>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> THIS 2020 MILWAUKEE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
SPECIAL IS PRESENTED IN
PARTNERSHIP BY PBS WISCONSIN'S
"HERE AND NOW" AND BY MILWAUKEE
PBS'S 10/36.
>> I ACCEPT THIS NOMINATION FOR
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
>> HERE IN WISCONSIN, OUR STATE
MOTTO IS JUST ONE WORD:
FORWARD.
THIS NOVEMBER, LET'S MOVE
FORWARD AND NEVER LOOK BACK.
>> HOLY MACKEREL, FOLKS.
LET'S GET TO WORK.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, U.S.
SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN AND
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE
JOE BIDEN.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
MILWAUKEE'S VIRTUAL CONVENTION
WEEK FOR THE DEMOCRATS.
ZAC SCHULTZ JOINS US FROM
MILWAUKEE, WHERE HE TALKED WITH
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GWEN MOORE
ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE
CONVENTION ON PEOPLE OF COLOR IN
THAT CITY.
OUR PARTNERS AT MILWAUKEE PBS
TALKED TO VOTERS AND WILL SHARE
A STORY CALLED PORCH POLITICS.
AND MARISA WOJCIK REPORTS ON
ENGAGEMENT AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE OF
COLOR.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
AUGUST 21.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> ALL WEEK, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE
BEEN CALLING THIS THE
UNCONVENTIONAL CONVENTION.
SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE ON THE
GROUND IN MILWAUKEE?
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ WAS THERE
ALL WEEK AND BRINGS US THIS
REPORT.
>> MONDAY MORNING WAS THE DAY
MILWAUKEE WAS WAITING FOR.
AN ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD
REGISTERED ZERO DAYS UNTIL THE
START OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
THE EVENT THAT WOULD CERTIFY
MILWAUKEE AS A PEER TO OTHER
MAJOR CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> GOOD MORNING, WISCONSIN
DEMOCRATS.
>> TECHNICALLY, MILWAUKEE WAS
STILL THE HOST CITY, EVEN IF
CONCERNS OVER THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC MEANT THE WISCONSIN
DELEGATE BREAKFAST TOOK PLACE
ONLINE.
>> WE ARE ALSO GATHERED
VIRTUALLY BECAUSE OF AN
UNFOLDING TRAGEDY RIGHT NOW, A
TRAGEDY, FRANKLY, THAT WE CAN
LAY AT THE FEET OF THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> SPEAKERS TRIED TO PUT ON A
BRAVE FACE.
>> THIS IS TRULY AN EXCITING
MOMENT.
>> TRYING TO MAKE SURE VIRTUAL
EXPERIENCE COULD STILL BE A
SHARED EXPERIENCE.
>> I'VE STILL GOT MY BREAKFAST
WITH ME TODAY, EGG MCMUFFIN.
>> REPUBLICANS TRIED TO
CAPITALIZE ON THE ABSENCE OF THE
DEMOCRATS, WITH DONALD TRUMP
FLIEG
FLYING INTO OSHKOSH AND FLAUNT
WISCONSIN'S MASK ORDER.
>> SO WE'LL CALL IT A PEACEFUL
PROTEST.
THAT WAY WE CAN DO WHATEVER WE
WANT.
>> THE WOMEN FOR TRUMP BUS TOUR
HIT SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN ASKING
VOTERS TO VALUE BEING THERE OVER
BEING SAFE.
>> WE THOUGHT JOE BIDEN WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE IN WISCONSIN.
>> WHERE'S JOE?
[APPLAUSE]
>> THEY EVEN RENTED A BILLBOARD
RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE EMPTY
FISERV FORUM.
BUT THERE WASN'T ANYBODY TO SEE
IT.
>> HEY, HEY, HO, HO, GOT TO GO.
>> ONLY A HANDFUL OF PROTESTORS
SHOWED UP.
>> CORPORATE MON MONOPOLIES.
>> TOM BARRETT SAID ABSOLUTELY
NO REASON TO STAY AWAY FROM
DOWNTOWN OTHER THAN COVID-19.
>> CO-OWNER OF BUCK BRADLEY'S
SALOON.
>> WELL, IT WAS QUITE A BLOW.
