>>
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> THE TWO ENDS OF STATE STREET
IN MADISON, THE STATE CAPITOL
AND THE UW CAMPUS SPAR OVER HOW
COVID SHOULD BE MANAGED ON
CAMPUS EVEN AS STUDENTS ARRIVE
FOR SCHOOL.
SYSTEM PRESIDENT TOMMY THOMPSON
STRIKES A DEFIANT STANSZ IN
FAVOR OF SAFETY.
AND AFGHAN REFUGEES FIND THEIR
WAY TO AMERICA VIA FORT MCCOY IN
WISCONSIN.
>> I'M MF FREDERICA FREYBERG.
U.S. SENATORS RON JOHNSON AND
TAMMY BALDWIN ON THE ARRIVAL OF
AFGHAN REFUGEES TO WISCONSIN.
A FOX VALLEY RESETTLEMENT
SPECIALIST SHARES PREPARATIONS
FOR NEW ARRIVES RIFLES.
AND WILL KENNEALLY REPORTS ON
THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE
SHOOTING OF JACOB BLAKE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR A
UGUST 27.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES ACROSS
THE STATE ARE GEARED UP TO HOLD
IN-PERSON FALL SEMESTER CLASSES
WITH COVID PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.
THAT'S DESPITE PUSHBACK ON THE
SAFETY MEASURES FROM SOME
CORNERS OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEGISLATURE.
UW-MADISON IS AMONG THE SCHOOLS
WITH A PLAN.
WE SHOULD NOTE THAT PBS
WISCONSIN IS PART OF THE UW.
WE TALKED WITH CHANCELLOR
REBECCA BLANK LATE THIS WEEK AND
STARTED BY ASKING HER WHAT HESS
MESSAGE IS TO FAMILIES AND THEIR
STUDENTS ABOUT HOW THEIR SAFETY
IS BEING PROTECTED.
>> SO WE'RE TAKING A NUMBER OF
STEPS TO MAKE SURE WE OPEN S
AFELY AND I SHOULD SAY WE ARE
TRYING TO OPEN AS FULLY IN
PERSON AS POSSIBLE BUT WITH SOME
MODIFICATIONS.
THE FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT
THING IS TO SAY WE ARE A HIGHLY
VACCINATED COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY AROUND US IS
HIGHLY VACCINATED IN DANE C
OUNTY.
BUT ON CAMPUS WE HAVE NOW OVER
-9D 0% -- 90% OF OUR FACULTY AND
STAFF VACCINATED.
AT LATEST REPORT WE WERE WELL
OVER 80% OF STUDENTS VACCINATED.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP
BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAS
REPORTED IN.
IN THE DORMS AS WELL ABOVE 90%
AS WELL.
WE'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE ON
THAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO
PUSH THAT WITH FREE VACCINATIONS
TO ANYONE.
BUT ON TOP OF THAT THERE ARE
OTHER MEASURES WE NEED TOIC AT
THAT.
WE HAVE AN INDOOR MASK MANDATE
LIKE DANE COUNTY AND THAT IS
IMPORTANT.
ALL OF OUR DORM RESIDENTS WHEN
THEY ARRIVED RIFE HAVE TO TEST
BEFORE THEY COME AND WILL BE
TESTED WEEKLY IF THEY ARE U
NVACCINATED ONCE THEY ARE HERE
IN THE DORMS.
WE LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED THAT ALL
UNVACCINATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
STUDENTS AND STAFF, NEED TO TEST
WEEKLY.
WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THESE
NUMBERS VERY CLOSELY.
IF THEY GO UP, WE'LL TALK ABOUT
OTHER MEASURES.
IF THEY GO DOWN, WE'LL
RECONSIDER WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE'RE FOLLOWING THE DATA AND
SCIENCE AND DOING WHAT WE DID
LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WERE QUITE
SUCCESSFUL, INFECTIONS RATES
BELOW 1%.
>> WOULD OTHER MEASURES INCLUDE
GOING BACK TO ONLINE I
NSTRUCTION?
