOR THE LOWER COURTS
TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN, FOR
FEDERAL COURTS TO BE A PART OF
THIS.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT THESE MAPS ARE
EXPECTED TO END UP IN COURT
BECAUSE OF THE SPLIT BETWEEN THE
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND THE
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.
HE'S UNLIKELY TO SIGN WHAT
REPUBLICANS DRAW.
SO WE'RE KIND OF GEARING UP FOR
THAT LEGAL BATTLE WE'RE
EXPECTING IN THE NEXT SEVERAL
MONTHS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO AS TO LEGISLATIVE SESSION
BUSINESS THIS WEEK, LET'S TALK
ABOUT THOSE ELECTION LAW BILLS,
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
GOVERNOR EVERS IS MOST LIKELY TO
VETO THEM.
BUT ONE WOULD RESTRICT PRIVATE
FUNDS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF
ELECTIONS.
SO WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE IN
WISCONSIN FROM THE 2020 ELECTION
THAT PROMPTED THAT BILL?
>> WELL, WISCONSIN ACTUALLY GOT
QUITE A FEW PRIVATE GRANTS FOR
THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THE FIVE LARGEST CITIES IN THE
STATE GOT PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL
GRANTS FROM AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED THE CENTER FOR TECH AND
CIVIC LIFE.
THAT'S A GROUP THAT'S FUNDED BY
MARK ZUCKERBERG AND HIS WIFE
PRISCILLA CHAN.
WHAT REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING FOR
HERE IS EITHER A LIMITATION ON
THOSE FUNDS OR AN ENTIRE
ELIMINATION OF THE GRANT FUNDS
BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT IT GETS
THESE PRIVATE GROUPS INVOLVED IN
A WAY THEY SHOULDN'T BE
INVOLVED, GIVES THEM TOO MUCH
SAY IN SOME KIND OF ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION PROCESSES.
SO THIS IS A PRETTY HIGH-PROFILE
BILL THAT HAS TO DO WITH
ELECTIONS.
>> REPUBLICANS ALSO WANT TO
RESTRICT COLLECTION OF AB TEN
SEE BALLOTS.
THIS IS AROUND HOW MADISON
ALLOWED THE COLLECTION OF
BALLOTS?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
MADISON HAD A FEW EVENTS IN THE
FALL, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER,
WHERE PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO
RETURN ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO PARK
LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY, AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO RETURN
BALLOTS WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT
THEM IN THE MAIL OR DRIVE THEM
TO THEIR CLERK'S OFFICE.
PEOPLE COULD ALSO GET A WITNESS
SIGNATURE FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
IF THEY NEEDED A WITNESS FOR
THEIR BALLOT.
AND REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THAT
THIS WAS INAPPROPRIATE.
THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS
SECURE ENOUGH TO HAVE THESE KIND
OF PARK-BASED EVENTS AWAY FROM
CLERKS' OFFICES AND SO THEY WANT
TO JUST RESTRICT WHERE EVENTS
CAN BE LOCATED AND WHEN THEY CAN
BE HELD.
>> NOW, ANOTHER BILL WOULD BAN
CLERKS FROM FILLING IN MISSING
INFORMATION ON ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
HOW IS THIS A CHANGE FROM
CURRENT LAW?
>> WELL, THIS IS A REALLY
INTERESTING BILL.
KIND OF THE BIGGEST THING HERE
IS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IT INTO
STATE LAW.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE POLICIES
REGARDING CLERKS ADDING
INFORMATION TO BALLOTS -- AND
THIS IS SOMETHING LIKE A MISSING
ADDRESS FOR A WITNESS ON AN
ABSENTEE BALLOT, THINGS LIKE
THAT.
AND THEY GET THAT INFORMATION
FROM OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THEIR
ABILITY TO DO THAT IS GOVERNED
BY STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION
GUIDANCE, NOT STATE LAW.
SO REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS THAT ARE
BACKING THIS BILL SAY, YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE WERE KIND OF CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS PRACTICE AND WE FEEL
LIKE IT SHOULD BE WRITTEN INTO
LAW AND NOT JUST BE GUIDANCE
COMING FROM AN AGENCY.
