POLITICAL RISK OR NOT, HE
BELIEVES IN SECOND CHANCES
THROUGH PROVIDING PARDONS.
HE HAS GRANTED HUNDREDS OF THEM
SINCE TAKING OFFICE.
EARLIER THIS MONTH, HE SIGNED AN
EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WILL SPEED
UP THE PROCESS OF GETTING A
PARDON IN NONVIOLENT CASES.
"HERE AND NOW" SPECIAL PROJECTS
JOURNALIST MURV SEYMOUR HAS THIS
REPORT ON ONE MAN'S JOURNEY TO
RECEIVE A GOVERNOR'S PARDON AND
ITS PROFOUND IMPACT ON HIS LIFE.
>> YOU HAVE TO DO MORE THAN JUST
SAY WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY DO IT.
>> ANTHONY COOPER LIVES TO HELP
OTHERS.
HE COACHES FORMER PRISON INMATES
ABOUT THE OUTSIDE WORLD THROUGH
THE NEHEMIAH REENTER SERVICES
PROGRAM OUT OF A TINY OFFICE ON
MADISON'S SOUTH SIDE.
>> THE WORK WITH NONVIOLENT
CRIMES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
>> FOCUS INTERRUPTION LOOKS FOR
REDUCED TRAUMA FROM GUN VIOLENCE
TO PEOPLE IN DANE COUNTY
IMPACTED THE MOST.
<!3276
>> GO AND PROVIDE STRATEGIST AND
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS TO
FAMILIES IN THE MOMENT.
>> IN THE COMMUNITY, ANTHONY IS
A LEADER.
HE'S THE 2019 RECIPIENT OF THE
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
HUMANITARIAN AWARD, GIVEN TO
THOSE WHO SERVE IN THE SPIRIT OF
DR. KING.
>> GROWING UP ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF CHICAGO, I THINK WHERE WE
LIVED WE HAD A VILLAGE.
MADISON IS MY VILLAGE.
BECAUSE OF THAT, I KNOW HOW TO
ACT AS A VILLAGE.
I WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT I
WOULD BE AT WHERE I'M AT NOW.
>> WHERE HE IS NOW COMES AS A
SURPRISE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER
WHERE HE'S BEEN.
>> THERE'S AN OLD SAYING IF I
KNEW WHAT I KNOW NOW BACK THEN,
WHO WOULD I BE?
[SIRENS]
>> BACK THEN, IN THE LATE
'90s, ANTHONY COOPER WAS A
DIFFERENT MAN.
>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW I
NAVIGATED LIFE, THERE WAS
DEFINITELY SOME THINGS THAT I
WISH I COULD HAVE DONE
DIFFERENTLY.
I WAS A MAN-CHILD.
EVEN BEING A MAN IN AGE, AS I
WAS STILL CHILD LIKE QUALITIES I
HAD AS WELL.
I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT.
I WASN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE THE WAY
I WOULD HAVE WANTED, TO PROVIDE
FOR MY KIDS.
I DIDN'T SEE THE LIGHT.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT IT WAS
POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO GET A
FUNCTIONING JOB TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE A FUNCTIONING FAMILY.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
THIS, BUT I THOUGHT ABOUT BEING
A NURSE.
>> GETTING INTO I.T.
[SIRENS]
>> I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A
FIREMAN.
THAT WAS MY IDEAL JOB.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST
WAREHOUSE WORKER.
I WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE MOVED UP
TO BECOME A SUPERVISOR OF SOME
SORT.
>> WITH ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS,
EVENTUALLY HE TOOK AN UNEXPECTED
ROUTE TO QUICK CASH.
>> HOW HARD IS IT TO GET OUT
THERE ON A BLOCK AND, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE, TO
GO AND SELL DRUGS?
>> ANTHONY BECAME A HUSTLING
DRUG DEALER ON THE STREETS OF
MADISON.
>> THAT W THOSE WERE SOME OF MYT
DAYS.
I'M TRYING TO FIND A BETTER JOB.
>> ACCORDING TO POLICE, IN
FEBRUARY OF 1999 HE SOLD HEROIN
TO A CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANT IN
THIS PARKING LOT OUTSIDE AN EAST
SIDE MADISON RESTAURANT AND
SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS
INCLUDING A LOCAL PART.