>> WE'RE TRYING VERY HARD NOT TO
DO THAT AND WITH I THINK WE NEED
TO BE IN A GREATER HEALTH
EMERGENCY THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
OUR STUDENTS REALLY WANT TO BE
BACK IN PERSON FOR OBVIOUS
REASONS AFTER ALMOST A YEAR AND
A HALF MANY OF THEM BEING O
NLINE.
OUR FACULTY ARE EAGER TO BE BACK
WITH STUDENTS.
WE ARE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO PRESERVE THAT COLLEGE
EXPERIENCE WHICH SO MANY OF OUR
STUDENTS HAVEN'T HAD FOR MORE
THAN A YEAR.
>> MEANWHILE, REPUBLICAN STATE
SENATOR NS STEVEN NAS SAYS HE
WILL SUE THE UW.
AS YOU KNOW, SYSTEM PRESIDENT
TOMMY THOMPSON IS NOT BACKING
DOWN ON THIS.
I STAND -- I TRUST YOU STAND
WITH PRESIDENT THOMPSON?
>> I APPRECIATE HIS STANCE.
IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT THE
LEGISLATURE HAS CONTROL OVER
EVERY POLICY WE MAKE ON THIS
CAMPUS, PARTICULARLY OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH POLICIES.
THIS HAS TO BE AT THE DISCRETION
OF CHANCELLORS IN THE SYSTEM.
>> SENATOR NASS ALSO SAID, Q
UOTE, IT IS NOT PRIZING THAT
THE IVORY TOWERS ARE OPENLY D
EFYING STATE LAW TO ISSUE
COVID-19 MAN MANDATES TO CONTROL
EVERY ADULT THAT DARES TO WALK
ON THEIR CAMPUSES ON THE NOTABLE
EXEMPTION OF 70,000 FOOTBALL
FANS IN MADISON.
APPARENTLY THEY HAVE DISCOVERED
THAT REVENUE-GENERATING FOOTBALL
GAMES DON'T SPREAD COVID-19.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT QUITE
TRUE.
OUR TICKET-PAYING FANS HAVE TO
MASK.
SO IF THEY'RE IN THE BATHROOMS
OR IN CLOSED ROOMS, AS DOES
EVERYONE ELSE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY NEED TO BE MASKED.
OUTSIDE IN THE BOWL WE RECOMMEND
PEOPLE MASK, BUT IT IS OUTSIDE
AND THERE IS FAR LESS EVIDENCE
OF TRANSMISSION AMONG PEOPLE
OUTSIDE WITH THE WIND BLOWING
OUT IN THE OPEN AIR.
SO, AS I SAY, WE'RE GOING TO
FOLLOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BUT WE ARE FOLLOWING RULES THAT
I MIGHT NOTE VIRTUALLY EVERY
BOTH PROFESSIONAL TEAMS AND
OTHER COLLEGE TEAMS ARE
FOLLOWING THIS FALL.
>> WHAT ARE PROVISIONS FOR
STUDENTS WHO DO GET INFECTED
WITH COVID ON CAMPUS?
>> WELL, IF THEY'RE IN THE D
ORMS, WE WILL HELP THEM MOVE
INTO EITHER ISOLATION OR
QUARANTINE SPACE SO THEY CAN
RECOVER WITHOUT INFECTING OTHER
PEOPLE.
WE HAVE SOME OF THAT SPACE SET A
SIDE.
IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE DORMS, IT
WILL BE THE LAST PROCEDURE AS
LAST YEAR.
WE EXPECT THEM TO ISOLATE IN
THEIR APARTMENTS.
OUR STUDENT SERVICES STAYS IN
TOUCH WITH STUDENTS WHO TESTED
POSITIVE, CALL THEM REGULARLY,
MAKE SURE THINGS ARE GOOD, THAT
THEY DON'T NEED ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH OR
PHYSICAL CARE.
>> WITH HOW MUCH TREPIDATION ARE
YOU BE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
FALL SEE SEMESTER WITH THESE
RISING CASES.