>> SO THE PASSAGE OF THESE WAS
ALONG PARTY-LINE VOTES.
ARE REPUBLICANS MAINTAINING
CHANGES ARE NEEDED BECAUSE OF
ELECTION FRAUD?
>> SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY
BIG CONVERSATION ABOUT FRAUD.
THE KIND OF PRIMARY LINE FROM
REPUBLICANS ABOUT THESE
PROPOSALS IS MORE ABOUT ELECTION
INTEGRITY AND PEOPLE'S FAITH IN
THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
SO THEY SAY THIS ISN'T
NECESSARILY SAYING THERE WAS
FRAUD OR POINTING TO SPECIFIC
FRAUD.
IT'S US SAYING PEOPLE HAVE
VOICED CONCERNS, CONTACTED US,
AND WE NEED TO DO THINGS TO MAKE
THE PROCESS MORE CONCRETE, MORE
SET IN STATE LAW THAT'S GOING TO
MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE
COMFORTABLE.
>> AS TO POLICING BILL,
COMPOSITION OF POLICE AND FIRE
COMMISSIONS, DATA COLLECTION AND
TRANSPARENCY AROUND USE OF
FORCE.
HOW DO THESE MEASURES DOVETAIL
WITH THE WORK OF THE SPEAKER'S
TASK FORCE ON RACIAL
DISPARITIES, WHICH IS ALSO
DEALING WITH POLICE PRACTICES?
>> PRETTY DIRECTLY.
SO THESE ARE THE FIRST VOTES
THAT WE'VE SEEN ON POLICE REFORM
IN WISCONSIN.
IT'S TAKEN A LOT LONGER THAN
SOME FOLKS WANTED TO GET VOTES
ON THESE BILLS.
AND A LOT OF THESE PROPOSALS ARE
DIRECT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS
TASK FORCE.
THEY TALKED ABOUT THINGS LIKE
USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS BEING
RECORDED, HAVING POLICE
PERSONNEL RECORDS BE MORE
AVAILABLE IF AN OFFICER IS GOING
TO BE HIRED BY ANOTHER AGENCY.
I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING
TO NOTE THAT THERE WERE VOTES ON
A NUMBER OF THESE BILLS IN THE
SENATE THIS WEEK, BUT A LOT OF
THE HIGH-PROFILE BILLS, BILLS ON
THINGS LIKE CHOKEHOLDS OR
NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
THOSE HAVEN'T SEEN VOTES ON THE
FLOOR YET.
<!32768> LAUREL WHITE, THANK YOU
FOR ALL OF YOUR INFORMATION FROM
THE STATE CAPITOL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW TO THE U.S. CAPITOL,
WHERE HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTED TO
REMOVE WYOMING REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSWOMAN LIZ CHENEY FROM
HER CONFERENCE LEADERSHIP
POSITION.
SHE HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE
OUTSPOKEN AGAINST FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CLAIMS OF
FRAUD IN THE 2020 ELECTION.
REPRESENTATIVE MARK POCAN SAYS
THE MOVE WAS A SIGN OF A PARTY
IN DISARRAY.
>> THEY GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
THEY ARE AND THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE HELL THEY ARE RIGHT
NOW.
THAT'S WHY LIZ CHENEY WHICH I
DON'T HAVE IN COMMON WITH AND
THEY WOULD THROW HER OUT FOR
SOMEONE WITH A MORE LIBERAL
VOTING RECORD BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T
CONTINUE TO KISS THE RING OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
THAT'S A CULT.
THAT'S NOT A POLITICAL PARTY.
>> ALL FIVE WISCONSIN HOUSE
REPUBLICANS VOTED TO REMOVE
CHENEY FROM HER LEADERSHIP POST.
CONGRESSMAN MIKE GALLAGHER SAID
IN A STATEMENT, QUOTE, "HOUSE
DEMOCRATS UNDER SPEAKER PELOSI
HAVE BEEN RUTHLESS IN ADVANCING
THEIR AGENDA AND CHENEY CAN NO
LONGER UNIFY THEM.