>> DAYS LATER HE LED POLICE ON A
SHORT CAR CHASE THROUGH DOWNTOWN
DURING RUSH HOUR BEFORE BEING
ARRESTED.
>> MY MOTHER DIDN'T RAISE ME TO
SELL DRUGS.
MY MOM GAVE US ALL SHE COULD.
>> AT THE TIME HE FELT SELLING
DRUGS WAS HIS ONLY OPTION TO
PROVIDE FOR HIS MOTHER, SON AND
HIS THEN PREGNANT GIRLFRIEND.
>> I CAN GET A JOB, BUT IF THAT
JOB IS STILL LEAVING ME
STRUGGLING, I KNOW AT THE SAME
TIME IF MY PAGER, PHONE OR
WHATEVER, EVERY TIME THEY CALL,
IT'S $20, $50 HERE, $100 HERE.
EVENTUALLY THAT GREW.
THEN WHAT HAPPENS.
1999 WHEN I WAS 22 YEARS OLD I
WAS CONVICTED OF THREE FELONIES.
>> HE READS HIS OWN WRITTEN
WORDS ABOUT WHAT HIS
DRUG-SELLING DAYS CAME TO AN
END.
>> THE THINGS I'M WRITING I
ISN'T WRITING FOR YOU ALL, BUT
FOR ME.
I'LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT MEMORY.
>> HE SOMETIMES WONDERED IF
GETTING CAUGHT MAY HAVE SAVED
HIS LIFE.
>> I COULD HAVE GOT CAUGHT WITH
MORE THAN WHAT I HAD.
I COULD HAVE GOT KILLED.
MY SON GROWING UP WITHOUT A
FATHER.
MY MOM GROWING UP WITHOUT -- YOU
KNOW, AS SHE'S GETTING OLDER,
NOT HAVING A SON.
MY SISTERS NOT HAVING A BROTHER.
>> AFTER PLEADING GUILTY HE DID
TWO YEARS IN STATE PRISON IN
PORTAGE, BLACK RIVER FALLS AND
BOOT CAMP IN NEW RICHMOND.
>> NOTHING ABOUT PRISON I LIKED.
>> SOMEONE IS INCARCERATED, IT
DOESN'T JUST AFFECT YOU.
IT AFFECTS EVERYONE THAT'S
CONNECTED TO YOU.
>> WHEN THEY CALLED MY NAME TO
BE ABLE TO GO TO BOOT CAMP.
THAT'S THE HOPE FOR ME TO BE
ABLE TO GO TO BOOT CAMP AND
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE IT.
>> FRESH OUT OF PRISON, ANTHONY
SAYS HE FOUND HIMSELF FRESH OUT
OF LUCK IN FINDING A GOOD-PAYING
JOB.
HE WOULD SETTLE FOR A GIG MAKING
PIZZAS, HONORABLE WORK, BUT IN
HIS WORDS IT DIDN'T PAY ENOUGH
TO FEED HIS FAMILY.
>> WHEN I CAME HOME, I KNEW I
WASN'T GOING TO SELL PIZZAS ALL
OF MY LIFE.
>> HE SAYS HE FOUGHT
TEMPTATIONS.
>> THE THOUGHTS ARE STILL THERE.
>> TO GO BACK TO THE CROOKED
LIFESTYLE THAT LANDED HIM IN
PRISON.
>> THE THOUGHT WAS STILL THERE.
I NEVER WANTED MY SONS TO COME
BACK IN PRISON, TO PRISON TO SAY
-- YOU KNOW, TO COME AND VISIT
ME THERE.
IF I ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE TO
SEE ME GO FORTH AND FORTH IN
PRISON, EVENTUALLY THAT'S GOING
TO BECOME NORMAL FOR THEM AND
EVENTUALLY THEY'LL FOLLOW THE
SAME ROUTE.
>> HE QUICKLY LEARNED HIS STATUS
AS A FELON CRIPPLED HIS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE.
>> FROM HOUSING, LOANS,
GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES, GRANTS.
YOU'RE STILL LOOKED AT AS LESS
THAN.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS TO ME ABOUT
MY BACKGROUND EVEN THOUGH IT'S
SO MANY YEARS.
