>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> IN MINNEAPOLIS, AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, GEORGE FLOYD IS
REMEMBERED THIS WEEK ON THE
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
MURDER.
AND IN MADISON, GETTING SHOTS IN
ARMS.
THE URBAN LEAGUE BRINGS
VACCINATIONS CLOSER TO PEOPLE'S
DOORSTEP.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG,
TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," MURV
SEYMOUR REPORTS ON AN URBAN
LEAGUE COMMUNITY VACCINATION
EFFORT.
MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAVID
CROWLEY REFLECTS ON THE WORK
LEFT TO DO ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF
GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH AND TEAM UP
WITH WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO TO
SPOTLIGHT THE POWER OF PROS
PROSECUTORS.
MAY 28.
>> FUNDING FOR THE FOCUS FUND
FOR JOURNALISM AND PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> THE COVID-19 VACCINATION RATE
IN WISCONSIN FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
NOW HAD THEIR FIRST DOSE STANDS
AT 47.5%.
BUT THERE REMAIN LARGE
DISPARITIES IN WHO IS GETTING
THEM.
OF ALL PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN WHO
HAVE HAD THEIR FIRST DOSE, BLACK
RESIDENTS HAVE THE LOWEST RATE
OF VACCINATION IN THE STATE,
23.6%.
TRYING TO GET MORE SHOTS IN
ARMS, A NEW PROJECT RUN BY THE
URBAN LEAGUE OF MADISON IS DOING
JUST THAT.
BRINGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
VACCINATIONS DEEPER INTO THE
COMMUNITY.
MURV SEYMOUR REPORTS.
>> EVERYBODY NEEDS TO GET
VACCINATED.
>> ON THIS DAY OUTSIDE THE URBAN
LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS ON MADISON
SOUTH SIDE, IT'S A PARTY
ATMOSPHERE.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS BEEN
PEPPERED WITH SIGNS AND FLIERS
IN THE WORDS OF ORGANIZERS TO
DO.
>> EVERYTHING WE CAN TO REACH AS
MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN, AS MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS AS WE CAN.
>> INVITATION FOR ANYONE TO COME
INSIDE, TO PROTECT THE
COMMUNITY.
ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN
PEOPLE.
>> WE HAVE ONLY BEEN OPEN A
COUPLE HOURS, TONS OF TRAFFIC.
>> THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO
BRING THE VACCINE TO THE
COMMUNITY.
MANY OF US HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR
FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN
INFECTED, YOU KNOW, AND DIED.
>> FOUR LETTERS OF THE SMALL
WORD MEANS ANYONE WHO SHOTS UP
CAN GET THE SHOT.
ONLY COST, TIME.
URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON
HAS PARTNERED WITH S.S.M. HEALTH
AND ALMOST A DOZEN OTHER
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING
THE VACCINE A FOOT STEP CLOSER
TO PEOPLE LIKE BRUCE TATE, WHO
SAYS THREE PEOPLE IN HIS FAMILY
HAVE THE VIRUS.
FOR HIM AND SO MANY OTHERS,
GETTING VACCINATED IS TOUGHER
BECAUSE OF A LACK OF
TRANSPORTATION AND CLINICS CLOSE
TO HOME.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE FUN, NOT LIKE
YOU ARE COMING TO GET A SHOT,
LOOKS LIKE ALMOST A MEET AND
GREET OF SOME SORT.
>> CRITICAL VACCINE DRIVE
TARGETS PEOPLE LIKE 13-YEAR-OLD
MARCUS ALLEN.
>> ADMITTED FOR THE 12 PLUS, I'M
LIKE I HAVE TO TRAVEL MORE.
>> A LOT OF OUTREACH WITH
PEDIATRICIANS AND HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE, WE
KNOW PARENTS ARE LOOKING TO
THEIR PEDIATRICIANS.
>> MARCUS TAKES A POST VACCINE
PHOTO WITH HIS DAD.
CAMPAIGN RUN BY RABBI BONNIE
MARGULIS.
