>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT, WISCONSIN RESPONDS, A
"HERE AND NOW" SPECIAL.
WE'RE BRINGING YOU AN HOUR
TONIGHT, AN AN OUTCRY OVER THE
DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD BY A
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER.
WE SPEAK WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS,
ORGANIZERS AND LAWMAKERS ABOUT
THEIR LOCAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE
NATIONAL CONVERSATION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JUNE 5.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> RALLIES AND PROTESTS SPREAD
ACROSS WISCONSIN OVER THE DEATH
OF GEORGE FLOYD, WHO DIED UNDER
THE KNEE OF A MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
OFFICER NOW BEING CHARGED WITH
SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
PROTESTERS TAKING TO THE STREETS
DAILY, CHANTING, HOLDING SIGNS
AND EVEN SHUTTING DOWN HIGHWAYS
TO SPREAD THEIR MESSAGE TO END
POLICE BREW BRUTALITY AGAINST
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
LOOTING AND FIRES OCCURRED.
SOME DAYS THERE WAS NO VISIBLE
POLICE PRESENCE, WHILE ON OTHER
DAYS POLICE BROKE UP CROWDS WITH
TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ACTIVATED
THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ASSIST
NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS
THE STATE.
>> AS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, POLICE
REFORM IS AN IMMEDIATE ACTION
ITEM.
ADVOCACY GROUPS HAVE RELEASED
LISTS OF DEMANDS ON THAT FRONT.
MORE THAN 65 ORGANIZATIONS
COSIGNED SUCH A LIST PUBLISHED
BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
ROUNDTABLE IN MILWAUKEE.
IT INCLUDES CALLING FOR POLICE
TO STOP USING RUBBER BULLETS AND
TEAR GAS ON PROTESTERS, DOING
AWAY WITH CURFEWS, WITHDRAWING
THE NATIONAL GUARD AND SHIFTING
FUNDS AWAY FROM THE POLICE AND
PUTTING THAT MONEY TOWARD HEALTH
AND HOUSING INITIATIVES.
JOINING ME NOW IS ANGELA LANG,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLOC.
SHE JOINS US FROM MILWAUKEE AND
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
I THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS
IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU.
>> WHY HAS EVERY STATE IN THE
NATION AND WISCONSIN RISEN UP TO
PROTEST THE KILLING OF GEORGE
FLOYD?
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I GET THIS QUESTION A
LOT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN
MURDERS AT THE HANDS OF POLICE
FOR DECADES NOW.
YOU KNOW, EVEN THE RODNEY KING
BEATING.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NEW
FOR US.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE WAY I
KIND OF FRAME IT AND THE WAY I
THINK ABOUT IT IS THAT IT'S LIKE
A SODA CAN THAT'S JUST BEEN
SHAKEN UP FOR YEARS AND DECADES
AND WITH NO REAL TANGIBLE
SOLUTIONS AND WAYS FOR REAL TRUE
POLICY REFORM.
TO ME IT'S LIKE THIS WAS ONLY A
MATTER OF TIME.
I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, I
WAS IN COLLEGE WITH TRAYVON
MARTIN WAS MURDERED AND
DR. HAMILTON IN 2014 IN
MILWAUKEE AND SYLVILE SMITH.
IT FEELS LIKE SOCIETY, WE'RE ALL
SAYING ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
WE KEEP SEEING THESE THINGS
HAPPEN.
THERE ARE THESE OUTCRIES.
A COUPLE MONTHS LATER IT GOES
BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.
I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS
REALLY COMMUNITIES AND SOCIETY
AS A WHOLE SAYING ENOUGH IS
ENOUGH AND WE WANT REAL POLICY
AND LEGISLATIVE CHANGES.
>> BECAUSE WHAT DOES FLOYD'S
DEATH REPRESENT?
>> I THINK IT REPRESENTS MURDER
AT THE HANDS OF POLICE DUE TO A
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM THAT'S REALLY
ROOTED IN WHITE SUPREMACY.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LAW
ENFORCEMENT, WE CAN REALLY LOOK
AT THE HISTORY OF SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
'IN GENERAL THAT WERE ENACTED
DURING SLAVERY TO CATCH RUN-AWAY
SLAVES.
WHEN YOU'RE FOUNDED ON THAT
HISTORY AND THE SYSTEM EVOLVED,
IT STILL HAS ITS ROOTS IN WHITE
SUPREMACY.
WE'VE SEEN THESE KILLINGS AND
MURDERS BE AT THE HAND OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT THAT ARE PRESENT TO
PROTECT US.
IT REPRESENTS THE BLACK AND
BROWN BODIES THAT ARE BEING
CRIMINALIZED MERELY FOR
EXISTING.
YOU CAN'T WALK DOWN THE STREET.
YOU CAN'T LISTEN TO LOUD MUSIC.
YOU CAN'T SLEEP ON A PARK BENCH.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE
CAN'T DO AND WE'RE BEING
CRIMINALIZED JUST FOR MERELY
EXISTING.
WE CAN'T RUN AWAY.
WE CAN'T WEAR A HOODIE.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS
WE CAN CRIENLIZED CRIMINALIZEED.
THIS IS ABOUT THE STEREOTYPES
AND THREATS THAT PEOPLE THINK
AND IMPOSE ON US.
>> HOW EXHAUSTING IS IT FOR YOU
AND OTHERS TO FIGHT THE SAME
FIGHT OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
>> IT'S INCREDIBLY EXHAUSTING.
IT'S DRAINING.
IT'S TRAUMATIZING.
IT'S TRIGGERING.
IT'S EMOTIONAL.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE.
I'VE BEEN ORGANIZING FOR ABOUT
12 YEARS NOW, AND PRETTY MUCH
SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVEN'T ALWAYS
ORGANIZED AROUND THESE ISSUES,
BUT THESE ISSUES ALWAYS CROPPED
UP AND REALLY INTERSECTED IN THE
ORGANIZING THAT I WAS DOING.
AND IT SEEMS THAT THINGS AREN'T
CHANGING.
AND SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN OUR
COUNTRY AND IN THIS CITY AND IN
THIS STATE JUST IN THE LAST WEEK
AND A HALF.
AND BEING HONEST, I CRIED A LOT
THIS LAST WEEK AND A HALF.
LAST WEEKEND I NEEDED TO TURN MY
PHONE OFF AND TAKE A MENTAL
HEALTH BREAK.
I WOKE UP FRIDAY AT 2 2:00 OR 3:00
IN THE MORNING SEEING DONALD
TRUMP'S TWEET.