WE ENDED UP HAVING SEVERAL
BOOKINGS WHICH ENDED UP
CANCELLING.
THESE PARTIES WERE GOING TO BE
MID FIVE FIGURES.
SO OF COURSE THAT HURT.
BUT WE'VE BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR
THREE MONTHS ALSO.
>> THE CONVENTION PROGRAM WAS SO
WORLDLY THAT WISCONSIN SPEAKERS
HAD TO REMIND PEOPLE THEY WERE
STILL THE HOST.
>> WISCONSIN.
>> WELCOME BACK TO MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN, A GREAT CITY ON
NATIVE LAND ON A GREAT LAKE.
IT'S THE PLACE WHERE I WAS BORN
AND RAISED RIGHT IN THE HEART OF
53206 ZIP CODE.
>> THE CONVENTION ENDED WITH JOE
BIDEN ACCEPTING THE NOMINATION
FROM DELAWARE WITHOUT EVEN
MENTIONING MILWAUKEE OR
WISCONSIN.
>> THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS
YOU AND MAY GOD PROTECT OUR
TROOPS.
>> ZAC SCHULTZ JOINS US
POST-CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.
ZAC, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> MY PLEASURE, FRED.
>> SO THE FACT THAT MILWAUKEE
WAS CHOSEN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION WAS A VERY BIG DEAL
IN THIS STATE.
BUT WHAT IN THE END DO YOU THINK
ABOUT WHETHER GIVEN ITS VIRTUAL
FOOTPRINT THE NATIONAL AUDIENCE
COULD EVEN TELL ITS OFFICIAL
LOCATION, MUCH LESS KIND OF A
SHOWCASING OF THE CITY?
>> YEAH.
THERE DEFINITELY WAS A LACK OF
FOCUS ON MILWAUKEE.
THERE WEREN'T ANY OF THE FLASHY
THINGS SHOWING THE SKYLINE OR
ANY OF THE INTRO GRAPHICS COMING
BACK TALKING ABOUT WELCOME BACK
TO MILWAUKEE THAT YOU HEAR IN
OTHER CONVENTION PROGRAMS.
THE NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE SEEMED
TO BE THAT WAS OKAY, THAT THE
VIRTUAL FORMAT BROUGHT IN THE
WHOLE COUNTRY AT THE SAME TIME
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON ONE AREA.
CLEARLY THE PEOPLE HERE IN
MILWAUKEE AND WISCONSIN WOULD
HAVE LIKED THE REVERSE, BUT I
THINK THEY UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY
HAD TO BRING THE ATTENTION TO
THEMSELVES WHEN IT WAS THEIR
OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THEM THAT
WISCONSIN AND MILWAUKEE WERE THE
HOST PLACES.
>> DONALD TRUMP AND MIKE PENCE
WERE BOTH IN WISCONSIN THIS
WEEK.
DID THEY STEAL ANY OF THE
SPOTLIGHT FROM JOE BIDEN AND
KAMALA HARRIS WHO IN FACT DID
NOT COME TO STATE?
>> WELL, THERE WAS CERTAINLY
LOCAL MEDIA ATTENTION PLACED ON
THOSE VISITS.
WE CERTAINLY FOLLOWED UP ON
THAT.
BUT IN THE END, THE CONVENTION
MOSTLY TOOK PLACE DURING THE
EVENING AND FROM THE VIEWERS'
PERSPECTIVE, FROM A NATIONAL
PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S NOT WHEN THE
TRUMP CAMPAIGN WAS ON THE
GROUND.
SO YOU COULD QUESTION WHETHER
THEY WERE ABLE TO STEAL SOME OF
THAT ATTENTION.
THE EVENINGS REALLY BELONGED TO
THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL
CONVENTION, WHAT PEOPLE WERE
WATCHING AND TALKING ABOUT.
>> ONE THING THAT WAS POSITIVE
WAS THAT THE POLICE PRESENCE
DIDN'T NEED TO BE MASSIVE.
>> YEAH.
THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LACK OF
POLICE PRESENCE DOWN HERE, AND
THAT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD THING.
THE MAYOR ACTUALLY COMMENTED
THAT THERE WERE NO MAJOR
DISTURBANCES.