WE NEED TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE
IN 2022 AND PERMANENTLY RETIRE
PELOSI."
THE PRESIDENT OF THE
LAC DU FLAMBEAU GAVE THE ANNUAL
STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS THIS
WEEK.
JOHN J. JOHNSON, SR. TOUCHED ON
A WIDE ARRAY OF ISSUES FACING
THE NATION: THE LOSS OF LIFE
FROM COVID-19, OPIOID ADDICTION,
BIGOTRY AROUND TREATY RIGHTS.
HERE'S SOME OF HIS ADDRESS.
>> WE ASK ALL LEVELS OF STATE
GOVERNMENT TO BALANCE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTIONS.
ACCORDING TO OUR TEACHINGS, THE
LACKLAC DU FLAMBEAU AND MANY OTHER
TRIBES MAKE DECISIONS WITH SEVEN
GENERATIONS IN MIND.
WE ASK OUR HOW OUR DECISIONS IMPACT
THOSE WHO WILL COME HUNDREDS OF
YEARS FROM NOW.
WE RESPECTFULLY ASK EVERY LEVEL
OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO DO THE
SAME.
[APPLAUSE]
>> EARLIER I MENTIONED DIFFERENT
LENSES THROUGH WHICH OUR PEOPLE
ARE VIEWED.
ONE LENS VIEWS OUR PEOPLE SOLELY
ON RACE AND SKIN COLOR.
MUCH IS MADE OF CANCEL CULTURE
AND MODERN AMERICA THESE DAYS.
WE PROUDLY STAND HERE BEFORE YOU
AS SURVIVORS OF THE ULTIMATE
CANCEL CULTURE EFFORT.
THERE'S NO MORE --
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THERE IS NO MORE ENDURING
ASSAULT ON A SINGLE CULTURE IN
THE UNITED STATES THAN THE
ONGOING ASSAULT ON THE CULTURE
OF NATIVE PEOPLE.
FEDERAL POLICIES, ALIMB ELIMINATION OF
OUR CULTURE, CHILDREN FORCED
FROM THEIR PARENTS' ARMS,
CHILDREN FORCED TO CUT THEIR
HAIR, CHILDREN BEATEN INTO
SUBMISSION FOR SPEAKING THEIR
NATIVE LANGUAGE AND OBSERVING
THEIR NATIVE CULTURE.
AS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE
EFFECTS OF TRAUMA ON HUMAN
BEINGS, WE CAN SEE THE LASTING
EFFECTS OF THOSE FEDERAL
POLICIES AND HOW THOSE
REVERBERATE THROUGHOUT OUR DAILY
LIVES.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE
DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THE
NORTHWOODS.
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ARE THE
UNDERBELLY OF MANY PROBLEMS:
HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT,
CRIME.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
THERE'S A STATE BUDGET PROPOSED
FOR A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY
LOCATED AMONG MANY TRIBAL
NATIONS WITHIN WISCONSIN.
INVESTMENT BY THE STATE TO
EXPAND ACCESS TO THE NORTHWOODS
WILL PAY FOR ITSELF IN COUNTLESS
WAYS.
THIS IS NOT A PLEA FOR SYMPATHY.
RATHER, A CALL FOR
UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE AND
ACTIONS TOWARDS A MORE
SEAMLESSLY TO COEXIST.
THERE ARE DEEP DIFFERENCES AND
DISRESPECT THAT HAVE FESTERED
FOR GENERATIONS.
THESE LEAD TO DISDAIN SPREADING
ACROSS THE CULTURES.
THESE GET ALL THE HEADLINES.
PERPETRATING AND POISONING
RELATIONSHIPS.
HISTORY IS A BEAR TO OVERCOME.
OUR TESTIMONY ARE A TESTAMENT TO
THAT FACT, A TESTAMENT TO THE
TENACITY AND DETERMINATION.