>> IT FEELS LIKE WHERE WE WERE
BACK AUGUST, BUT THE RIGHT
ANSWER IS WE'RE IN A VERY
DIFFERENT PLACE THAN LAST
AUGUST.
WE HAVE AN EFFECTIVE AND SAFE
VACCINE.
EVEN THOSE WHO DO GET
BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS ARE NOT
GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY ILL GIVEN
EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE
EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VAKS
VACCINE.
AND THAT DOES MAKE THIS SEMESTER
FEEL BETTER AND SAFER.
WE'RE BETTER PREPARED FOR WHAT
WE ARE GOING TO GET IN TERMS OF
INFECTIONS.
AND THERE WILL BE SOME
INFECTIONS ON CAMPUS.
THAT'S JUST A GIVEN.
>> CHANCELLOR BLANK, THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> A FINAL NOTE ABOUT THE
UW-MADISON CAMPUS.
ON THURSDAY THE CAMPUS OFFICE OF
FINANCIAL AID REPORTED THAT IT
HAS CLEARED JUST UNDER $2
MILLION OF STUDENT FINANCIAL
DEBT USING FUNDS GRANTED TO THE
UNIVERSITY BY THE MERP RESCUE
ACT.
RISING COVID NUMBERS ACROSS
WISCONSIN ARE NOT JUST A CONCERN
FOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.
THE SURGE TOUCHES THE NERVES OF
STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, FAMILIES
AND STUDENT STAFF AS THE YEAR
GETS UNDERWAY.
FOR AN UPDATE ON NEW PRECAUTIONS
AND CONCERNS, WE TURN TO
DR. SAFDAR, DIVISION OF
INFECTIOUS DISEASE WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT OF MED SIN AT --
MEDICINE AT UW-MADISON.
SOME 500 PEDIATRICIANS SIGNED A
LETTER TO SCHOOLS AND PARENTS
ABOUT SAFE PRACTICES SAYING WE
NEED TO MASK, DISTANCE AND GET
VACCINATED IF EL VIBL --
ELIGIBLE.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T TAKE
THOSE MEASURES?
>> IF WE HAVE ANY HOPE OF
EDUCATEING OUR CHILDREN, WE HAVE
TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS.
ONE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE
OTHER.
IF YOU FOLLOW THEM ALL F
AITHFULLY AS CLOSE TO 100% AS
WE CAN GET, THEN WE HAVE A
REASONABLE CHANCE OF BEING ABLE
TO OFFER THIS GENERATION THE
EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.
IF WE DON'T, THEN I THINK WE'LL
BE ABLE TO SEE THE QUON
SEQUENCES THAT WE SEE IN AREAS
THAT ARE NOT HIGH WITH MASK USE
AND DISTANCING.
>> COVID CASES SPIKED ABOVE 2
,000 IN A DAY THIS WEEK.
HOW TRULY CONCERNING IS THIS?
>> IT'S PROBABLY THE WORST IT'S
BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.
WE HAD A BIT OF A REPRIEVE OVER
THE SPRING AND SUMMER.
IT'S A BIT HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD
AROUND THE FACT THAT THINGS
AREN'T GOING IN THE ROSIE
DIRECTION WE WERE HOPING THEY
WOULD.
THINGS ARE MUCH WORSE THAN THEY
SHOULD BE.
>> ARE CHILDREN LESS AT RISK?
>> I THINK AS A GROUP IT'S TRUE
THAT CHILDREN IN THE PEDIATRIC
POPULATION ARE LESS AT RISK.
ULTIMATELY WHEN YOU HAVE THE
VIRUS CIRCULATING IN HIGH
NUMBERS, THERE WILL BE ENOUGH
CHILDREN WITH COMPROMISED IMMUNE
SYSTEMS OR JUST BAD LUCK, BUT
THEY WILL GET INFECTED AND SOME
WILL REQUIRE MEDICAL CARE.
THE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO R
ISE.
>> HOW DO YOU THINK THE FULL FDA
AUTHORIZATION OF THE PFIZER
VACCINE WILL MOVE PEOPLE WHO
WERE WAITING TO GET VACCINATED?