URGES OTHERS TO GET THE PICTURE
BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE FACE
ACROSS THE STATE WITH COVID-19.
>> TRYING TO GET AS MANY FOLKS
FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE,
DIFFERENT AGES, ETHNICITIES.
THE MORE PEOPLE SEE WHO LOOK
LIKE THEM, OH, THEY GOT THE SHOT
AND THIS IS WHY, AND THAT REALLY
RESONATES WITH ME, MAYBE I
SHOULD GET VACCINATED AS WELL.
>> MIDWAY THROUGH THE FIVE-HOUR
EFFORT.
A SURPRISE VISIT FROM GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS.
>> THIS ISN'T A BLACK OR
WHITE ISSUE OR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
ISSUE, IT'S A WISCONSIN ISSUE.
>> THEY SAY SUCCESS IS ALL ABOUT
PARTNERSHIPS.
>> WE HAVE SO MUCH GREATER
REACH.
WE REACH OUT TO THE FAITH
COMMUNITY, THE URBAN LEAGUE
REACHES OUT TO THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY, AND CENTRAL
HISPANIC AND BOSA LA FRONTERA.
>> PEOPLE TRUST US.
ONE OF THE YOUNG WOMEN TODAY
TAKING A SHOT, SHE WHENNIS --
WHISPERED IN MY EAR, I GOT THE
SHOT BECAUSE I SAW THE
PROMOTION.
>> WE ALL CAN GET BACK TO NORMAL
LIFE.
>> REPORTING FOR "HERE & NOW,"
I'M MURV SEYMOUR.
>> 76 PEOPLE CAME OUT TO RECEIVE
THE PFIZER VACCINE DURING THE
EVENT.
THE SECOND DOSE WILL BE PROVIDED
ON JUNE 15TH.
NEXT, WE BRING YOU TWO PARTS OF
A COLLABORATIVE REPORTING
PROJECT BETWEEN PBS WISCONSIN
AND WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO UNDER
THE WISCONTEXT BANNER.
THE TOPIC, PROSECUTORS.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND WHY THEY
ARE SO RARELY CHALLENGED ON THE
BALLOT.
FOR FIRST ONE, WILL DELVES INTO
THE D.A.s AND WHAT KIND OF POWER
THEY YIELD.
>> ONE D.A. CALLS THEM THE
GATEKEEPERS TO THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.
ALL EYES TURN TOWARD THE ONE
OFFICIAL ON THE QUESTION OF
WHETHER POLICE, FOR EXAMPLE,
WILL BE CHARGED IN SHOOTINGS.
DISTRICTS PLAY A PROMMENT ROLE
IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
ELECTED OFFICIALS, RUN FOR
OFFICE EVERY FOUR YEARS, OFTEN
GO UNCHALLENGED.
ONLY FOUR SEATS CONTESTED IN THE
2020 GENERAL ELECTION.
THESE RACES LINE UP WITH
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND
PARTISAN OFFICES.
THE CURRENT BREAKDOWN IS 41
REPUBLICAN D.A. AND 23
DEMOCRATIC D.A.
ALSO SEVEN INDEPENDENT DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS.
ALL TOLD, THAT'S 71 D.A. IN EACH
WISCONSIN COUNTY, SHAWANO AND
MENOMINEE SHARING A SINGLE D.A.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND THE
ATTORNEYS ON THE STAFF FUNCTION
AS STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.
THE STATE PAYS THEIR SALARY, BUT
THEY ARE VOTED BY COUNTY.
AND COUNTY PAYS FOR THEIR
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
BROAD AUTHORITY TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO BRING CHARGES.
FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
SHIRLEY ABRAMSON, THE PROSECUTOR
HAS GREAT DISCRETION IN
DETERMINING WHETHER TO COMMENCE
A PROSECUTION.
IT IS THE PROSECUTOR'S DUTY,
THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO
PROSECUTE ALL CASES IT APPEARS
THE LAW IS VIOLATED.