IT'S FRIGHTENING FOR COMMUNITIES
OF COLOR TO HAVE TO CONSTANTLY
BE IN THE STREETS, EITHER TAKING
A KNEE AND PEACEFULLY PROTESTING
OR ESCALATING, IT SEEMS THAT
WE'RE NOT BEING HEARD AND WE
HAVE TO REALLY BEG FOR OUR OWN
DIGNITY AND FOR OUR LIVES TO BE
JUST AS VALUED AS OUR ALLIES AND
AS WHITE FOLKS AND IT'S
INCREDIBLY EXHAUSTING TO
CONSTANTLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS
AND TO CONSTANTLY BE IN THIS
FIGHT TO REALLY JUST AM AMPLIFY OUR
OWN DIGNITY THAT PEOPLE FOR
WHATEVER REASON DON'T NATURALLY
SEE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS ORGANIZERS
AND ADVOCATES HAVE SIGNED ON TO
IS AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF
RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS.
WHAT WOULD FOLLOW FROM THAT KIND
OF DECLARATION?
>> YES.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S THE FIRST STEP, IS TO BE
LABEL HOW RACISM HAS IMPACTED
US, WHETHER IT'S IN TERMS OF
TRAUMA OR BEING MURDERED AT THE
HANDS OF POLICE AND EVERYTHING
IN BETWEEN.
IT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
WHEN BLACK GIRLS ARE GOING
MISSING OR ARE BEING TRAFFICKED,
THAT IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
WHEN INDIGENOUS WOMEN AND GIRLS
ARE GOING MISSING, THAT'S A
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.
WE SHOULD BE TREATING RACISM
LIKE THAT AS SUCH.
WHEN WE SEE TRANSWOMEN
SPECIFICALLY BEING MURDERED AND
HATE CRIMES ON THEIR LIVES, ALL
OF THAT, THOSE ARE HATE CRIMES
AND THAT SHOULD BE TREATED AS A
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND WE NEED
POLICIES TO PROTECT ALL OF THE
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
THE WHITE SUPREMACY THAT IS
ENTRENCHED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND OUR POLICIES.
HOW WE'RE ABLE TO EXPRESS
OURSELVES UNDERSTANDING OUR
LIMITATIONS.
WE'RE NOT REALLY OFFERED THE
ABILITY TO THRIVE AND DREAM THE
WAY OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE.
I THINK IT REALLY GOES TO REALLY
EVALUATING HOW MONEY IS
ALLOCATED, ON A STATEWIDE OR
LOCAL LEVEL.
IN MILWAUKEE, NEARLY 50% OF THE
CITY BUDGET GOES TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, WHILE THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT, WHICH HOUSES THE
OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION,
IS ONLY FUNDED AT ABOUT 2% TO
3%.
THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE, LOPSIDED
BUDGET AND IT DOESN'T PREVENT
CRIME AND PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITIES.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT
HOW WE'RE INVESTING.
IDEALLY TO DIVEST FROM THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE SPEND MORE ON THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS AND JUSTICE THAN
WE DO ON OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.
THAT GOES TO SHOW WHAT OUR
VALUES ARE.
BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS AND
WE NEED TO ALLOCATE DOLLARS TO
ACTUALLY DIVESTING FROM THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PUTTING IT
INTO RESOURCES SUCH AS MENTAL
HEALTH, MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS
ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE,
TO QUALITY EDUCATION, TO YOUTH
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SUMMER.
TRANSPORTATION, SO PEOPLE CAN
GET TO LIVING WAGE JOBS.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FACTORS
ABOUT A SAFE COMMUNITY AND WE
HAVE TO ACTUALLY HAVE A DECREASE
IN CRIME INSTEAD OF SPENDING SO
MUCH MONEY ON LAW ENFORCEMENT
THAT IS ONLY ESCALATING THE
CRIME.
>> IN THE WAKE OF GEORGE FLOYD'S
DEATH, HAS VIOLENCE IN THE
STREETS DURING PROTESTS COOPTED
THE MESSAGE AND TAKEN ATTENTION
AWAY FROM THE DISCUSSIONS OF
RACISM AND DEATHS OF BLACK
PEOPLE AND THESE INEQUITIES OF
WHICH YOU SPEAK?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE
VIOLENCE OR THE LOOTING IS BEING
FRAMED IN A DIFFICULT WAY.
NO ONE WAKES UP AND IS SO ANGRY
AND TRAUMATIZED, NO ONE WANTS TO
WAKE UP AND BE THAT ANGRY AND
BURN SOMETHING DOWN.
I THINK IT'S NOT REALLY OUR JOB
TO TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY SHOULD
DEAL WITH THEIR TRAUMA WHEN
WE'RE SEEING PUBLIC EDUCATIONS.
PEOPLE ARE SAYING THESE ARE
MODERN LAY LYNCHINGS.
WE SEE THE BACKLASH.
FOR PEOPLE TO KIND OF, FOR LACK
OF A BETTER TERM, TONE POLICE
HOW PEOPLE ARE EXPRESSING THEIR
FRUSTRATION, IT'S TAKING AWAY
FROM THE PAIN AND THE HURT.
IT'S NOT IDEAL.
NO ONE WANTS TO BE BURNING
THINGS DOWN IN ORDER TO BE
HEARD.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOME TIMES
WHERE PEOPLE FEEL THAT IS THE
ONLY WAY.
YOU PROTEST PEACEFULLY, YOU'RE
FOT BEING HEARD.
SO I THINK IT'S NATURAL AND IT'S
UNDERSTANDABLE THAT PEOPLE FEEL
THE NEED TO LASH OUT IN THIS WAY
AND WE REALLY NEED TO IN THAT
PARTICULAR CONVERSATION
CENTERING PEOPLE'S LIVES OVER
THE VALUE OF PROPERTY AT THE END
OF THE DAY.
PROPERTY CAN BE REPLACED.
PEOPLE'S LIVES CANNOT.
>> MIDWEEK, AS YOU KNOW,
CRIMINAL CHARGES WERE UPGRADED
AGAINST THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
OFFICER WHO KNELT ON THE NECK OF
GEORGE FLOYD AND THE OTHER
OFFICERS ARE NOW BEING CHARGED.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ENCOURAGING.
WE'LL SEE HOW THE SYSTEM PLAYS
OUT.
IF I'M HONEST, I'M NEVER TOO
RELIANT AND TOO CONFIDENT ON THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS HOW
THINGS PLAY OUT.
YOU SEE HOW DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN
OFFICERS BEING ACQUITTED.
JUST BECAUSE CHARGES MAY BE
BROUGHT, WE REALLY WANT TO SEE
THE CHARGES BE ABLE TO STICK AND
PEOPLE ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
AND I THINK ALSO I GET THIS
QUESTION, TOO, IS JUST BECAUSE
CHARGES ARE BROUGHT, DO I THINK
THAT THE PROTESTS ARE GOING TO
DIE DOWN?