THERE WERE SOME SMALL LIMITED
PROTESTS, BUT NO ARRESTS THAT WE
HAVE HEARD ABOUT.
SO IT WAS A HAPPY THING THAT THE
CITY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
ALL THE CONFLICT THAT WE'VE SEEN
AROUND THE COUNTRY AND OTHER
MAJOR CITIES COMING HERE.
THERE WAS CONCERN IN THE RUN-UP
TO THIS OF WHETHER WE WOULD HAVE
ENOUGH POLICE PRESENCE IN
MILWAUKEE TO HANDLE THAT.
>> OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE IN THE CITY
FELT THE LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY,
PARTICULARLY BUSINESSES.
BUT IT WASN'T JUST BUSINESSES
THAT LOST OUT.
>> NO.
THERE WAS A SENSE OF CIVIC PRIDE
THAT WAS LOST.
PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO SEE
MILWAUKEE AND WISCONSIN PUT ON
THE MAP.
WE SPOKE TO CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN
MOORE ABOUT THAT VERY ISSUE.
>> TONIGHT WE ARE GATHERED TO
RECLAIM THE SOUL OF AMERICA.
>> THE SERGEANT-AT-ARMS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION,
CONGRESSWOMAN GWEN MOORE WAS ONE
OF THE FIRST SPEAKERS MONDAY
NIGHT.
>> TODAY WE GATHER VIRTUALLY.
HOWEVER, WE GATHER UNIFIED IN
SPIRIT, UNIFIED IN OUR VALUES
AND PURPOSE.
>> SHE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE ONLY
SPEAKERS ACTUALLY IN MILWAUKEE.
>> OH, I SURE WISH YOU ALL WERE
HERE IN THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
>> SEEING THE DNC GO VIRTUAL WAS
A CRUSHING BLOW TO THE CITY.
>> AND AS WE ALL RECOGNIZE, IT'S
NOT EXACTLY WHAT WE THOUGHT IT
WAS GOING TO BE.
BUT WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO DEAL
WITH IT.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF
DISAPPOINTMENT, A LOT OF
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT'S NOT
GOING TO OWE CURL.
>> BUT NEXT TO THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, THE ECONOMIC CRY TIS
AND THE BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTEST, A CONVENTION IS NOT THE
DEFINING ISSUE FOR MILWAUKEE'S
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
>> WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING BIDEN IN PERSON.
IT WOULD HAVE BOOSTED MORALE.
>> DEBRA WILKERSON WAS WAITING
FOR AN APPOINTMENT AT THE HUMAN
SERVICES BUILDING JUST A FEW
BLOCKS FROM THE CONVENTION
CENTER.
SHE SAID THEY DON'T NEED A
CONVENTION TO REMIND THEM WHAT'S
AT STAKE THIS FALL.
>> WE ARE GOING TO VOTE.
>> THE EFFECTS OF THE
CORONAVIRUS ON JOBS AND THE
STATE'S DELAYS IN PROCESSING
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS ARE THE
BIGGEST CONCERNS FOR EVERYBODY
IN THIS LINE.
>> UNEMPLOYMENT IS VERY
IMPORTANT HERE.
VERY IMPORTANT.
THE DNC CONVENTION, NICE IF IT
WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.
BUT UNEMPLOYMENT.
>> MILWAUKEE IS THE PLACE THAT I
LOVE.
AND IT'S THE PLACE THAT HAS HAD
ALL OF THOSE CHALLENGES AND
PROBLEMS.
>> THE DNC WAS SUPPOSED TO TURN
THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE CITY.
>> WISCONSIN AND MILWAUKEE, THIS
WAS A MICROCOSM OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> GWEN MOORE KNEW THAT MEANT
HIGHLIGHT THE GOOD STORIES AND
THE INEQUITIES.
>> PRE-COVID IT WAS DESIGNATED
AS ONE OF THE WORST PLACES FOR A
BLACK CHILD TO GROW UP BECAUSE
OF THE POVERTY.
>> MARC LEVINE IS WITH THE
UW-MILWAUKEE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
HIS LATEST STUDY SHOWS NO LARGE
AMERICAN CITY RANKS WORSE ACROSS
THE BOARD ON INDICATORS OF BLACK
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING THAN
MILWAUKEE.