THIS MEANS DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
CAN BROADLY DECIDE WHICH CASES
THEY PROSECUTE.
LAST YEAR IN KENOSHA, FOR
EXAMPLE, MICHAEL GRAVELEY
DECLINED TO PROSECUTOR THE
OFFICER WHO SHOT JACOB BLAKE,
SAYING HE WAS UNLIKELY TO WIN
THE CASE IF GRAVELEY TOOK IT TO
TRIAL.
>> IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CASE YOU
CAN PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE
DOUBT AS YOU HEAR ME TALK ABOUT,
THEN YOU ARE ETHICALLY OBLIGATED
NOT TO CHARGE A CASE.
>> IN DANE COUNTY, THE D.A.
DETERMINED THE OFFICER WHO SHOT
AND KILLED TONY ROBINSON DID SO
LAWFULLY.
>> TRAGIC AND UNFORTUNATE DEATH
WAS THE RESULT OF A LAWFUL USE
OF DEADLY POLICE FORCE AND THAT
NO CHARGES SHOULD BE BROUGHT
AGAINST OFFICER KENNY IN THE
DEATH OF TONY ROBINSON, JR.
>> EVEN THOUGH BIG CASES,
INCLUDING POLICE SHOOTINGS
ATTRACT THE MOST PUBLIC
SCRUTINY, DECISIONS D.A.s HAVE
TO MAKE LARGE AND SMALL, DAY IN
AND DAY OUT.
ABRAHAMSON CALLED THEIR ROLE
QUASI JUDICIAL.
DO JUSTICE RATHER THAN OBTAIN
CONVICTIONS.
>> AS WE JUST REPORTED, DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS YIELD A LOT OF POWER
IN DISCRETION ON CHARGING
DECISIONS AND REGARDED AS
HOLDING A QUASI JUDICIAL
STANDING.
WHAT IF THEY TRY TO CHANGE THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM USING
DISCRETION?
THERE IS A MOVEMENT OF
PROGRESSTIVE PROSECUTORS,
NOTABLY LIKE THE PHILLY D.A.
WE LEARN MORE ABOUT PROGRESSIVE
PROSECUTORS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF
THE U.W. LAW SCHOOL PROSECUTION
PROJECT AND THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
LANNY GLINBERG.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A
PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR?
>> WELL, THERE'S NO PARTICULAR
CREDENTIAL TO BE A PROGRESSIVE
PROSECUTOR.
BUT THE PHILOSOPHY OF
PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTORS IS THAT
THEY WANT TO WIELD THEIR
PROSECUTORIAL POWER,
SUBSTANTIAL, THE MOST POWERFUL
ACTOR IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM.
THEY WANT TO YIELD THE
DISCRETION TO SERVE THE INTEREST
OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND AS WELL TO
ADDRESS REAL PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE
PROBLEMS OF MASS INCARCERATION.
THE COUNTRY INCARCERATES THAN
ANY OTHER COUNTRY, AND FALLS ON
UNDERREPRESENTED, PEOPLE WHO ARE
POOR AND OF COLOR, AND THEY WANT
TO ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS AND
THE MAIN FUNCTION OF A
PROSECUTOR, TO ADDRESS PUBLIC
SAFETY, ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THEY
WOULD PROCEED IN A PARTICULAR
CASE IN A PROGRESSIVE WAY?
>> WELL, BY BEING MINDFUL OF THE
CONSEQUENCES OF ENGAGING IN A
PROSECUTION, BY THAT I MEAN THE
TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO
PROSECUTION, DOMINATE OVER FOUR
DECADES, CHARGE A CRIME, SEEK
CONVICTION AND CONFINE SOMEBODY.
CONFINE SOMEBODY THAT COMMITTED
A CRIME AS A MEANS OF ADDRESSING
PUBLIC SAFETY.
IN REALITY, THAT HAS NOT SERVED
US SO WELL.
AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVE
SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF THOSE
INCARCERATED AND IF
INCARCERATION AND CONFINEMENT
EQUAL PUBLIC SAFETY WE WOULD
HAVE THE SAFEST COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD.