AND I THINK WE'RE LIVING ON THIS
PRECIPICE RIGHT NOW THAT IT IS
SO MUCH BIGGER THAN GEORGE
FLOYD.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE REALLY
STARTING TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS
IS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM AND THIS
WAS THE CATALYST AND SPARK FOR
THAT CHANGE.
BUT THE LAYERS AND HISTORICAL
CONTEXT BROUGHT US TO THIS
POINT.
EVEN IF EVERYTHING PLAYS OUT THE
WAY WE WANT TO IT, WE NEED TO
MAKE CONCRETE REFORMS IN THE
FUTURE TO MAKE SURE THIS CAN
NEVER BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN
AGAIN.
>> ANGELA LANG, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
THOUSANDS TURNED OUT ACROSS
WISCONSIN TO PROTEST IN THE WAKE
OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DEATH, AT
TIMES CAUSING CLASHES BETWEEN
MESS AND DEMONSTRATORS.
THE COMMON THEME?
SYSTEMATIC RACISM NEEDS TO END.
"HERE AND NOW" REPORTER WILL
KENNEALLY HAS MORE.
>> THE EMOTION THAT FILLED
WISCONSIN STREETS THIS WEEK WAS
PALPABLE.
FOR ONE PROTESTER WHO POINTED TO
HER SKIN WHEN ASKED WHY SHE WAS
DEMONSTRATING?
>> THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD IN
MINNEAPOLIS POLICE CUSTODY
SPARKED MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE
STATE ADVOCATING TO CHANGES HOW
THE POLICE INTERACT WITH BLACKS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE WANT THOSE RESOURCES TO BE
REDIRECTED TO PRO BLACK, TO
PRO-LIFE-AFFIRMING SAFETY
MECHANISMS.
>> THE PUSH FOR POLICE REFORM
HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS IN
WISCONSIN.
TONY ROBINSON IN MADISON AND
SYLVILE SMITH IN MILWAUKEE WERE
IN THE FRONT OF MINDS AT THIS
WEEK'S PROTESTS.
THE FRUSTRATION OVER THE
LETHARGIC PACE OF CHANGE REACHED
A BOILING POINT OVER THE
WEEKEND.
>> POLICE CLASHED WITH
PROTESTERS AND STOREFRONTS WERE
PILLAGED.
>> SOME OF US ARE UPSET ABOUT
THE LOOTING.
I GET IT.
SOME OF US ARE UPSET ABOUT THE
PROPERTY.
I GET IT.
BUT AIN'T NOBODY OFFERING NO
SOLUTIONS OR POLICY CHANGE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> MADISON MAYOR SATYA
RHODES-CONWAY ADVOCATED LOCAL
CHANGE, BUT THE CROWD IN MADISON
WAS UNCONVINCED.
>> I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I CAN.
>> WHAT CAN YOU DO?
TELL US WHAT YOU CAN DO.
>> TO MOVE FORWARD AND REBUILD
TRUST IN THE POLICE, WHAT CAN BE
DONE?
>> WELL, WE HAVE TO TAKE A STEP
BACK AND REALIZE THAT WE CANNOT
TELL HURT PEOPLE, TRAUMATIZED
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING
SO MUCH PAIN, HOW TO REACT TO
THEIR TRAUMA.
WE ALSO HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS
THAT WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY
IN THE MOVEMENT.
EVERY ROLE ISN'T FOR EVERYBODY,
BUT WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY
IN THIS MOVEMENT.
IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT
ROLE.
THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HOW WE LEAN
ON ONE ANOTHER.
>> IT IS TIME TO MOVE IN THAT
DIRECTION, TO ACKNOWLEDGE RACISM
EXISTS.
I HOPE NO ONE KNOWS WHO'S COMING
BACK TO THE CAPITOL, RIGHT, THAT
WE HAVE A NEW TONE.
IT'S NOT JUST A BLACK ISSUE.
IF YOU TURN ON THE TV, OUR WHITE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE
MARCHING TOO.
IT'S A HUMAN ISSUE.
>> FOR MANY, IT'S A CHANCE TO BE
HEARD.
>> PEOPLE ARE COMING TOGETHER,
WE'RE MAKING ARTWORK TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE VALUE OF BLACK LIVES
AND MAKE IT MORE VISIBLE.
YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT, BUT I
THINK IT HELPS FOR PEOPLE TO SEE
WHY WE ARE ANGRY AND WHY WE ARE
UPSET AND HOW WE CAN COME
TOGETHER AND HOPEFULLY MAKE
THINGS BETTER ONE DAY.
>> REPORTING FROM MADISON AND
MILWAUKEE, I'M WILL KENNEALLY
FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> THESE WORDS FROM GOVERNOR
TONY EVERS THIS WEEK.
QUOTE, "WE MUST REJECT THE
EFFORTS OF THOSE WHO SEEK TO
UNDERMINE AND DISTRACT FROM THE
PAIN OF GENERATIONS OF
INJUSTICE."
"WE MUST CONDEMN ALL THOSE WHO
ENCOURAGE VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK
LIVES.
WE MUST OFFER OUR COMPASSION,
OUR SUPPORT.
BUT MOST OF ALL, WE MUST OFFER
OUR ACTION."
AND GOVERNOR TONY EVERS JOINS US
ONCE AGAIN IN OUR WEEKLY
ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW AND THANKS
VERY MUCH FOR DOING SO.
>> THANKS, FREDERICA.
>> SO THE TANGIBLE ACTION THAT
YOU WANT TO TAKE COMES IN THE
FORM OF A LEGISLATIVE BILL THAT
WOULD MAKE THE PRIMARY DUTY OF
ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PRESERVE
THE LIFE OF ALL INDIVIDUALS AND
THAT DEADLY FORCE IS TO BE USED
ONLY AS A LAST RESORT.
WHY IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL AN
IMPORTANT FIRST STEP?
>> YEAH.
AND THAT'S GREAT, BECAUSE THAT'S
WHAT -- THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT US
TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
OBVIOUSLY, THE HORRIBLE MURDER
THAT WE SAW IN MINNEAPOLIS WITH
GEORGE FLOYD AND HOW THAT
HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WASN'T
THE ACCOUNTABILITY PIECE IN
PLACE AS IT RELATES TO POLICE
RELATIONS AND INTERACTIONS WITH
FOLKS.
AND SO, YES, USE OF FORCE IS
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
IT'S AN ASSEMBLY BILL.
IT'S ALREADY THERE.
IT'S REALLY STRAIGHTFORWARD,
MAKING SURE THOSE STANDARDS
EXIST SO BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND
THE POLICE KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED
OF THEM.
>> NOW, IT CERTAINLY --
>> I'M SORRY.
BUT IT IS ONLY A FIRST STEP.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY NOW THAT
GOES, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY POLICE
RELATIONS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REFORM, HOUSING.
YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY NOW TO REALLY MOVE
THE NEEDLE.
>> SPECIFIC TO THAT USE OF FORCE
BILL, IT IS CERTAINLY BEING
CRITICIZED BY THE CHAIR OF THE
STATE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE, WHO IS OUR NEXT GUEST
ON THIS PROGRAM.
HE SAYS IT WAS WRITTEN, QUOTE,
BY LIBERAL ACTIVISTS WHO DON'T
KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT POLICE WORK.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT?
>> WELL, IT IS -- IT WAS WRITTEN
IN LARGE PART BY THE PEOPLE THAT
WERE -- THAT WERE PROTESTING
USING THE FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENATOR
HAS LOTS MORE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
AND POLICE EXPERIENCE THAN
OTHERS DO.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE
CAN'T MOVE FORWARD ON SOMETHING
AROUND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
POLICE.
90%, 95%, YOU NAME THE HIGH
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WORK IN
THE PROFESSION ARE GOOD.
WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
PEOPLE THAT, FRANKLY, NEED SOME
HELP IN ESTABLISHING STANDARDS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A FORMER
POLICE OFFICER TO UNDERSTAND
THAT.
>> WHAT ABOUT MANDATING AND
FUNDING IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOMETHING
LIKE THAT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF GOOD
IDEAS ON THE TABLE.
AND AS I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL
ACROSS THE STATE, BUT
PARTICULARLY IN MADISON AND
MILWAUKEE, ON THE GROUND, I'M
NOT TALKING ABOUT ELECTED
OFFICIALS, PEOPLE THAT ARE
LIVING THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY,
THEY SAY AND THEY ARE ACCURATE,
THERE ARE ENOUGH BLUE RIBBON
COMMISSIONS AND ENOUGH TASK
FORCES AND ENOUGH OTHER THINGS
THAT THERE ARE IDEAS OUT THERE
THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING THE BEST IDEAS,
ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE PEOPLE
THAT ARE ON THE GROUND.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO GET
SUPPORT FROM LEGISLATORS.
BUT THIS SHOULD BE A BIPARTISAN
ISSUE.
>> THURSDAY YOU DECLARED RACISM
A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
WHAT TANGIBLE STEPS WILL YOU
TAKE TO HEAL THAT CRISIS?
>> IT'S BEEN LAID THERE DURING
THIS PANDEMIC, WHICH GROUPS ARE
INORDINATELY AND
DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY
THE VIRUS.
IT'S AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
IT'S HISPANICS AND OTHER PEOPLE,
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THIS A LONG TIME, FRANKLY.
I STILL BELIEVE THAT TAKING THE
MEDICAID EXPANSION MONEY THAT WE
COULD HAVE DONE IN THE HAS
BUDGET WOULD HAVE FREED UP LOTS
OF MONEY FOR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT
WOULD HAVE DIRECTLY IMPACTED THE
LIVES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS
STATE AND HELPED TO REDUCE THAT
DISPROPORTION
DISPROPORTIONALTY.
TO ME IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT WE
HAVE NOT TAKEN THE MONEY OUR
TAXPAYERS HAVE SENT TO
WASHINGTON D.C. AND WE'RE
GETTING NO BENEFIT FROM THAT.
>> WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON
DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND PUTTING
THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS THINGS LIKE
PUBLIC HEALTH, HOUSING OR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON BEHALF
OF PEOPLE OF COLOR?
>> YEAH.
I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION A
LOT, AND POSSIBLY EVEN SOME OF
THE FOLKS YOU'RE TALKING TO
TONIGHT ARE GOING TO BE TALKING
ABOUT THAT.
BUT IF DEFUNDING MEANS REMOVE
FUNDING FROM POLICE OFFICERS AND
THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, THE
GOOD WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, OF
COURSE I'M NOT AGAINST THAT.
WHO'S GOING TO BE ARRESTING THE
PERSON DRIVING DRUNK ON THE
BELTLINE?
WE HAVE TO HAVE OFFICERS TO HELP
US GET THROUGH THOSE THINGS.
BUT IF SOME OF THAT MONEY CAN BE
USED FOR IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING,
PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP FOR OFFICERS
THAT ARE WORKING UNDER TRAUMATIC
CIRCUMSTANCES ALL THE TIME,
REAPPRAISING HOW THAT MONEY IS
SPENT TO HELP THEM BECOME BETTER
POLICE OFFICERS, I'M ALL FOR
THAT.
>> AMONG THE OTHER DEMANDS, AS
YOU SAID, THAT WAS ONE, AND WE
WILL HEAR ABOUT THAT TONIGHT
FROM SOME PEOPLE.
BUT AMONG THE OTHER DEMANDS FROM
ANTIRACIST ACTIVISTS AND
ADVOCATES IS TO WITHDRAW THE
NATIONAL GUARD ACTIVATED IN THE
MIDST OF PROTESTS, WHICH, AS YOU
KNOW, SOME OF THEM RESULTED IN
WIDESPREAD PROPERTY DAMAGE.
WILL YOU CEDE TO THAT DEMAND?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THE
NATIONAL GUARD IS SENT IN WHEN
LOMES ASKED
LOCALS ASKED US FOR IT IN
MILWAUKEE AND MADISON AND OTHER
PLACES IN THE STATE.
BUT MY ROLE OR MY INSISTENCE AND
BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THEY SERVE A
LIMITED ROLE.
I UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE FEEL
ABOUT MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS,
EVEN THOUGH OUR NART NATIONAL GUARD
HAS DONE A GREAT JOB HELPING US
IN THE PANDEMIC.
SO WE HAVE INSISTED WITH LOCAL
LEADERS THAT THEY ARE PRIMARILY
USED TO PROTECT PROPERTY,
ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT PROPERTY
LIKE THE STATE CAPITOL, LIKE
ELECTRICAL SITUATIONS AND WATER
AND OTHER UTILITIES, CULTURAL
SITES.
SO THAT'S THEIR ROLE AND THAT'S
THE ROLE THEY'RE PRIMARILY
PLAYING.
SO UNTIL THEY ARE ASKING ME TO
HAVE THEM PLAY A MORE ACTIVE
ROLE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO
WHAT I THINK THEY'RE DOING A
GREAT JOB AS.
>> YOU SAY THAT WE MUST
REESTABLISH TRUST WITH
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
>> WELL, IT'S A LONG PROCESS,
BUT, BELIEVE ME, WE HAVE A LONG
WAY TO GO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO
IS ACT, AND I BELIEVE AT THE
STATE LEVEL WE HAVE SOME ACTIONS
THAT WE CAN TAKE TO HELP PEOPLE
THAT STRUGGLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE INVOLVE THE ENTIRE STATE
IN THIS.