>> I THINK IF YOUR REASON FOR
NOT GETTING VACCINATED WAS YOU
WANTED TO SEE THE STAMP OF
APPROVAL, A SMALL GROUP, THEN I
THINK YOU'LL GET VACCINATED NOW
THAT WE HAVE THAT.
FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN
VACCINES IN CONVENIENTLY, I'M
NOT SURE THAT IT WILL HAVE ANY
CHANGE.
>> WHAT IS THE SITUATION AT THE
HOSPITAL WHERE YOU WORK IN TERMS
OF CAPACITY OR STAFF, BEDS,
EQUIPMENT, ICU SPACE?
>> I THINK WHAT WE LEARNED WITH
COVID IS YOU CAN GO FROM FEELING
GOOD ONE WEEK ONLY TO FIND THAT
THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE NUMBER OF
CASES ARE RISING.
SO FOR THE MOMENT IT'S NORMAL
OPERATIONS.
WE CERTAINLY ARE SEEING MORE
INPATIENTS WITH COVID THAN WE
DID BEFORE.
BUT NOTHING MORE HAS BEEN
REQUIRED OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM AT
THIS POINT.
BUT IS LIKELY NOT TO BE THE CASE
SEVERAL WEEKS FROM NOW.
WE JUST HAVE TO PLAN FOR THAT
POSSIBILITY.
>> AND WHAT IS IT LIKE THEN FOR
THE FRONT LINE WORKERS IN THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM TO CONFRONT
THIS ONCE AGAIN?
>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S HIGH
BURN-OUT RATES IN OUR SYSTEMS IN
GENERAL.
PEOPLE FEEL THERE'S REALLY TWO
CONSTRAINTS.
ONE IS YOU'RE DOING YOUR DAILY
WORK ON P TOO OF THE ADDITIONAL
STRESS THAT COVID POSES.
AS INFECTIONS RISE IN THE
COMMUNITY, THEY ALSO RISE IN
HEALTH CARE WORKERS.
AND THEN YOU HAVE STAFFING
CONCERNS WHICH DOUBLES THE
CONCERN FOR THOSE STILL AT WORK.
>> SO WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO
PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS AS
SCHOOLS START?
>> I THINK WE HAVE TO FAITHFULLY
FOLLOW ALL RECOMMENDED
PRECAUTIONS AS CLOSE TO 100% OF
THE TIME AS WE CAN.
WITH THAT, I THINK WE CAN
CONTINUE TO DO SOME OF THE
THINGS WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO
DO.
WITHOUT THAT, WE HAVE NO CHANCE
OF BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE THE
WAY WE'D LIKE TO.
>> SO WITHOUT THAT YOUR
EXPECTATION IS THAT POTENTIALLY
THERE COULD BE ANOTHER KIND OF
SHUTDOWN?
>> WELL, ONE HOPES IT DOESN'T
COME TO THAT.
THOSE THINGS PROBABLY AREN'T
SUSTAINABLE.
BUT GIVEN HOW QUICKLY DELTA IS
TRANSMITTED, EVEN A LITTLE
ABSENT MASKING MAY NOT BE IN CON
SCWEN CHEL AND YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND UNTIL
YOU'RE IN THAT STATE.
CHILDREN ARE THE REAL HEROES OF
THIS PANDEMIC.
THEY HAVE MASKED UP WITHOUT
COMPLAINING THIS WHOLE TIME.
>> DO YOU GET THE SENSE AT ALL
THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING THIS
DELTA VARIANT AS SERIOUSLY AS
PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES
UNDERSTAND IT TO BE SERIOUS?
>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT
HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND THE
FACT THAT FOR A WHILE THINGS
WERE GOOD.
WE GOT EFFECTIVE VACCINES AND
NOW THERE'S A VARIANT AND A NEED
FOR BOOSTERS AND SO ON.
YES, DELTA IS BAD AND CAN LEAD
TO SEVERE CONSEQUENCES.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK WE
HAVE TO CONFRONT WHAT'S IN FRONT
OF US.