AND WE DON'T.
SO, IN AN INDIVIDUAL CASE
PROSECUTOR NEEDS TO BE ATTENTIVE
TO NOT ONLY JUST THE CHARGING
AND CONVICTION AND CONFINEMENT,
ABOUT YOU WHAT ARE THE OTHER
COTS OF COMMENCING A CRIME, OF
SEEKING A CONVICTION, NOT JUST
THE MONETARY COST OF CONFINING
SOMEBODY, BUT REAL SOCIAL COSTS
AS WELL.
AND ATTENTIVE TO THE SOCIAL
COSTS, MINDFUL ABOUT THE TYPE OF
PENALTY THAT A PROSECUTOR SEEKS
OR WHETHER TO ISSUE CHARGES IN
THE FIRST PLACE.
WHAT WILL THE CONSEQUENCES ON
THE BROADER COMMUNITY BE ON THE
INDIVIDUAL, THEIR CONNECTION TO
FAMILY, WORK, STABLE HOUSING,
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE
RESEARCH TELLS US RESULTS IN
INDIVIDUALS DESISTING FROM
CRIME, NOT JUST CONFINEMENT.
SO, FOCUSSING ON THAT AND
MINDFUL OF THE CONSEQUENCES ON
OTHER FACTORS, TO BRING ABOUT
PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> IS THERE A PUSHBACK ON THIS
KIND OF METHOD OR SENSIBILITY ON
THE PART OF THE MORE TRADITIONAL
PROSECUTORS?
>> INDEED THERE IS RESISTANCE,
IT VARIES FROM COMMUNITY TO
COMMUNITY.
PROSECUTORS, OF COURSE, AS YOU
REPORTED JUST A FEW MOMENTS AGO
ARE ELECTED COUNTY BY COUNTY.
LOCAL SENSIBILITIES AFFECT THE
PRIORITIES OF PROSECUTION SO THE
RESISTANCE MAY BE DIFFERENT IN
DIFFERENT PLACES.
BUT INDEED GENERALLY, OR SOME OF
THE PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTORS,
THERE IS SOME RESISTANCE.
IT CAN COME FROM A NUMBER OF
PLACES.
ONE, PROSECUTORS THEMSELVES.
IT IS RISKY TO LOOK AT A NEW
MODEL OF PROSECUTION OR TO BE
MORE SENSITIVE TO THE SORT OF
THINGS THAT I DESCRIBED.
TAKING A THOUGHTFUL AND NUANCED
VIEW OF ADDRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY
AS A POLITICAL MATTER HAS NOT
BEEN THE APPROACH.
POLITICAL, POLITICAL SAFE IS TO
RUN AGAINST CRIME, RUN AGAINST
CRIMINALS.
SO, THERE IS POLITICAL RISK
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
RESISTANCE CAN COME FROM ANY
NUMBER OF OTHER ACTORS IN THE
INSTITUTIONS OF THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHETHER IT BE
BENCH, OTHER PROSECUTORS, POLICE
OR VOTERS EVEN BECAUSE AS I
SAID, THESE ARE ELECTIVE OFFICES
AND THERE ARE POLITICAL
CONSEQUENCES FOR THESE
DECISIONS.
>> WE KNOW PHILADELPHIA'S D.A.,
LARRY KRASNER, WILL END MASS
INCARCERATION.
IS IT KIND OF A GROWING MOVEMENT
IN STATES LIKE WISCONSIN?
>> I THINK IT'S A GROWING
MOVEMENT IN A LOT OF PLACES AND
THERE IS A SPECTRUM OF
PROSECUTORS FROM WHAT I WOULD
DESCRIBE AS VERY TRADITIONAL,
FOCUSSED ON CHARGING, CONVICTING
AND CONFINING TO THE TYPE OF
PROGRESSIVE MODEL THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT NOW.
THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE, THIS IS
INDEPENDENT OF PARTY, ACROSS THE
STATE, THAT HAVE A MORE
REFORM-MINDED APPROACH,
REFORM-MINDED OR PROGRESSIVE
MENTALITY, CAREFUL TO SAY I'M
NOT USING THE TERM PROGRESSIVE
IN THE POLITICAL SENSE, BUT IN
THE SENSE OF A NEW APPROACH
REVIEWING OR REVISITING WHAT THE
PRIORITIES OF PROSECUTION ARE.
CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME IN THE
STATE, SPECTRUM FROM TRADITIONAL
TO MORE PROGRESSIVE.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE NEED TO LEAVE
IT THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH, LANNY
GLINBERG.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HAVING ANY MARK OF A CRIMINAL
RECORD CAN MEAN LOSING JOB AND
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES DURING A
BACKGROUND CHECK.
IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE WHO ARE
ELIGIBLE TO HAVE THE RECORDS
CLEARED DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES
TO NAVIGATE THE PROCESS OR DON'T
KNOW THEY CAN CLEAR THEM UNTIL
NOW.
A NEW FREE ONLINE TOOL ALLOWS
PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN TO SEE WHAT
RECORDS MAY BE FOLLOWING THEM,
AND IF THEY QUALIFY FOR REMOVAL.
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH MARSHA
MANSFIELD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
LEGAL INTERVENTIONS FOR
TRANSFORMING WISCONSIN ABOUT THE
PROCESS.
>> THE TOOL THAT WE ROLLED OUT
YESTERDAY SPECIFICALLY IS
DIRECTED TOWARDS HELPING PEOPLE
CLEAR CRIMINAL RECORDS.
AND CRIMINAL RECORDS INCLUDE
RECORDS OF CONVICTIONS BUT THEY
ALSO INCLUDE RECORDS OF ARRESTS
AND OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE ARE
ARRESTED FOR THINGS FOR WHICH
THEY ARE NOT CHARGED OR THEY ARE
CHARGED FOR AN EVENT THAT
DOESN'T RESULT IN A CONVICTION
BUT THOSE ARRESTS AND THOSE
CHARGES CAN SHOW UP ON PEOPLE'S
CRIMINAL HISTORY REPORTS AND
THOSE CRIMINAL HISTORY REPORTS
ARE WHAT LANDLORDS AND EMPLOYERS
USE WHEN THEY MAKE BACKGROUND
CHECKS.
>> ARE THOSE PROMPTS TO NOT
DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE NOT
ENOUGH FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
OR LANDLORDS TO DETER THEM FROM
NOT DISCRIMINATING AGAINST
SOMEONE FOR THEIR PAST?
>> YOU ARE RIGHT, MARISA, THERE
ARE LAWS IN WISCONSIN THAT
PREVENT PEOPLE FROM
DISCRIMINATING BASED ON THINGS
SUCH AS ARREST OR CONVICTION
RECORDS.
BUT WE AS PEOPLE HAVE AN
EMOTIONAL RESPONSE WHEN WE SEE
THINGS LIKE THAT, RIGHT.
EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED
TO DISCRIMINATE, IF YOU HAVE A
CANDIDATE WHO YOU RUN A
BACKGROUND CHECK AND THERE'S
NOTHING IN THEIR CRIMINAL
HISTORY BACKGROUND OR THERE'S
NOTHING ON CCAP AND RUN A
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK ON
SOMEONE ELSE THAT DOES HAVE A
HISTORY, EVEN IF IT'S A HISTORY
OF A CASE WHERE CHARGES WERE
MADE BUT THERE WERE NO
CONVICTIONS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE
NOT SUPPOSED TO DISCRIMINATE
BASED ON THOSE TWO FINDINGS, YOU
CAN'T HELP BUT THINK HMM, WHO
MIGHT BE A BETTER TENANT OR WHO
MIGHT BE A BETTER EMPLOYEE, AND
YOUR GUT TELLS YOU TO PICK
SOMEONE EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT
NOT CONSCIOUSLY BE AWARE YOU ARE
DISCRIMINATING AS A RESULT.