>> WE HAVE GOT THE MOST
IMPOVERISHED AFRICAN-AMERICAN
COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY AND
IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT HAS BECOME
INCREASINGLY IMPOVERISHED.
>> THIS IS A CITY WHERE BLOOD
WAS SHED FOR LABOR RIGHTS.
>> MOORE HOPED THAT SPOTLIGHT OF
THE DNC WOULD OPEN THE EYES OF
THE NATION TO THE CHALLENGES IN
MILWAUKEE.
>> THESE ISSUES ARE NOT NEW TO
MILWAUKEE AND THE STRUGGLE IS
NOT NEW TO MILWAUKEE.
>> INSTEAD, COVID-19 HAS SHOWN
THOSE INEQUITIES EXIST ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY AND MOORE SAYS THE
TIME HAS COME FOR THE NATION TO
ADDRESS THEM.
>> WE HAVE PUBLIC SENTIMENT
AROUND COPING WITH RACISM, WITH
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AROUND
INEQUALITY, AROUND HEALTH CARE
FOR EVERYONE, AROUND CLIMATE
CHANGE.
>> GWEN MOORE SAYS THE LESSON TO
LEARN FROM ALL OF THIS IS FOR
PEOPLE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO
THEIR OWN HANDS.
THEYSHE SEES THAT IN THE PROTESTS.
>> SO THIS NEXT GENERATION IS
FIGHTING FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF
LIFE FOR -- YOU KNOW, I'M JUST
READY TO SEE THEM COME ONLINE
AND DO IT.
>> SHE EVEN SEES THAT IN THE
DEMOCRATS' APPROACH TO A VIRTUAL
CONVENTION.
>> I AM NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE
FOR THIS BEING A DIFFERENT
CONVENTION.
>> MOORE SAYS THE SILVER LINING
TO THE MILWAUKEE DNC IS YOU
DON'T HAVE TO BE THERE TO GET
INVOLVED.
SHE SAYS COVID GAVE THEM LEMONS.
>> BUT WE HAVE MADE GALLONS AND
BUCKETS AND BUCKETS OF LEMONADE
OUT OF IT.
>> I LOVE YOU ALL.
>> I LOVE YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT'S A STORY WORTH TELLING
TO THE NATION.
>> WE GET TO TELL THAT STORY,
RIGHT HERE IN SOME STUDIO IN
MILWAUKEE.
AND IT MATTERS.
>> THANKS TO ZAC SCHULTZ FOR HIS
COVERAGE THIS WEEK.
NEXT, WE TURN TO OUR PROGRAM
PARTNERS AT MILWAUKEE PBS, WHERE
REPORTERS TOOK TO NEIGHBORHOODS
TO HEAR FROM VOTERS.
10/36 HOST PORTIA YOUNG HAS
MORE.
>> WE'VE HEARD FROM THE POLLS,
PUNDITS AND POLITICIANS.
NOW IT'S TIME TO HEAR FROM THE
VOTERS THEMSELVES.
MILWAUKEE PBS PRODUCERS HEADED
OUT TO THREE KEY MILWAUKEE
COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS, WHERE ALL
EYES WILL BE LOOKING AT ELECTION
DAY.
TURNOUT TO ASK PEOPLE WHO
THEY'RE VOTING FOR AND TO TALK
SOME PORCH POLITICS.
>> THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IS LESS
THAN THREE MONTHS AWAY AND
REGARDLESS OF WHO WINS, THIS IS
A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE COUNTRY.
WITH ALL THE CHANGES WE'VE SEEN
IN 2020, WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE FINAL
SAY: VOTERS.
>> SO WE WENT TO THREE MILWAUKEE
COUNTY NEIGHBORHOODS TO ASK
PEOPLE WHO THEY'RE VOTING FOR
AND THE ISSUES THEY CARE ABOUT
MOST.
>> WE STARTED ON MILWAUKEE'S
NORTH SIDE IN SHERMAN BLOCK.