THEY DEMONSTRATE EVERY DAY THEIR
WILL TO SUCCEED IN THE MODERN
WORLD AND OUR TRADITIONAL WORLD.
RELENTLESS EDUCATION OF ALL
CHILDREN IS OUR STRONGEST
APPROACH TO BREAKING SYSTEMATIC
RACISM, BIGOTRY REPEATED
GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.
PROSECUTION OF HATE CRIMES ALSO
HELPS.
CONFLICT OVER RACE, ETHNICITY,
SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND OTHER
DIFFERENCES ONLY HOLD US BACK.
THE RECENT PASSAGE OF SENATE
BILL 69 DESERVES APPLAUSE AND
SUPPORT.
TO YOUR CREDIT, THIS LEGISLATOR
IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS NOW REQUIRES ALL SCHOOLS
TO EDUCATE CHILDREN ABOUT THE
HOLOCAUST AND OTHER GENOCIDES.
IT'S A SYSTEMATIC,
STATE-SPONSORED KILLING OF SIX
MILLION JEWISH MEN, WOMEN AND
CHILDREN AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS
BY NAZI GERMANY AND
COLLABORATORS BETWEEN 1933 AND
1945.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REALIZE
AND RECOGNIZE SYSTEMIC
STATE-SPONSORED KILLINGS IN A
CLOSE RELATIVE SYSTEMATIC
RACISM.
>> PRESIDENT JOHN D. JOHNSON SR.
DELIVERING THE ADDRESS.
IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING COVID-19
HAS PUT A STRAIN ON FAMILIES
CONNECTING IN AN UP-CLOSE AND
PERSONAL WAY THESE DAYS.
A MILWAUKEE PHARMACIST HAS BEEN
ABLE TO BRING FOUR GENERATIONS
OF HER FAMILY CLOSER BY DOING
HER JOB.
"HERE AND NOW" SPECIAL PROJECTS
JOURNALISM MURV SEYMOUR HAS THE
STORY.
>> SHE WAS BORN IN ASHLAND, YOU
KNOW.
>> LYNN AND LAUREN CHARS ARE
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER.
>> MY MOM IS SOMEONE WHO I'M
VERY CLOSE WITH.
>> WITH A PICTURE PERFECT
RELATIONSHIP.
>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE GET US
CONFUSED BECAUSE OUR NAMES BOTH
START WITH L.
WE KIND OF LOOK ALIKE.
>> MY DAUGHTER IS A PHARMACIST
FOR CVS.
SHE'S BEEN DOING THAT FOR ONE
YEAR.
>> BECAUSE OF COVID-19...
>> HER GRADUATION WAS PLACED ON
HOLD.
>> IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO GET ME
THROUGH THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM.
I'M AN ONLY CHILD, BUT I DO HAVE
A LARGE EXTENDED FAMILY,
INCLUDING MY GRANDMOTHER.
>> FROM A PICNIC TABLE AT A
DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE PARK.
>> THIS IS FOR PACKER PARTY.
>> MOM AND DAUGHTER CYST THROUGH -- SIFT THROUGH
PHOTOS.
>> WE ADORE HER.
SHE'S A STRONG LEADER AND BUILT
A FOUNDATION FOR A WONDERFUL
FAMILY.
I WOULDN'T BE WHERE I AM TODAY
WITHOUT HER.
>> FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS, SHE'S
BEEN LIVING IN A NURSING HOME,
THE SAME ONE WHERE LAUREN'S MOM
WORKS AS A SPEECH THERAPIST?
>> WE USED TO VISIT HER EVERY
SINGLE DAY.
>> BEFORE COVID-19, GRANDMA
CLARE HAD PRENTY OF VISITS.
>> SHE WAS ABLE TO COME INTO THE
BUILDING AT THAT TIME PRIOR TO
THE PANDEMIC.
>> DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEY'VE
HAD TO LOVE CLARE FROM A
DISTANCE.
>> I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HER
GETTING THE VIRUS AND MAYBE NOT
MAKING IT BECAUSE OF HER AGE.
SHE'S 87.
THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54 WEEKS
THAT WENT BY WHERE WE WEREN'T
ABLE TO VISIT HER.
>> TO EASE THE PAIN OF NOT
SEEING HER, THEY SET UP WINDOW
VISITS.
>> SOMETIMES WE HAD SOME LARGE,
BRIGHT POSTERS, HAPPY BIRTHDAY
GRANDMA, HAPPY THANKSGIVING,
GRANDMA.
SHE WAS ABLE TO BE REMINDED OF
THE LOVE AROUND HER.
<!32768> IT WAS
>> IT WAS AN OPPORTUNIT TO SEE
SOMEBODY YOU HADN'T SEEN FOR A
YEAR.
>> LAUREN'S UNIQUE ROLE WOULD
GIVE HER AND HER FAMILY AN
OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT AND SEE
GRANDMA CLARE IN PERSON.
>> I TRAVEL AROUND TO CVS
LOCATIONS IN THE GREATER
MILWAUKEE AREA.
MY FIRST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO
FILL PRESCRIPTIONS.
I ALSO NOW PARTICIPATE IN
ENHANCED SERVICES TO HELP WITH
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
I WENT TO SEVERAL NURSING HOMES.
>> CVS SET UP ON-SITE
VACCINATION CLINICS AT MORE THAN
1800 LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
IN WISCONSIN.
CLARE'S NURSING HOME WAS ONE OF
THEM.
>> I DEFINITELY LOVE GIVING
IMMUNIZATIONS.
>> A LOT OF THOSE VACCINATIONS
WERE PROVIDED AT THE HANDS OF
THIS ROOKIE PHARMACIST SOME
NICKNAMED THE VACCINATOR.
AND, YES, LAUREN PROUDLY GOT TO
DELIVER A SHOT IN THE ARM TO
MOM, GRANDMA AND THE OTHERS AT
CLARE'S NURSING HOME.
>> I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH AROUND
MY SCHEDULE WITH THE HELP OF
SOME OF MY SUPERVISOR AND
COLLEAGUES TO BE THERE AT THE
SPECIFIC NURSING HOME WHERE MY
MOTHER WORKS AND MY GRANDMOTHER
LIVES.
I KNOW THAT SO MANY FOLKS IN
LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE
REALLY STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW FROM
NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THEIR
LOVED ONES.
>>>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN,
LAUREN'S MOM SAYS...
>> I THINK OF WORDS THAT BEGIN
WITH C.
COMMUNICATION WAS NUMBER ONE.
THE OTHER ONE WAS COMPASSION.
THE OTHER C WORD IS CARE GIVING.
I WAS A THERAPIST, BUT I BECAME
A CAREGIVER.
THE VACCINE PROVIDED US WITH A
CURE, BUT IT PROVIDED US WITH
CONFIDENCE IN BEING ABLE TO LIVE
NORMALLY AGAIN.
>> BEING ABLE TO FINALLY GET TO
HAVE A VISIT IN PERSON WITH MY
FAMILY MEMBER IS ONE OF THE
GREATEST GIFTS.
>> THE OTHER GIFT?
A VISIT TO GRANDMA FROM THE
DOCTORAL GRADUATE GRANDDAUGHTER
JUST BEFORE HER OFFICIAL
GRADUATION CEREMONY.
>> GRANDMA CLARE WAS ABLE TO SEE
LAUREN IN HER GRADUATION GOWN
AND CAP.
SHE SAID CONGRATULATIONS,
DR. CHARS.
WHEN'S THE PARTY?
>> PRETTY SURE.
>> LAUREN CHARS.
>> IT'S ALREADY STARTED.
REPORTING FOR "HERE AND NOW,"
I'M MURV SEYMOUR.
>> DR. CHARS IS A GRADUATE OF
BUTLER UNIVERSITY IN INDIANA.
CVS TELLS US MORE THAN 77,000 OF
THE MOST VULNERABLE
WISCONSINITES RECEIVED
VACCINATIONS AT THEIR LOCATIONS.
FOR CONTINUING COVERAGE ON
COVID-19, GO TO
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.