>> IT'S FREE FOR PEOPLE TO USE.
WITHOUT IT, WHAT ARE THE RIPPLE
EFFECTS OF THESE COMPOUNDING
BARRIERS AS SOMEONE HAS THESE
RECORDS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW
NEED TO BE CLEARED OR DON'T KNOW
HOW TO CLEAR, AND ON THE FLIP
SIDE, WHAT BENEFIT DOES IT HAVE
TO SOCIETY TO HAVE PEOPLE HAVE
THOSE RECORDS CLEARED AND HAVE
SOME OF THESE BARRIERS REMOVED
FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR
BETTER EMPLOYMENT, BETTER
HOUSING.
>> THERE WAS A VERY LARGE
RESEARCH PROJECT UNDERTAKEN IN
MICHIGAN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
OF CASES WHERE EXPUNGEMENTES
WERE ABLE TO BE ACCOMPLISHED
WITH A NOTICEABLE INCREASE IN
ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR
INDIVIDUALS, BOTH IN JOBS AND IN
WAGES.
THOSE JOBS AND WAGES TRICKLE
DOWN TO SUPPORT FAMILIES AND
THEY SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY.
>> IN THIS TIME WHEN WE HAVE
SEEN A LARGE RECKONING IN HOW
DIFFERENT RACES INTERACT WITH
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,
WITH POLICE, ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR
MORE IMPACTED BY THESE RECORDS
BEING AROUND AND IMPACTING
EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING AND COULD
THIS ALSO BE A STEP TOWARDS
GREATER EQUITY IN THAT AREA?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS TOTALLY A RACIAL EQUITY
TOOL.
I MEAN, IT'S WELL-DOCUMENTED
THAT POLICING IMPACTS PEOPLE OF
COLOR MUCH MORE THAN WHITE
PEOPLE.
AND THAT MEANS WHEN THEY ARE
ARRESTED THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE
LONGER ARREST RECORDS, AND SO,
AND THAT'S GOING TO FURTHER
HAMPER THEIR ABILITY TO OBTAIN
BETTER JOBS, HOUSING, AND
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY HAS AN IMPACT
ON ADDRESSING RACIAL INEQUITIES
IN OUR SYSTEM.
>> YOU CAN VIEW MARISA'S
COMPLETE INTERVIEW WITH MARSHA
MANSFIELD BY GOING TO
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLEKICKING ON
THE NEWS PAGE.
AND REPUBLICANS TOOK LESS THAN A
MINUTE TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE
SPECIAL SESSION ON MEDICAID
EXPANSION.
EVERS WOULD HAVE ADDED TO THE
LIST OF 38 OTHER STATES FOR
MEDICAID AS PART OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
$1 BILLION FOR FUNDS.
THEY CLAIM WISCONSINITES HAVE
GOOD OPTIONS NOW.
AND ROBIN VOS PLANS TO HIRE
THREE RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS TO
INVESTIGATE CLAIMS OF ELECTION
FRAUD IN THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION.
INVESTIGATORS WOULD SERVE UNDER
THE DIRECTION OF THE CAMPAIGN'S
AND ELECTION'S COMMITTEE.
OFFICIALS HAVE STATED CONFIDENCE
IN THE ELECTIONS PROCESS AND
RESULTS.
>>> THIS WEEK MARKED THE
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE
MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD BY
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER.
AS WE MARK THE ANNIVERSARY AND
SEE WORK TOWARDS POLICE REFORM
AT THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL
LEVELS, WE SPOKE WITH MILWAUKEE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAVID CROWLEY
WHO SAID IN THE WAKE OF THE
MURDER "THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT
CAN RECTIFY THIS INJUSTICE,"
ONLY "ACTION," HE SAID, "CAN
COME OF THIS."
HE SAT DOWN WITH MURV SEYMOUR,
TO ASK HOW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
COMMEMORATING THE ANNIVERSARY.