DENYING IT ISN'T GOING TO MAKE
IT GO AWAY.
>> DOCTOR, THANKS VERY MUCH AND
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE TURN OUR ATTENTION NOW TO
THE ARRIVAL OF REFUGEES TO
WISCONSIN FROM AFGHANISTAN.
THIS AFTERNOON MORE REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS GATHERED TO OBSERVE
ACTIVITY AT FORT MCCOY NEAR
TOMAH.
IT'S ONE OF THE MILITARY
INSTALLATIONS IN THE U.S.
APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY
HOUSEING FOR THE AFGHAN N
EWCOMERS.
THE DEPARTMENT SAYS FAMILIES
ARRIVING ARE BEING KEPT T
OGETHER.
ACCORDING TO U.S. SENATOR RON
JOHNSON, THERE ARE CURRENTLY
MORE THAN 1,000 REFUGEES INSIDE
FORT MCCOY.
IN A VISIT TO THE BASE ON
WEDNESDAY, JOHNSON QUESTIONED
THE LEVEL OF VETTING, SAYING A
LACK OF VETTING POSES A SECURITY
RISK TO THE COUNTRY.
>> HOW MANY SPECIAL IMMIGRANT
VEES DISA HOLDERS DO YOU THINK
THE TALIBAN ARE LETTING INTO
KABAL AIRPORT RIGHT NOW?
HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE THE
FOLKS THAT ARE AFGHANISTAN
VETERANS, HOW MANY OF THOSE
PEOPLE DO YOU THINK THE TALIBAN
ARE ALLOWING THROUGH THE GATES
OF KABAL AIRPORT?
>> REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATOR RON
JOHNSON AT FORT MCCOY ON
WEDNESDAY.
DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATOR TAMMY
BALDWIN SAYS THE U.S. NEEDS TO
WELCOME PEOPLE ARRIVING FROM
AFGHANISTAN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE
HELPED THE U.S. CAUSE.
>> I FEEL LIKE A WE HAVE A MORAL
OBLIGATION NOT ONLY TO RETURN
U.S. SENATE AL -- NATIONAL ALES,
PEOPLE WHO ARE AT RISK BECAUSE
OF THEIR ADVOCACY FOR WOMEN'S
RIGHTS, CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, N
GOs, BUT ALSO THE AFGHANS WHO
HAVE STOOD BY, TRANSLATED, DONE
MANY OTHER THINGS.
>> THOSE ABLE TO GET OUT OF
AFGHANISTAN CAN EXPECT TO SEE
HELPING HANDS IN WISCONSIN FROM
PLACES AND PEOPLE LIKE IN THE
CITY OF OSHKOSH, WHICH IS SECOND
ONLY TO MILWAUKEE IN THE NUMBER
OF RESIDENTS WITH REFUGEE
BACKGROUNDS.
WE GO TO APPLETON TO LEARN ABOUT
PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR
REFUGEES IN THAT AREA.
TAMI MCLAUGHLIN IS THE DIRECTOR
OF WORLD RELIEF FOX VALLEY AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO AS WE KNOW, A DANGEROUS
AND FRIGHTENING SITUATION FOR
THOSE TRYING TO LEAVE AND WE
KNOW PEOPLE ARE ARRIVING FROM
AFGHANISTAN IN WISCONSIN THIS
WEEK.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU EXPECT TO PLAY
IN HELPING SETTLE THE NEW
ARRIVALS?
>> WELL, WE DO HAVE A SMALL
AFGHAN COMMUNITY IN THE FOX
VALLEY, SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY OF WELCOMING
THEIR FAMILY IF THEY ARE ABLE TO
GET OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.
WE ALSO HOPE TO WELCOME
ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE AFGHAN
COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BEEN
EVACUATED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.
SO WE'RE WILLING AND READY AND
ABLE WITH WHATEVER THAT
OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS.
>> DESCRIBE YOUR WORK HELPING
NEW ARRIVALS IN THE FOX VALLEY.
>> SURE.