OUR STATE IS BECOMING MORE
DIVERSE BY THE DAY AND WILL
CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNDER THAT
UMBRELLA OF CHANGING
DEMOGRAPHICS.
AND SO WE NEED TO HAVE THESE
CONVERSATIONS.
I THINK THE STATE HAS A BULLY
PULPIT ROLE TO PLAY, BUT, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, AN ACTIVE ROLE, AN
ACTION ROLE, THAT RELIES ON
INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE ON THE
-- YOU KNOW, ELECTED OFFICIALS
ARE FINE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THOSE
CONVERSATIONS.
BUT THE MORE I AND OTHER STATE
LEADERS SPEND TIME SPEAKING TO
PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN CITIES
AND VILLAGES ACROSS THE STATE ON
THIS ISSUE, THE BETTER OFF WE'LL
BE.
>> AND YOU'RE COMMITTED TO DOING
THAT IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS
AHEAD.
>> YEAH.
I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I HAVE --
IT'S BEEN BURNING IN MY SOUL FOR
YEARS.
AND THIS -- WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A
GOOD OPPORTUNITY IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING AROUND
SOME REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS,
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
DELIVERING ON SOME OF THOSE
THINGS THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
APPRECIATE IT.
>> THE LEGISLATIVE BILL THAT
CALLS FOR MAKING THE PRIMARY
DUTY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT TO
PRESERVE THE LIFE OF ALL
INDIVIDUALS AND THAT DEADLY
FORCE IS TO BE USED ONLY AS A
HAS RESORT IS BEING DERIDED BY
THE REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR WHO
IS CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY
COMMITTEE.
SENATOR VAN WANGGAARD OF RACINE
IS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER.
HE JOINS US NOW FROM RACINE AND
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> GLAD TO BE HERE, FREDERICA.
>> SO WHY IN YOUR MIND IS IT
WRONG TO CODIFY THE STATUTE THE
PRIMARY DUTY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS TO PRESERVE THE LIFE OF ALL
INDIVIDUALS?
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, UNDER CHAPTER
66 IT'S ALREADY INCLUDED IN
THERE AND IT REQUIRES EACH
DEPARTMENT TO HAVE POLICIES IN
PLACE, BOTH UNDER STATE AND
FEDERAL GUIDELINES, THAT
RESTRICT THOSE OFFICERS TO
ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE
AND FEDERAL LAWS.
SO JUST LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN
MINNESOTA, THIS OFFICER THAT
STEPPED OUTSIDE OF HIS
DEPARTMENT'S POLICIES,
GUIDELINES AND TRAINING AND DID
THIS HORRIFIC PUTTING OF THE
KNEE ON THE SUSPECT'S NECK, THAT
INDIVIDUAL IS OUTSIDE OF THE
POLICIES AND GUIDELINES OF THE
FORCE CONTINUUM.
AND HE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH
SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF CRIMINAL
STATUTES ON THE BOOKS THAT APPLY
TO EVERYBODY.
THEY APPLY TO POLICE OFFICERS,
TOO, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE ON THE
STREET THAT THEY POLICE, BUT THE
POLICE OFFICERS THEMSELVES.
AND THOSE GUIDELINES ARE ALREADY
IN PLACE UNDER CHAPTER 60 AND
UNDER CHAPTER 62.13, WHICH DEALS
WITH POLICE AND FIRE
COMMISSIONS, ET CETERA.
THERE ARE SEVERAL LAYERS THAT
WOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS
IF IN FACT AN INDIVIDUAL STEPS
OUTSIDE OF THOSE GUIDELINES.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT I
WAS A POLICE AND FIRE
COMMISSIONER FOR TEN YEARS,
ALSO.
>> AND SO YOU DESCRIBE THIS
PROPOSAL AS BEING MICROMANAGING
OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND YOU
ALSO SAY THAT IT SEEMS CLEAR
THAT WHOEVER WROTE THIS BILL HAS
NEVER SERVED WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
WHY DO YOU SAY THAT PIECE?
>> WELL, I SAY THAT BECAUSE NO
MATTER WHAT IS IN THIS BILL
WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED WHAT
OCCURRED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND I
DON'T BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE
CHANGED ANY OF THE
OFFICER-INVOLVED INCIDENTS THAT
HAVE OCCURRED IN MY RECENT
MEMORY.
WE NEED TO GET AT THE ROOT CAUSE
OF WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, AND WE
NEED TO LOOK AT SPECIFICALLY HOW
CAN WE ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.
SO WE HAVE A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE BEEN
WORKING ON ABOUT TWO YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT WITH
MR. MICHAEL BELL.
HE LOST HIS SON TO A POLICE
OFFICER DOWN IN KENOSHA A FEW
YEARS BACK, AND HE HAS BEEN
LOOKING FOR CHANGE.
AND HOW WE ADDRESS SOME OF THE
OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS AND
HOW CAN WE TRAIN BETTER SO THAT
MAYBE WE CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF
THESE ISSUES HAPPENING.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT
PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WHICH
WOULD GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE.
IT WOULD LOOK SPECIFICALLY, LIKE
THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SAFETY BOARD COMES IN WHEN
THERE'S A TRANSPORTATION CRASH
IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THEY COME IN, THEY SURVEY ALL OF
THE INFORMATION.
THERE'S NO PLACE THEY CAN'T GO.
THEY HE CAN CAN SUBPOENA, FIND OUT WHY
IT HAPPENED SO WE CAN MAKE
CHANGES SO WE DON'T HAVE THESE
FAILURES.
WHETHER OR NOT A BLACK MAN ON
THE GROUND OR A WHITE MAN ON THE
GROUND WOULDN'T THE HAVE MADE
ANY DIFFERENCE.
WHAT THIS OFFICER DID WAS JUST
ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS AND HE
SHOULD BE CHARGED.
SO THAT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE ANY
DIFFERENCE.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED
HERE, WHERE WAS THE FAILURE.
AND I THINK THAT THE PROCESS, WE
WILL NOW HAVE NOT ONLY WILL THEY
HAVE AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION,
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR STATE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN
MINNEAPOLIS LOOKING AT IT, THE
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND THE
STATE LEVEL IN MINNESOTA WILL BE
LOOKING ALIT JUST AT IT.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP ALL
OF THAT IN PERSPECTIVE.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT ROOT CAUSES OF
THIS KIND OF THING LIKE HAPPENED
IN MINNEAPOLIS HAPPENING.
WOULD THAT BE TRAINING AND
ACCOUNTABILITY THEN?
>> I THINK TRAINING IS A HUGE,
HUGE PART OF IT.
WE'RE BLESSED HERE IN WISCONSIN.
WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD BUREAU
TRAINING AND STANDARDS AND THEY
WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH ALL OF
OUR DEPARTMENTS.
I GUESS I LEAN A LITTLE BIT
TOWARDS SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN
WITH GATEWAY TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE
AND MATC.
BUT THEY TRAIN OUR OFFICERS.
THEY HAVE TWO-YEAR PROGRAMS AND
THEY'RE HANDS-ON AND THEY'RE
PHENOMENAL.
AND THEN EVERY OFFICER IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN IS REQUIRED
TO HAVE 24 HOURS OF CONTINUING
EDUCATION TO MAINTAIN THEIR
CERTIFICATIONS.
SO THEY GO THROUGH ALL OF THE
OTHER ASPECTS OF INTERACTION
WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHICH COULD
BE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, IT
COULD BE DEFENSE DEFENSIVE TACTICS FOR
ARREST.
THEY UPGRADE THAT TRAINING, SO
EVERY QUEER AN YEAR AN OFFICER HAS TO
HAVE AT LEAST 24 HOURS OF
TRAINING ON CURRENT THINGS THAT
MIGHT CHANGE HOW THEY RESPOND TO
THE COMMUNITY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SENATOR WAN, WE NEED TO LEAVE IT
THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> OUR NEXT GUEST IS NATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED IN THE AREA OF POLICE
REFORM.
NOBLE WRAI IS THE FORMER CHIEF
OF POLICE IN MADISON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO AS AN ECTS AN EXPERT IN POLICE
PRACTICES AND REFORM, WHEN YOU
SAW THE IMAGES OF WHAT HAPPENED
TO GEORGE FLOYD, WHAT WENT
THROUGH YOUR HEAD?
>> FIRST OF ALL, JUST LIKE MANY
AMERICANS, IT WAS JUST HORRIFIC
TO SEE THAT JUST EMOTIONAL --
IT'S JUST A LOT OF EMOTIONS
GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.
I FEEL IT FROM A COMMUNITY
MEMBER, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE
OR SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN IN
POLICING FOR NOW OVER 30 YEARS,
REALLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I FELT FOR THE
FAMILY.
IT WAS JUST A TERRIBLE, JUST A
TERRIBLE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> SO PUTTING EVEN A FINER POINT
ON THAT, HOW WELL DO YOU
UNDERSTAND THE ANGER OF
PROTESTERS MARCHING IN
SOLIDARITY OVER RACISM AND WHITE
SUPREMACY AS THEY MOURN THE
DEATH OF A BLACK MAN?
>> I UNDERSTAND IT FROM
DIFFERENT ANGLES.
I CAME UP IN MILWAUKEE.
MY PARENTS WERE INVOLVED WITH
FATHER GROPPI AND THE CIVIL
RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
THAT RINGS VERY STRONG FOR ME.
AS A POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS
ADVOCATED FOR POLICE BUT ALSO
POLICE REFORM, IT HIT ME HARD
BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE GAINS WE
THOUGHT THAT WE WERE MAKING OVER
THE YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND
RECOGNIZING THAT TRUST CAN BE
LOST IN JUST ONE INSTANT, JUST
ONE INSTANT, SO THAT WAS VERY
DIFFICULT.
BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT TALKING
TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS BOTH HERE
IN MADISON AND ACROSS THE
NATION, THIS IS A REAL ISSUE.
IT'S BEEN A REAL ISSUE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
THINK WE MISTAKE, WE DO BY
MISTAKE IN OUR PROFESSION, IS
THAT IF THERE IS AN ABSENCE OF
TENSION OR IF PEOPLE ARE NOT
COMPLAINING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
IT SENDS A SIGNAL THAT THINGS
ARE OKAY.
BUT IN REALITY, THIS IS A
PERFECT EXAMPLE THAT THINGS ARE
NOT OKAY.
THE TENSION WAS AWFUL.
THE FRUSTRATION, THE DECADES OF
FRUSTRATION WAS OUT THERE.
AND THEN THIS WAS THE MATCH THAT
REALLY HIT AT THE CORE OF SO
MANY PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE
TO SAY, FREDERICA, THIS IS
DIFFERENT.
I'VE BEEN AT A LOT OF PROTESTS.
MADISON IS THE STATE CAPITAL.
THIS IS NOT A PROTEST.
THIS IS A MOVEMENT.
AND A MOVEMENT HAPPENS WHEN THE
PEOPLE THAT ARE DIRECTLY
IMPACTED BY A PARTICULAR ISSUE,
THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES
IMPACTED.
THIS HAS GONE BEYOND
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
THIS IS WORLDWIDE.
THE OTHER THING IN A MOVEMENT IS
WHEN YOU SEE A SHIFT IN STATUS
QUO, WHAT I'M HEARING IS PEOPLE
ARE ASKING FOR SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE SAYING WE WANT A
RESPONSE TO POLICE MISCONDUCT TO
HAPPEN IN A MORE RAPID FASHION.
WE WANT POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE
ENGAGED IN SIMILAR CONDUCT TO BE
TREATED JUST LIKE AN AVERAGE
CITIZEN WOULD BE TREATED.
AND IT SHOULD BE.
IF WE'RE THE GUARDIANS OF
DEMOCRACY, WE SHOULD BE HELD TO
A HIGHER STANDARD.
>> DO YOU THINK THOSE CALLS WILL
BE DIFFERENT THIS TIME?
WILL THIS BE THE SITUATION THAT
CAUSES CHANGE?
>> I HOPE SO.
I HOPE THAT THE CHANGE THAT
TAKES PLACE, THE REFORM THAT
TAKES PLACE, GOES BEYOND THE
MOMENT.
AND AS I ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WE
GET LULLED INTO THINKING JUST
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT OUT THERE
PROTESTING THAT THERE'S NOT AN
ISSUE.
BECAUSE THERE ARE CLEAR ISSUES
OF REFORM THAT NEED TO TAKE
PLACE IN THIS PROFESSION.
>> LIKE?
>> LIKE I THINK, YOU KNOW, AREAS
-- AREAS FOR -- I'LL GIVE YOU AN
EXAMPLE.
I THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO
PROVIDE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS TO
THE PUBLIC.
IT NEEDS TO BE TRANSPARENT.
NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A WAY WHERE
HUMAN RESOURCE ISSUES ARE
PROTECTED WITHIN A DEPARTMENT.
BUT I THINK OVER TIME PEOPLE
NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON
A DISCIPLINARY STANDPOINT.
I THINK GRAND VERSUS CONNOR, THE
LANDMARK SUPREME COURT DECISION
THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE '80s
REGARDING USE OF FORCE, I THINK
THOSE THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED
AT.
I'LL GIVE YOU JUST DRILLING DOWN
INTO THAT A BIT MORE.