>> I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE
REALLY TAKEN TO THE STREETS
WANTING TO LET THEIR VOICES BE
HEARD BUT TO CALL FOR INVESTMENT
IN SOCIAL PROGRAMS THAT WILL
HELP OUT THIS COMMUNITY.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE
SEEN IN THE PAST MANY YEARS,
GENERATIONS, IT HAS BEEN AN
UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF
RESOURCES FROM GOVERNMENT AT ALL
LEVELS.
SO FOR US, LISTENING TO THE
COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE WE DO
WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO COMBAT
RACISM AND START HERE IN NORTH
COUNTY AND I WOULD SAY ALSO ONE
OF THE REASONS WHY WE SAY RACISM
IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, THE
FIRST IN THE NATION, AND WE HAVE
SEEN 180 COMMUNITIES FOLLOW
SUIT.
SO WE KNOW WE ARE ON THE RIGHT
PATH AND KNOW WE HAVE A LONG
ROAD AHEAD OF US.
>> I KNOW YOU MENTIONED A YEAR
AGO YOU SAW RACISM AS A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS AND YOU WANTED TO
SEE SOME CHANGE COME.
HAS THERE BEEN ENOUGH CHANGE IN
YOUR VIEW IN THE LAST YEAR?
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S NEVER ENOUGH
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING
THAT WE HAVE BEEN ENDURING IN
THE MIDDLE OF THIS PANDEMIC WITH
COVID-19 AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT
WE SEE A LOT OF CHANGE HERE IN
MILWAUKEE COUNTY.
NOT ONLY SAID RACISM IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH CRISIS BUT FOCUSSING ON
THE FIRST STRATEGIC PLAN IN 20
YEARS, AND ONE INTENTIONAL
INCLUSION, MAKING SURE THAT THE
PEOPLE AT THE TABLE, THE
DECISION MAKERS LOOK EXACTLY
LIKE THE COMMUNITY.
WE WANT TO BRIDGE THE GAP AT
BOTH RACE AND HEALTH
DISPARITIES, MAKING SURE WE CAN
BREAK DOWN SILOS, BUT ALSO HAVE
TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH
IS, AND THAT'S INVESTING IN
EQUITY, MAKING SURE PEOPLE FEEL
HEARD AND FEEL THEY ARE BEING
VALUED.
FOR US, WE ARE CONSTANTLY TAKING
BABY STEPS TO COMBAT THE FORCES.
ALL OF US COMING TOGETHER TO
MAKE SURE WE DO THIS RIGHT AND
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS WORK,
IT'S NOT FOR THE LIGHT HEARTED,
THIS IS HARD WORK, A HUGE TOLL
ON US AND SELF-CARE IS
DEFINITELY NEEDED BUT WE NEED
ALL HANDS ON DECK.
IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE
REPUBLICAN, A DEMOCRAT, UNION
MEMBER OR BUSINESS OWNER, WE
NEED YOU AT THE TABLE TO SOLVE
THE ISSUES THE COMMUNITY FACES.
>> NEW POLL BY THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS INDICATES MOST BLACKS
THINK RACISM AND POLICE
BRUTALITY ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS,
FAR LESS PERCENTAGE OF WHITES
FEEL THE SAME WAY.
WHY DO YOU THINK WE SEE THE
DISPARITIES OF OPINION BETWEEN
THE RACES?
>> I GUESS AT THE END OF THE
DAY, IT'S ABOUT HAVING THAT
CULTURAL CONVERSATION.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHAT SOMEBODY IS
EXPERIENCING UNTIL YOU HAVE THAT
DEEP CONVERSATION AND SOMETIMES
IT COULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE.
AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
ONE, RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE
CERTAIN EXPERIENCES THAT CERTAIN
PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY,
AND WE NEED TO CALL IT OUT.
BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
EASY WHEN YOU HAVE TWO FORCES
COMING TOGETHER WITH OPPOSING
VIEWS TO MAKE THE CHANGE THAT'S
NEEDED.