WORLD RELIEF IS ONE OF NINE
NATIONAL AGENCIES WHO CONTRACT
WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
PROVIDE SERVICES.
IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE.
WE START BY SECURING APARTMENTS
FOR REFUGEES AND THEN FURNISHING
THOSE APARTMENTS.
OUR WORK CONTINUES AS WE CONNECT
THEM WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES,
ENROLL THEM IN SCHOOLS, HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS, ENGLISH LANGUAGE
CLASS CLASSES.
WE PROVIDE A LOT OF ORIENTATION
AND CULTURAL TRAINING SO THEY
UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THE
AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE.
SO THE FIRST 90 DAYS ARE VERY,
VERY BUSY IN THE REFUGEE
COMMUNITY.
>> WHICH POPULATIONS HAVE YOU
WORKED WITH?
>> OUR LARGEST POPULATION IS
FROM THE REPUBLICAN OF CONGO.
ALSO THE BURMESE AND IRAQI
COMMUNITY IS SECOND AND THIRD
COMMUNITY.
AND THEN SOMALI, SYRIANS, A
FGHANS, JUST A VARIETY OF OTHER
NATIONALITYIES WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY OF WELCOMING.
>> HOW DID OSHKOSH BECOME SECOND
ONLY TO MILWAUKEE IN NUMBER OF
RESETTLEMENTS?
>> BECAUSE WE'RE SUCH A WARM AND
WELCOMEING COMMUNITY, IBLG.
-- I BELIEVE.
WE ARE POSITIONED HERE.
WE DID A LOT OF GROUNDWORK
REGARDING THE RECEPTIVENESS OF
THE COMMUNITY, HOW STRONG
PARTNERSHIPS ARE.
VOLUNTEER AND CHURCH PARTNERS
ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
IT WAS CREATED AS A P
RIVATE/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON
BEHALF OF A WHOLE COMMUNITY.
THE RESEARCH FOUND THAT OSHKOSH
AND APPLETON WOULD BE THOSE
TYPES OF COMMUNITIES.
>> WHAT FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE ARE
PEOPLE NEWLY ARRIVING DEALING
WITH, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM A
WAR ZONE AND ESCAPING THE WAY
THEY HAVE FROM AFGHANISTAN?
WHAT ARE THEY DEALING WITH?
>> THE FIRST RESPONSE WE ALWAYS
HEAR IS I'M SAFE.
NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM.
AND THAT'S WHETHER IT'S FROM THE
CONGO OR BURMA OR AFGHANISTAN.
SO OBVIOUSLY JUST REALIZING THAT
THEY'RE COMING OUT OF A
SITUATION THAT PRODUCED HIGH
TRAUMA, ANXIETY, FEAR OF DANGER,
FEAR OF LIFE.
SO THOSE ARE THE FIRST THINGS
THAT WE KNOW.
MAY NOT BE SPOKEN, BUT KNOW
THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WILL NEED
TO BE CONFRONTED AND DEALT WITH
AS PEOPLE MOVE ON.
THE FIRST INITIAL RESETTLEMENT
IS JUST REALLY AK CLA --
ACCLIMATEING AND STABILIZING.
HOW DO WE GET TO A POINT WHERE
WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND HAVING
THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND SEEING
WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE
OF.
BASIC NEEDS ARE INITIALLY THE
PRIORITY, THOUGH.
>> HAVE OFFICIALS REACHED OUT TO
YOUR ORGANIZATION TO STEP IN AT
THIS POINT YET?
>> THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS
WHO WE TYPICALLY WORK WITH FOR
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT HAVE
REACHED OUT AND THERE'S BEEN A
VARIETY OF DISCUSSIONS.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL COME
TO A PLACE OF CONTRACT, IF YOU
WILL, WITH SOME OF THIS AFGHAN
POPULATION AND JUST APPRECIATE
THEIR SUPPORT AND THEIR W
ILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE A
STRUCTURE AGAIN AND JUST SOME
ASSISTANCE AS WE AS A COUNTRY
REALLY WORK TOWARD HOW WE CAN
HELP THIS COMMUNITY BEST.