>> THEN WE HEADED TO THE SOUTH
SIDE, TO THE BURNHAM PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WE FINISHED IN WEST ALLIS
WHERE IT'S MORE OF A PURPLE MIX.
>> WE SAW YARD SIGNS OF EVERY
FLAVOR.
>> THE DEMS CHOSE MILWAUKEE FOR
THE CONVENTION.
SO THE BIG QUESTION REMAINS.
IF YOU HAD TO VOTE TODAY, WHO
WOULD YOU VOTE FOR?
>> BIDEN.
>> WHY?
>> DEMOCRAT.
BETTER THAN -- ANYBODY BUT
TRUMP.
I'M BEING HONEST WITH YOU.
ANYBODY BUT DONALD TRUMP.
>> I WOULD VOTE FOR BIDEN.
>> WHY?
>> TO GET TRUMP OUT OF OFFICE.
>> DEFINITELY WOULD BE BIDEN.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP.
>> YEAH.
>> AND WHY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP?
>> I FEEL LIKE HE'S KIND OF --
HE DOESN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOW
LIKE THE REPUBLICAN WAY.
>> BIDEN IS MY CHOICE BECAUSE
TRUMP IS JUST IRRITATING AND I
JUST CAN'T TAKE WHAT HE IS
SAYING ABOUT THE BLACK LIVES,
ABOUT ANYTHING.
IT JUST DRIVES ME NUTS.
>> JOE BIDEN.
>> TRUMP AND PENCE.
>> AND WHY THAT TICKET?
>> WELL, I'M REPUBLICAN, IS ONE
THING.
AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO KEEP
THINGS MOVING IN A SAFE AND
CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.
>> DO I HAVE TO SAY IT?
>> WE'D LIKE YOU TO.
>> GONNA BE TRUMP.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> I DON'T LIKE HIM.
HE CROOKED.
HE JUST LIKE SOME OF MY
GRANDKIDS.
HE PLAY GAMES.
>> OBVIOUSLY BIDEN.
>> AND ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT HIS
CANDIDACY?
>> LET'S JUST SAY HE'S THE BEST
OUT OF A BAD SITUATION.
>> WELL, I'M HOPING TRUMP WINS.
THAT'S WHO I VOTED FOR THE LAST
ELECTION.
I'M A LITTLE SCARED IF HE
DOESN'T WIN WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN
WITH ALL THE STUFF THAT'S GOING
ON.
>> JOE BIDEN.
>> AND WHY IS THAT?
>> BECAUSE TRUMP, HE'S -- HE'S
NO GOOD.
>> AND --
>> HE'S A BIGOT.
AND INSTEAD OF HIM BRINGING
EVERYBODY TOGETHER, HE'S
DIVIDING EVERYBODY.
>> WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
>> WHAT ISSUES ARE MOST
IMPORTANT TO ME?
FIRST OF ALL, TO WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO TO FINALLY FIX THIS
WHOLE PANDEMIC AND HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THE
PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR JOBS.
>> WHAT ISSUES ARE THE MOST
IMPORTANT TO YOU?
>> EMPLOYMENT, THE ECONOMY.
>> EMPLOYMENT.
>> THE RACISTS.
I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN GET
PAST THAT.
I MEAN, I'M 61 YEARS OLD AND
I'VE SEEN A LOT AND I KNOW IT'S
A LOT OF STUFF I DIDN'T SEE.
BUT BEING AT MY AGE AND WHAT WE
HAVE TODAY.
>> SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR US
WITH THE NEW RULES.
>> DECENT JOBS, DECENT PAY.
>> TOO MANY PEOPLE OUT HERE WITH
TOO MANY GUNS AND TOO MANY
PEOPLE'S GETTING KILLED FOR NO
REASON.
>> WELL, BEING RETIRED RECENTLY,
THE ECONOMY.
ALSO, I'D LIKE TO SEE INFLATION
KEPT AT BAY.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET
SCHOOLS BACK OPEN, BUT ONLY IF
WE CAN DO THAT SAFELY.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
JOBS AND I'M IMPACTED BY IT
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A JOB.
I WORK FOR THE SCHOOL.
AND I'M JUST HOPING AND WISHING
THAT EVERYTHING JUST TURN AROUND
AND WE COULD JUST GET BACK THE
WAY IT WAS.