BUT IT'S ABOUT BECOMING
UNCOMFORTABLE BECOMING
COMFORTABLE, AND WE CANNOT ALLOW
TO CONTINUE ZIP CODES AND WHAT
YOU LOOK LIKE TO DETERMINE WHAT
THE OUTCOMES ARE IN YOUR LIFE.
>> ZIP CODES, DO YOU THINK IT
RESONATES IN THE RURAL
COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN?
>> POVERTY, ISSUES OF EDUCATION,
JOBS, SHARED BETWEEN URBAN AND
RURAL COMMUNITIES ALIKE.
AND SO A LOT OF THE TIMES IF YOU
ASK ME, THE ISSUE IS, IT LOOKS
DIFFERENT IN EACH OF THOSE
COMMUNITIES, AND SO WE JUST NEED
TO AGAIN STEP OUTSIDE OUR
COMFORT ZONE AND LEARN ABOUT
WHAT OTHER FOLKS ARE GOING
THROUGH, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE
TIME.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
PARTICULAR ISM, RACISM, BEEN
HERE HUNDREDS OF YEARS, I DON'T
BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO SOLVE
OUR PROBLEMS OVERNIGHT OR WITHIN
A YEAR.
BUT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
EVERY STRIVE THAT WE HAVE
AVAILABLE TO US TO COMBAT ALL
THE FORCES AND ELIMINATE RACISM
AS AN ISSUE HERE IN AMERICA AND
THE COUNTRY AND WORLD.
>> FOR YOU AS A BLACK MAN IN
WISCONSIN, THE LARGEST POPULATED
CITY, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO
ACCOMPLISH AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE
IN THE PAST YEAR?
>> GREAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC
IT DISPORTIONATELY AFFECTED
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
WE STARTED A HEALTHY HOMES
PROGRAM NOT LONG AGO TO HELP
THOSE ARE HOMEBOUND AND CANNOT
LEAVE, TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
VACCINATED.
GAVE OUT $11 MILLION, RECIPIENT
WOMEN AND MINORITY-OWNED AND
VETERANS.
EVEN WITH THE ZIP CODE PROGRAM,
HOW THE DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES
WAS NOT FAIR OR NOT HE CANEQUITABLE,
SO WE STARTED THE ZIP CODE
PROBLEM.
WE ARE LEARNING WE ARE ON THE
RIGHT PATH BUT IT'S GOING TO
TAKE ALL OF US COMING.
>> TIME FOR ONE QUICK ONE.
DOES THE ANNIVERSARY OF GEORGE
FLOYD'S DEATH BE THE PERMANENT
TIME MARKER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE,
QUICKLY?
>> I THINK IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
GEORGE FLOYD.
WE HAVE NUMEROUS BLACK PEOPLE,
WOMEN AND MEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR
WHO HAVE ALL DIED.
WE LOOK AT GEORGE FLOYD AND
JUSTICE TO CHAUVIN FOUND GUILTY
BUT I THINK AS WE LOOK AT THIS,
WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THESE
KILLINGS ARE STILL GOING ON,
BRUTALITY IS STILL HAPPENING,
AND SO WE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD
OF US.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE WE BUILD
A BIG ENOUGH TABLE SO EVERYONE
CAN SIT AROUND.
>> DAVID CROWLEY, MILWAUKEE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US FOR THIS IMPORTANT
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK FOR HAVING ME.
>> MURV SEYMOUR SPOKE WITH
MILWAUKEE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAVID
CROWLEY EARLIER.
THIS COMING TUESDAY LOOK FOR PBS
WISCONSIN AND WISCONSIN PUBLIC
RADIO WISCONTEXT COLLABORATIVE
REPORTING OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
IN WISCONSIN.
AND ALSO ON TUESDAY MORNING
IDEAS NETWORK AT 7:30, HEAR FROM
THE REPORTERS INVOLVED IN THE
WORK.
THAT'S ON THE MORNING SHOW ON
THE IDEAS NETWORK.
AND THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW,"
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.