>> TAMI MCLAUGHLIN, WORLD R
ELIEF, FOX VALLEY, THANKS VERY
MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THE LAST LARGE SCALE REFUGEE
RELOCATION EFFORT AT FORT MCCOY
WAS IN 1980, WHEN 14,000 CUBANS
CAME TO THE WESTERN WISCONSIN
MILITARY INSTALLATION.
MARISA WOYCHIK SPOKE WITH THE
PROFESSOR STUD STUDYING THIS
MIGRATION AND ASKED WHAT
BARRIERS WERE PRESENT IN 1980
THAT WE MIGHT SEE AGAIN TODAY.
>> THE LANGUAGE IS GOING TO
PRESENT EVEN A MORE SIGNIFICANT
BARRIER.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SPANISH AND
THE WAY IN WHICH IT'S SPOKEN IN
THE UNITED STATES TODAY, IT'S
NOT GOING TO BE THAT EASY TO
FIND INTERPRETERS AND
TRANSLATORS FOR THESE
POPULATIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WOMEN THAT HAVE
EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AND ABUSE AND
THAT HAS ALSO -- IT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT OF HOW WE
MANAGE THIS EXODUS IN TERMS OF
QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
BUT IN MY OPINION, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S ALWAYS THIS RUSH TO GO
HELP AND PROVIDE FOOD AND
SHELTER.
I THINK ACTUALLY LISTENING, YOU
KNOW, AND TRYING TO EMPATHIZE
WITH THE GROUP AND TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ACTUAL NEEDS
OF THE GROUP ARE MIGHT BE MORE
BENEFICIAL WAY, JUST KIND OF
TAKING A PAUSE AND THINKING
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE
ACTUAL NEEDS OF THIS POPULATION
IN TERMS OF NOT JUST FOOD AND
SHELTER, BUT BEYOND THE TRAUMA
THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING AT THE
TIME AND THE REPERCUSSIONS THAT
THAT TRAUMA IS GOING TO HAVE AS
THEY RESETTLE INTO U.S.
COMMUNITIES.
>> WHAT DID WE GET WRONG IN 1980
THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GET RIGHT TODAY?
>> SO EDUCATING THE FAMILIES
THAT ARE GOING TO WELCOME THESE
FOLKS.
IF THEY DO INDEED STAY IN THE
AREA, WHICH IS UNKNOWN AT THIS
TIME, EDUCATING THE
ORGANIZATIONS IN TERMS OF LIKE
WHAT ACTUAL STEPS ARE NECESSARY
FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GET THEIR
REFUGEE AND ASYLUM STATUS IN THE
PERIOD OF TIME THAT IS REQUIRED
BY THE IMMIGRATION, YOU KNOW,
LAWS.
WHAT SORT OF SUPPORT DO THEY
NEED IN TERMS OF EDUCATION, NOT
JUST GETTING ANY JOB, BUT
ACTUALLY HAVING ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION, HAVING ACCESS TO THE
FUNDS FROM THE STATE TO BE ABLE
TO PARTICIPATE EQUALLY IN AN
EQUITABLE WAY RATHER THAN JUST
SAY, OKAY, THEY'RE FINE.
THEY'RE WITH THE FAMILIES.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.
SO I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE
BIGGEST PROBLEMS AT THE TIME.
>> THIS WEEK MARKED THE ONE-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF THE JACOB BLAKE
SHOOTING THAT ROCKED KENOSHA AND
BROUGHT WISCONSIN INTO THE
NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.
BLAKE WAS LEFT PARTIALLY
PARALYZED AFTER BEING SHOT SEVEN
TIMES BY A KENOSHA OFFICER WHO
WAS ATTEMPTING TO ARREST HIM FOR
AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT.
PROSECUTORS DECLINED TO BRING
CHARGES AGAINST THE OFFICER AND
HE IS BACK ON DUTY.
BLAKE HAS FILED AN EXCESSIVE
FORCE LAWSUIT AGAINST THE POLICE
OFFICER.