>> WE FOUND THAT PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S SUPPORTERS WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT MAINTAINING THE
RULE OF LAW DURING THESE
UNCERTAIN TIMES AND FOR A LOT OF
BIDEN SUPPORTERS WE SPOKEW SPOKE WITH,
THEY'D VOTE FOR ANYONE NOT NAMED
DONALD TRUMP.
>> THANKS TO PORTIA YOUNG AND
MILWAUKEE PBS FOR THEIR
REPORTING.
AS TO VOTERS, HOW MANY IN
MILWAUKEE AND ELSEWHERE WILL
DECIDE TO CAST MAIL-IN ABSENTEE
BALLOTS IN THE?
ELECTION CLERKS ARE GEARING UP
FOR EIGHTEEN FLUX AN INFLUX OF SUCH BALLOTS.
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL IS UNDER
FIRE SAYING HIS COST-CUTTING
MEASURES ARE SLOWING DOWN MAIL
DELIVERY AHEAD OF THE ELECTION.
WISCONSIN U.S. SENATOR RON
JOHNSON HAS CONCERNS ABOUT THE
POLITICS OF THOSE CRITICISMS OF
THE USPS AND HELD A HEARING ON
THE MATTER JUST TODAY.
>> POSTMASTER'S ATTEMPTS TO
REDUCE EXCESS COSTS ARE NOW
BEING USED TO CREATE THIS FALSE
POLITICAL NARRATIVE.
ACCORDING TO DEMOCRATS, POSSESS
MASTER IS TRYING TO SABOTAGE THE
SYSTEM TO DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS
IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS.
NOTICES THAT WERE SENT BEFORE HE
WAS SWORN IN INFORMED ELECTION
OFFICIALS TO FACTOR IN NORMAL
POSTAL CAPABILITIES AND ARE
BEING USED AS EVIDENCE OF THIS
CONSPIRACY THEORY AND THE MEDIA
IS PLAYING ALONG.
>> THIS WILL NOT STOP YOUR
ABILITY TO VOTE.
DON'T LET IT.
SECOND, I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER
THAT IS SIGNED BY -- LAST TIME I
LOOKED, 75 OR SO MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS ASKING THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS OF THE POSTAL SERVICE
TO FIRE POSTMASTER DEJOY.
I THINK HIS ACTIONS HAVE BEEN
REPREHENSIBLE.
I THINK HE'S ACTING AS A
POLITICAL LEADER IN THE TRUMP
CAMPAIGN RATHER THAN THE
POSTMASTER GENERAL.
>> AS PARTISAN POLITICS
CONTINUES APACE AMONGST ELECTED
OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON, A
RECENT NATIONAL SURVEY SHOWS
THAT YOUNG PEOPLE'S ENGAGEMENT
IN THE 2020 ELECTIONS IS HIGHER
THAN IN 2016 OR 2018.
THE PANDEMIC IS CREDITED IN PART
WITH THIS GROWTH IN INTEREST AND
INVOLVEMENT, HAVING SHEN SHOWN THEM
HOW POLITICS IMPACTS THEIR
EVERYDAY LIFE.
FOR YOUTH OF COLOR, RACIAL
INJUSTICE AND BLACK LIVES MATTER
MOVEMENT HAS MADE THE STAKES
HIGHER.
#83% OF YOUNG PEOPLE SAID THEY
BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE POWER TO
CHANGE THE COUNTRY.
MARISA WOJCIK SPOKE WITH LEADERS
IN MILWAUKEE WHO ARE SEIZING
THIS MOMENT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
>> BLACK LIVES MATTER!
>> 2020 HAS UP-ENDED MOST
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
BUT FOR SOME, THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, THE BLACK LIVES MATTER
MOVEMENT AND A PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION MEANS THAT THIS IS A
MOMENT TO BE SEIZED.
>> BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT,
EVEN THE CORONAVIRUS IN GENERAL,
IT'S JUST OPENING PEOPLE'S EYES
TO A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE
GOING ON IN THE WORLD THAT THEY
DIDN'T CARE ABOUT OR THEY DIDN'T
THINK IMPACTED THEM.