THERE'S A PROPOSAL AT THE STATE
LEVEL AND THAT PROPOSAL IS TO
LOOK AT HOW DO WE FOCUS IN ON
THE MINIMAL AMOUNT OF FORCE
NECESSARY IN A USE OF FORCE
SITUATION.
CALIFORNIA HAS PASSED
LEGISLATION THAT IS SIMILAR TO
THAT.
WHAT GRAND VERSUS CONNER DID,
WHICH THERE ARE ASPECTS OF IT I
REALLY LIKE, BUT IT MOVED US
AWAY FROM FOCUSING IN ON THE
MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FORCE, WHICH I
THINK HAS MORE OF A MORAL
OBJECTIVE IN THE OPERATIONS OF
POLICE WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH
THE USE OF FORCE.
THAT IS ALWAYS -- WHEN I CAME
ON, THAT WAS ALWAYS IN THE BACK
OF MY MIND.
USE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FORCE
NECESSARY WHEN YOU'RE ENGAGED IN
THAT SITUATION.
I THINK WE LOST THAT UNDER THE
OBJECTIVELY REASONABLE STANDARD
THAT CAME OUT OF THE GRAND
VERSUS CONNER DECISION.
>> AND SO DO YOU SUPPORT THE
PROPOSAL THAT EXISTS AT THE
STATE, A BILL BY DEMOCRATS THAT
DEALS WITH USE OF FORCE?
DO YOU SUPPORT THAT PROVISION?
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN THE BILL, SO
I'M ALWAYS RELUCTANT TO SAY THAT
I SUPPORT IT IN ITS ENTIRETY
UNTIL I SEE IT.
I HAVE JUST HEARD ABOUT IT.
AND FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD, I
THINK IT'S GOING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
IT'S LIKE TO SEE THE
LEGISLATION.
BUT I KNOW THAT I WAS TRACKING
CALIFORNIA'S LEGISLATION ON IT,
AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION WITH IT.
>> THE LEGISLATION SEEMS FAIRLY
BRIEF.
IT BASICALLY SAYS THAT THE
PRIMARY DUTY OF OFFICERS IS TO
PRESERVE THE LIFE OF ALL PEOPLE
AND USE DEADLY FORCE AS A LAST
RESORT.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER PROVISIONS,
BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN
PRONGS.
>> I THINK THAT'S GOING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
AGAIN, I FOLLOWED THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATION AND THEY HAD TO WORK
THAT THROUGH, THE LANGUAGE, SO
THAT IT MET THE NEEDS.
BUT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, ONE
OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE LOST
AS IT RELATES TO USE OF FORCE IN
POLICING, IS LANGUAGE,
STATUTORILY LANGUAGE, SUPREME
COURT LANGUAGE, THAT REINFORCES
THE MORALITY, THE ETHICS, THE
HUMANITY OF POLICING.
AND I THINK THAT LEGISLATION
THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS TRYING
TO GET AT THAT.
>> VERY BRIEFLY, WHAT LEARNED
WISDOM WOULD YOU IMPART ON
CURRENT POLICE OFFICERS?
>> I THINK POLICING HAS REALLY
EVOLVED.
I THINK WE'VE MADE GREAT
STRIDES.
BUT THE LEARNED WISDOM IS THAT
IT'S CONSTANT.
WE LOSE SOMETIMES BECAUSE WE GET
CAUGHT UP IN THE DAY-TO-DAY PUSH
OF THINGS.
I MEAN, WE'RE OUT THERE FIGHTING
FIRES.
IT IS A DIFFICULT JOB.
BUT THE THINGS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT ABOUT OUR PROFESSION,
BUILDING TRUST, CONNECTING WITH
PEOPLE, PROCEDURAL JUSTICE, YOU
KNOW, THE COMPETENCY AND THE
CHARACTER THAT IT TAKES TO DO
THIS JOB, THE GUARDIANSHIP WHICH
WE'RE ENTRUSTED WITH, THAT TAKES
WORK AND IT'S EVERY DAY AND IT'S
HARD TO DO.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
STILL HAVE TO EMPHASIZE GHVMENT
WE LEAVE IT THERE.
NOBLE WRAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> SO WHAT IS THE SITUATION ON
THE GROUND WITH PRACTICING COPS,
THOSE STILL RESPONDING AND
ENGAGING AND MAKING DECISIONS?
FOR THAT WE GO TO GREEN BAY AND
?CHECK IN THERE WITH THE CHIEF OF
POLICE, ANDREW SMITH.
AND, CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> SO I HAVE READ THAT YOU
INTEND A REFRESHER COURSE FOR
YOUR OFFICERS IN THE USE OF
FORCE IN THE WAKE OF WHAT
HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS.
HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU BELIEVE
THAT KIND OF REGULAR TRAINING IS
FOR YOUR OFFICERS?
>> I THINK IT'S CRITICAL.
I THINK OUR OFFICERS NEED TO
KNOW WHAT THEIR JOB IS.
THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE RULES
ARE FOR THEIR JOB.
WE ALREADY STARTED THAT.
WE MET WITH ALL OF OUR
SUPERVISORS JUST LAST WEEK AND
WE ALL SAT DOWN, WENT OVER THE
MINNESOTA INCIDENT.
WE HAD OUR USE OF FORCE TRAINERS
THERE AND THE EXPECTATION IS
EVERY OFFICER WILL RECEIVE A
REFRESHER ON WHAT HAPPENED IN
MINNEAPOLIS AND WHAT OUR
EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR OUR
OFFICERS.
>> DO YOUR OFFICERS USE METHODS
LIKE HOLDING HANDCUFFED SUSPECTS
DOWN ON THEIR NECKS?
>> NO.
THAT'S SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED
BOY OUR POLICY.
WE DO NOT DO THAT.
>> AND SO IF YOU HAD A REFRESHER
ON USE OF FORCE, WHAT WERE THE
MOST COGENT TAKE-AWAYS FROM THAT
FOR YOUR OFFICERS?
>> WELL, WE GAVE THEM KIND OF A
LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW ABOUT
WHY WE'RE ABLE TO USE FORCE,
UNDER WHAT SITUATIONS FORCE IS
APPROPRIATE.
BUT ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT THE
OFFICER OVERRIDE.
IF YOU SEE ANOTHER OFFICER USING
FORCE THAT'S UNAUTHORIZED OR
MISAPPLYING FORCE, WE BELIEVE
IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE
OFFICERS TO STOP THAT FROM
HAPPENING.
AND THAT WAS REITERATED ALONG
WITH THE BASIC RULES OF YOU
DON'T PUT YOUR KNEE ON SOMEONE'S
NECK.
YOU DON'T PUT THEM DOWN TO THE
GROUND AND HOLD THEM DOWN PINNED
LIKE THAT.