IT'S ALMOST A RESTART ON LIFE, A
RESTART OF ME TRYING TO EXPLAIN
AND TRYING TO CONVINCE PEOPLE
THAT, HEY, THAT'S -- WHO I WAS
AT 19, 20, 21, 22 IS NOT THE
SAME PERSON WHO I AM TODAY.
>> NOW, ALMOST 20 YEARS OUT OF
PRISON.
>> NONE OF US KNEW ANYONE THAT
HAD A PARDON.
>> ANTHONY WENT ALL THE WAY TO
THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SEEKING
FORGIVENESS AND A PARDON FROM
THE GOVERNOR AND HIS ADVISORY
BOARD.
>> THEY ALL KNEW THE CHANGE THAT
WAS WITHIN ME.
WHEN I WAS ARRESTED, THAT WAS IN
1999.
>> HE WROTE THE WORDS HE READ
EARLIER IN 2019 AS PART OF HIS
APPLICATION TO THE BOARD.
>> THERE'S PEOPLE I KNEW FROM
THE STREETS SAY THE SAME THING.
WE'RE JUST PROUD OF YOU, WHO
YOU'VE BECOME.
>> WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO
THE VICTIMS.
>> FORMER MADISON POLICE CHIEF
NOBLE WRAY IS PART OF THE BOARD.
>> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
DURING COVID THAT HAVE PRESENTED
SOME VERY COMPELLING CASES.
>> YOU'RE WATCHING WISCONSIN
EYE.
>> BECAUSE OF COVID, WE HAD TO
DO IT VIRTUAL.
BUT NOW IT'S ABOUT WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE AROUND?
WHO ARE YOU NOW THAT YOU WERE
NOT 20 YEARS AGO, 15 YEARS AGO,
SEVEN YEARS AGO?
>> ANTHONY COOPER'S CASE WAS ONE
OF MANY BROUGHT BEFORE THE
BOARD.
>> THE THEY ARE IMPACTED BY THER
EMPLOYMENT.
THEY'RE IMPACTED BY WHERE THEY
CAN LIVE AND CANNOT LIVE.
THERE ARE LIMITATIONS PLACED ON
YOU IF YOU HAVE A FELONY TO BE
ABLE TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF THE
COUNTRY.
>> CAN YOU OPEN A CHILD CARE
CENTER?
CAN YOU CARE FOR PEOPLE?
YOU CAN TAKE AN 18-YEAR-OLD IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN THAT DECIDED
TO DRIVE THROUGH A CORNFIELD
BASED UPON THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE
THAT THEY CREATE, THAT WAS A
FELONY.
BUT THEY'RE 18 AND 19 YEARS OLD.
AND THEY WALK INTO A PARDON
BOARD AND THEY'RE 55 OR 56 AND
THEY LOOK YOU IN THE EYE AND
SAY, HEY, ALL I WANT TO DO IS BE
ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE AROUND ME
THAT I'M NOT A FELON.
>> TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
GOVERNOR'S PARDON, YOU HAVE TO
BE A CONVICTED FELON WHO'S
COMPLETED ALL OF YOUR SENTENCES
AT LEAST FIVE YEARS AGO AND
CANNOT HAVE ANY PENDING CRIMINAL
CHARGES.
REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS ARE NOT
ELIGIBLE.
WHILE THE BOARD MAKES THE
RECOMMENDATIONS...
>> ALL THAT IS ABOUT CORRECTIONS
ISN'T ABOUT PUNISHMENT.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS HAS THE
FINAL SAY.
>> IT'S ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE
READY TO REENTER LIFE OUTSIDE OF
CORRECTIONS.
I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT
BELIEVE IN REDEMPTION.
BOTH MY PARENTS WERE IN THE
MEDICAL FIELD, AND THEY SPENT
THEIR LIVES TRYING TO GIVE
PEOPLE SECOND CHANCES
PHYSICALLY.
THIS IS A WAY TO GIVE SECOND
PEOPLE CHANCES SPIRITUALLY.
WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR
PRISON RIGHT NOW, AND WHATEVER I
CAN DO TO HELP THOSE THAT HAVE
EXITED THE SYSTEM AND ARE DOING
WELL IN THEIR LIVES, RECOGNIZING
THAT.
>> SO FAR IN JUST OVER TWO YEARS
IN OFFICE, MOST RECENT NUMBERS
SHOW GOVERNOR EVERS IS GRANTING
MORE PARDONS EACH YEAR.