>> HAD OUR COUNTRY EXPOSED TO
THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE SEE THE
COUNTRY IN FLAMES TO ACTUALLY
SEE SOMETHING IS WRONG.
>> THESE ISSUES CAN'T BE
SEPARATED.
YOUTH OF COLOR WERE HIT HARDEST
BY THE PANDEMIC.
>> I THINK IT'S PUTTING THE
URGENCY THAT YOUNG PEOPLE AND
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND OTHER MA GIN MA GIN
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES HAVE
SEEN FOR YEARS.
CHANGE IS A MATTER OF LIFE OR
DEATH.
>> EVERY DAY YOU'RE STANDING
HERE TO GET OVER THE AGE OF 25
AND TO BE A BLACK MALE IS
SOMETHING THAT'S TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED AND IT SHOULDN'T
BE.
>> MY REASONS FOR BEING OUT HERE
IS BECAUSE I'D RATHER BE HUMAN
TO NOT BE HUMAN.
I'D RATHER LIVE THAN NOT LIVE.
>> A RECENT TUFTS UNIVERSITY
SURVEY SAYS THAT 83% OF YOUTH
BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE POWER TO
CHANGE THE COUNTRY.
IN THE STREETS, AND AT THE
BALLOT BOX.
>> A MAJORITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE
SAY THEY FEEL THEY'RE A PART OF
THE MOVEMENT THAT WILL VOTE TO
EXPRESS ITS VIEWS.
IT ISN'T AN EITHER/OR.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS PEOPLE
CAN BE ENGAGED.
>> I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE
TELLING ME I DON'T WANT TO VOTE.
IT'S POINTLESS.
IT DON'T MATTER.
AND IT'S JUST LIKE IT DO MATTER.
LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO SEE CHANGE.
>> BECAUSE OTHERWISE PEOPLE IN
OFFICE, WHETHER YOU THINK IT
AFFECTS YOU OR NOT, ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO CONTROL YOUR LIFE IN
SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
>> WE'RE SEEING ABOUT HALF OF
YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TO CONVINCE
THE OTHER HALF TO VOTE.
>> YOUTH ARE TURNING OUT.
I CAN TELL FROM NUMEROUS PEOPLE
THAT I HAVE WORKED WITH, SOME
PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER
THOUGHT WOULD BE INTO THIS TYPE
OF STUFF IS DOING THIS TYPE OF
STUFF, HELPING ME OUT.
SO SEEING THAT FIRSTHAND IS A
CHANGE.
I CAN SEE A CHANGE COMING.
>> THIS IS IMPORTANT TO ME
BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S
OLD AND SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN
FIGURED OUT A LONG TIME AGO.
BUT RACISM IS STILL ALIVE.
>> I FEEL LIKE IT'S ALREADY BEEN
BROUGHT UP IN ANOTHER SHAPE OR
FORM.
IT'S LIKE THE NEW JORDANS THAT
COME OUT, THEY CAME OUT YEARS
AGO.
MY MOM WAS A CHILD.
NOW THEY'RE COMING OUT NOW AND A
DIFFERENT COLOR.
THAT'S HOW I SEE ISSUES IN
AMERICA.
>> IT DOES GO BACK FOR
GENERATIONS.
MY GRANDMA WAS ALIVE WHEN THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT WAS GOING
ON AND MY MOM WAS BORN IN 1968.
THAT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF THE
MOVEMENT.
IT IS KIND OF SAD TO SEE WE'RE
STILL FIGHTING FOR THE SAME
INJUSTICES THAT WE WERE FIGHTING
FOR 60 YEARS AGO.
>> YOUNG PEOPLE ARE REALLY
DIVERSE AND IN THE ISSUES THAT THEY
CARE ABOUT AND THOSE ISSUES ARE
NOT ONES THAT ARE BEING RESOLVED
RIGHT THIS INSTANT.
SO THE ISSUES THAT WE SAW
MENTIONED WERE THE ENVIRONMENT
AND CLIMATE CHANGE, RACISM AND
ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY
OF HEALTH CARE.