REPORTER WILL KENNEALLY SPOKE
WITH PEOPLE IN KENOSHA ABOUT THE
PAST YEAR AND THEIR HOPES FOR
FUTURE CHANGE.
>> IT'S A VERY NICE DAY.
NOT TOO DIFFERENT THAN TODAY.
SO I THOUGHT I'D GET ON MY BIKE,
RIDE DOWNTOWN AND JUST KIND OF
ENJOY THIS LAST DAY BEFORE A
VERY BUSY WEEK.
RODE MY BIKE NORTH TO WASHINGTON
ROAD, STARTED HEADING EAST TO
THE LAKE AND BY THE TIME I GOT
TO SHERIDAN ROAD ALL THE SIRENS
AND POLICE VEHICLES WERE MOVING
HERE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> I'M ANTHONY KENNEDY, ALDERMAN
IN THE 10TH DISTRICT.
LET ME JUST DO A DEDICATION ON
MY BIRTHDAY.
THEN WE HEARD THE SEVENTH SHOT.
>> MY NAME IS ALVIN D. OWENS,
I'M A LICENSED MASTER BARBER,
EDUCATOR, FOUNDER OF REGIMENT
BARBER COLLECTIVE.
PEOPLE ASK ME HOW DO I FEEL
ABOUT THAT BEING FROM KENOSHA?
TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST, IT WAS AS
IF, OH, THIS WAS THE OTHER SHOE
THAT WAS GOING TO DROP.
>> MY NAME IS NATHAN UPHAM, 24
YEARS OLD, KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.
I HAVE BLOCKED A LOT OF THAT
STUFF BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY
INTENSE.
NOW SEEING ON MY INSTAGRAM AND
FACEBOOK MEMORIES, I WAS OUT
EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE
PROTESTS.
>> KENOSHA HAS A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY TO SET AN EXAMPLE
FOR WHAT A CITY CAN BE, RISE
FROM THE ASHES LIKE A PHOENIX
KIND OF THING.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CALL
MYSELF AN ACTIVIST.
BUT WE WERE ACTIVATED, YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE WHEN CHAOS ENSUES,
THERE'S NO ORGANIZATION AND
THERE'S NO LEADERSHIP.
SO I MAKE SURE THAT I'M HERE.
AS A RESIDENT, AS A BUSINESS
OWNER, AS A CHILD WHO GREW UP
HERE, I FELT AND I'VE SHARED
THIS WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
I FELT THAT WE WERE ABANDONED
FOR A GOOD TWO WEEKS.
>> I WON'T SAY IF I'VE SEEN
PROGRESS.
WHAT I'LL SAY IS THAT I SEE
BLATANT COMPLACENCY FOR KENOSHA.
I MEAN, HERE IN KENOSHA.
>> IN KENOSHA, A MINORITY VOTE
IS NOT STRONG.
IT'S NOT POWERFUL.
IT'S NOT PRESENT.
BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING
THEIR ASSES OFF TO TRY TO CHANGE
THAT.
>> COME TO THE BARBERSHOP.
COME TO THE BLACK CHURCHES.
COME TO WHERE WE STILL SAFE IN
OUR OWN SPACES.
COME AND MEET US.
>> I THINK EVEN THE FACT THAT WE
CREATED THE CONVERSATION, I M
EAN, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE
BEGINNING TO BE LOOKED AT AS A
MORE EQUAL AND RESPECTED FORCE.
>> THAT SPARK, THAT TOOK PEOPLE
OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES AND
WANTED TO BE CONFRONTATIONAL AND
CONFRONT THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN
PLACE.
I HOPE THAT SPARK KEEPS BURNING
AND I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THAT
SPARK AND MOVE THAT INTO
ACTIVISM.
>> "HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL
KENNEALLY FROM KENOSHA.
FOR MORE ON ALL THE TOPICS IN
TONIGHT'S PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE
LATEST COVID CONDITION REPORT,
GO TO pbswisconsin.org AND
CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.
THAT'S ALL 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.