262 OUT OF OVER 1300 APPLICANTS
AND COUNTING THROUGH AUGUST,
ONLY DENYING 1% OF THE TIME.
>> IF REELECTED, HE SAYS HE WILL
CONTINUE APPROVING PARDONS.
HIS PREDECESSOR, SCOTT WALKER,
DIDN'T DELIVER A SINGLE ONE IN
HIS EIGHT YEARS AS GOVERNOR.
>> THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
DIDN'T GET THAT CHANCE FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS.
I REVIEW EVERY SINGLE ONE THAT'S
RECOMMENDED TO ME.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
HEARTWARMING EXERCISES I GO
THROUGH AS GOVERNOR.
MANY OF THEM FRANKLY ARE PEOPLE
THAT THESE CRIMES WERE COMMITTED
20, 30, 40 YEARS AGO AND THEY'VE
BEEN CLEAN FOR 20, 30, 40 YEARS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO THROW ANYBODY
AWAY.
I HAVE NO DOUBT AT SOME POINT IN
TIME SOMEBODY WILL GOOF UP.
THERE ARE PEOPLE EVERY DAY IN
THIS STATE THAT MAKE MISTAKES
THAT MAY END UP BEING A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY I FEEL
CONFIDENT THAT 99% AND 49/100THS
PERCENT ARE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
>> MORE THAN TWO YEARS AFTER
SUBMITTING HIS APPLICATION, ON
FEBRUARY 23, 2021 ANTHONY COOPER
GETS NEWS HE'S BEEN WAITING ON.
>> THAT WAS THE SCARY PART FOR
ME.
>> HE RECEIVES HIS PARDON.
>> IT HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF MY
SON'S BIRTH.
I WAS A BALL OF EMOTIONS.
THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR AGAIN
IS SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT,
LET'S GIVE THIS PERSON A NEW
START IN LIFE, RIGHT?
THAT'S -- THAT'S HUGE.
>> IF YOU CAN THINK OF YOURSELF
AS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW THAT
COMMITTED A FELONY AND YOU'RE
ASKING YOURSELF WILL I EVER BE
ABLE TO CONNECT BACK WITH
SOCIETY AND FEEL LIKE A WHOLE
CITIZEN, A WISCONSINITE, IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN, WHEN YOU SEE
SOMEONE LIKE ANTHONY COOPER, HE
PROVIDES THAT NORTH STAR.
>> HE IS HARDLY THE ONLY ONE.
THINK ABOUT THAT.
SOMEBODY THAT WAS JUST, YOU
KNOW, IN SUCH A BAD PLACE THAT
THEY ENDED UP BEING INCARCERATED
BECAUSE OF USE AND BUYING AND
SELLING.
AND NOW THEY'RE ONE OF THE
LEADERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.
>> PEOPLE ARE APPLYING FOR THIS
BECAUSE THEY FEEL, A, THEY
DESERVE IT.
B, THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN BE
ROLE MODELS IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND, C, THEY FEEL THAT IT CAN
HEAL WOUNDS IN THEIR FAMILY.
>> MY KIDS ARE MY ANGELS, HANDS
DOWN.
THERE'S NO IF, AND, BUTS ABOUT
THAT.
MY KIDS ARE WHAT MADE ME CHANGE.
I HAD TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHEN I
LOOK BACK I CAN TELL MY SONS I
LOVE SOMETHING MORE THAN I LOVE
MYSELF.
>> WE NEED MORE ANTHONY COOPERS.
PEOPLE KNOW HIM.
THEY SEE HIM.
AND THEY'LL LOOK AT HIM AND SAY
IF ANTHONY CAN DO IT, I CAN DO
IT.
>> REPORTING FOR "HERE AND NOW,"
I'M MURV SEYMOUR.
>> THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS NO
PARDON RECIPIENT HAS REOFFENDED
IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE
GOVERNOR EVERS BEGAN GRANTING
THOSE PARDONS.
THIS REPORTING IS PART OF A PBS
WISCONSIN-WPR-WISCONTEXT
COLLABORATION UTILIZING
REPORTING, RESEARCH AND
COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERTISE TO
PROVIDE INFORMATION AND INSIGHT