THESE ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN
SALIENT FOR A WHILE IN AMERICA
AND CONTINUE TO BE SALIENT AND
SO THAT'S WHY I KIND OF SEE THIS
INCREASE IN THIS ACTIVISM AND
ENGAGEMENT CONTINUING.
>> I FEEL LIKE IF I WAS AT HOME
NOT DOING ANYTHING, I JUST
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO LOOK MYSELF
IN THE MIRROR.
>> WHEN YOU ASK ME WHAT I WANT
TO CHANGE, I WANT TO CHANGE
EVERYTHING.
I WANT TO ERASE ALL SYSTEMATIC
DISCREPANCIES PUT IN PLACE THAT
OPPRESS PEOPLE AND HOLD PEOPLE
DOWN.
I WANT EQUALITY IN THE EDUCATION
SYSTEM, IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM,
BECAUSE AS MUCH AS PEOPLE DENY
IT AND SAY STUFF ISN'T REAL,
IT'S AS APPARENT AS EVER TO US.
ESPECIALLY US BEING, YOU KNOW,
STUDENTS IN OUR INNER CITY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE CAN SEE LIKE CLEARLY SEE THE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT
RESOURCES WE HAVE PUT INTO OUR
SCHOOLS AND WHAT OUR WHITE
COUNTERPARTS IN THE SUBURBS HAVE
PUT INTO THEIR SCHOOLS.
>> THERE'S NOT A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES FOR US.
I DON'T HEAR KIDS, FIVE, SIX,
SEVEN TALKING ABOUT I WANT TO BE
AN ASTRONAUT OR DO THIS WITH MY
LIFE.
NO.
YOU HEAR TWO THINGS.
RAP OR PLAY BASKETBALL.
>> SO WE WANT TO SEE MORE
EQUALITY, MORE OPPORTUNITIES
PRESENTED TO US, BECAUSE WE'RE
WORTH IT.
>> EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER IS JUST
SO WE CAN GET THE RESPECT AND
THE DIGNITY THAT WE SO DESERVE.
LIKE BLACK PEOPLE, BLACK PEOPLE
ARE FIGHTING FOR SOMETHING THAT
WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOR
YEARS AND IT'S LIKE IT'S
CONSTANTLY OVERLOOKED.
>> THIS YEAR, DEFINITELY A MAKE
OR BREAK YEAR.
WE NEED EVERYBODY AND ANYBODY TO
VOTE.
>> THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
I WANT TO BRING THAT SAME ENERGY
SO WE CAN GET TOGETHER SO WE CAN
MAKE A CHANGE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M HERE FOR,
LIKE TO BRING THAT SAME ENERGY
SO THEY FEEL LIKE THEY MAKING A
CHANGE IF THEY VOTE.
MAKE SURE YOU GOT THAT SAME
ENERGY IN YOURSELF AND IN YOUR
CITY.
>> YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THE
AUTHENTICITY AND THE COURAGE AND
THE STRATEGY AND THE WHEREWITHAL
THAT BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH HAVE
HERE.
>> SO LET US TELL OUR STORY AND
LEAD THE MOVEMENT.
ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT YOU
LISTEN.
>> YOUR VOICE MATTERS AND WE ALL
NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE OUR
SEAT AT THE TABLE.
WHETHER IT'S SMALL OR BIG, GET
YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE.
GET THERE, STAY THERE.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M
MARISA WOJCIK IN MILWAUKEE.
>> THE YOUTH SURVEY SAID THAT
WHILE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MORE
ENGAGED THAN BEFORE, ACCESS TO
INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION AND
VOTING DURING A PANDEMIC WILL BE
THE BIGGEST ISSUE FOR YOUNG
VOTERS.
FOR QUESTIONS LIKE THAT, YOU CAN
FIND COMPLETE VOTER INFORMATION
AND CANDIDATE PROFILES BY GOING
TO wisconsinvote.org AND LOOK
FOR REPORTING ONLINE THROUGHOUT
THE WEEK FOR ELECTION AND OTHER
NEWS UPDATES AT
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK
ON THE NEWS TAB.
ALSO, FOR ONGOING IN-DEPTH
COVERAGE ON COVID-19, VISIT
wiscontext.org.
NEXT WEEK, THE ISSUES AND THEMES
OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
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.