IF SOMEONE'S GASPING FOR AIR OR
CALLING FOR HELP, YOU TAKE THAT
AS A SERIOUS INCIDENT THAT NEEDS
TO BE ACTED ON.
>> YOU SAY LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS A
LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF
ACCOUNTABILITY.
HOW SO?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A TOUGH
JOB OUT THERE, AND THERE'S A LOT
OF GREAT OFFICERS DOING GREAT
WORK EVERY DAY.
BUT I THINK WE ALL COME ACROSS
THE BAD APPLE THAT YOU HEAR
ABOUT.
WE COME ACROSS OFFICERS WHO HAVE
A LONG HISTORY OF GETTING IN
TROUBLE.
AND I THINK IT'S AWFUL TOUGH TO
FIRE SOMEONE, QUITE FRANKLY,
THAT NEEDS TO BE FIRED HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
SO I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON
THE CHIEFS OF POLICE TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE HOLDING THEIR
OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.
WE HAVE A CIVILIAN POLICE AND
FIRE COMMISSION IN GREEN BAY
THAT HOLDS ME ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK ACROSS THE BOARD AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
ACCOUNTABILITY IS LACKING AND
IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO FIRE A BAD
OFFICER.
>> YOU MARCHED WITH PROTESTERS
IN YOUR CITY LAST WEEKEND.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME
I'VE MARCHED WITH PROTESTERS.
COMING FROM LOS ANGELES, I'VE
DONE THAT MANY TIMES.
BUT I WAS QUITE HAPPY TO BE
INVITED INTO THE PROTEST WHEN
THEY ASKED ME TO MARCH WITH
THEM.
AND OF COURSE I DID.
AND WHAT REALLY I WANTED TO DO
WAS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LISTEN TO PEOPLE, TO HEAR WHAT
THEY SAY, TO HEAR WHAT THEY'RE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
I UNDERSTAND THEIR ANGER AND
FRUSTRATION, BUT I WANTED TO
HEAR IT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
MARCHING.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND.
WHAT CAN WE DO BETTER AS A
POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IN GREEN
BAY.
>> BEFORE THAT YOU COMMENTED
ABOUT HOW GEORGE FLOYD DIED
SAYING IT SICKENED YOU AND IT
WAS ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLE
THINGS YOU HAD EVER SEEN.
WHILE READING YOUR ABOUT HOW YOU
MARCHED WITH THE PROTESTERS, WE
ALSO CAME UPON AN ARTICLE AND IT
GIVES ME NO PLEASURE TO RAISE
THIS, ABOUT A FAMILY WHOSE LOVED
ONE WAS KILLED BY POLICE BULLETS
IN YOUR CITY AND THEY CALLED YOU
OUT FOR YOUR HYPOCRISY, SAYING
WE'RE OUTRAGED AND DEEPLY
OFFENDED THAT YOU WOULD USE THIS
TIME OF TRAGEDY TO MAKE THOSE
STATEMENTS, SAYING THAT YOUR
DEPARTMENT IS NOT AT FAULT, THEY
SAID, FOR THE SAME UNJUST
ACTIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED TO
GEORGE FLOYD'S FAMILY.
WHAT IS YOUR COMMENT ON THAT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THERE'S A
LAWSUIT PENDING, SO I CAN'T
SPEAK ABOUT ANY OF THE SPECIFICS
OF THAT CASE.
BUT THESE WERE TWO COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT CASES.
THIS ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN
REVIEWED.
THE ONE IN GREEN BAY HAS ALREADY
BEEN REVIEWED BY THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO DECLINED
TO PRESS ANY CHARGES, OF COURSE.
SO THEY ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT
CASES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT FAMILY IS VERY
UPSET.
BUT, AGAIN, THERE'S A LAWSUIT
PENDING.
I REALLY CAN'T TALK ABOUT ANY
SPECIFICS OF THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, CHIEF, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US AND WE
WISH YOU AND YOUR CITY WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, MARISA
WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH THE FOUNDER
OF URBAN TRIAGE AND MADISON
ORGANIZER BRANDI GRAYSON TO HEAR
WHAT THEIR DEMANDS ARE.
>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT
THIS PAST WEEK OF PROTESTS AT
THE STATE CAPITOL HAS LOOKED
LIKE AND SOUNDED LIKE TO YOU?
>> THE PROTESTS HAVE BEEN VERY
POWERFUL IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S
CROSS-GENERATIONAL, CROSS RACES,
CROSS IDEOLOGY, RIGHT?
IT'S JUST A MIXTURE OF
BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT PEOPLE WHO
ARE REALLY FED UP WITH THE
SYSTEMATIC OPPRESSION, WHITE
SUPREMACY AND THE KILLING OF
BLACK BODIES WITHOUT JUSTICE.
AND I THINK WHEN GEORGE FLOYD
WAS MURDERED ON CAMERA FOLLOWING
THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO WAS
CHASED DOWN BY KKK SUE SUE SUPREMACISTS,
IT WAS JUST ENOUGH.
WITH COVID-19 AND PEOPLE JUST
BEING TIRED OF BEING JUST
OPPRESSED AND HAVING THEIR
RIGHTS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM
THEM, SO WHAT I'VE SEEN ON THE
GROUND, IT WAS REALLY A FEELING
OF COMMUNITY AND THE SENSE THAT
WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER AND THAT
WE WILL BE THE ONES THAT SAVE US
AND PROTECT US AND WE MUST KEEP
GOING UNTIL OUR VOICES ARE HEARD
AND REAL ACTION IS TAKEN.
AND FOR US IN MADISON,
WISCONSIN, REAL ACTION LOOKS
LIKE DEFUNDING OUR JAILS, OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENTS, INVESTING IN
PEOPLE, INVESTING IN OUR
CHILDREN, INVESTING IN YOUTH.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER DEMANDS IS
FIRING MATT KEENNY, A POLICE
OFFICER WITH MADISON WHO
MURDERED TONY ROBINSON IN 2015,
SHOT HIM SEVEN TIMES.
SO WE ARE ASKING THAT THERE BE
REAL ACTIONS TAKEN AS IT RELATES
TO THE VIOLENCE INFLICTED ON
HUMAN BODIES.
AND WHAT WE'VE BEEN WITNESSING
IS COMMUNITY.
AND WHAT WE'RE ALSO DEMANDING IS
COMMUNITY CONTROL OVER POLICE.
WE NEED COMMUNITY REVIEW BOARDS
TO HAVE THE SAME POWER AS THE
POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION.
AND THAT POWER CAN BE GRANTED TO
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH OUR
CITY COUNCIL AND THROUGH THE
POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION.
AND ANOTHER ONE OF OUR DEMANDS
IS FREE THEM ALL.
IT MEANS ALL BLACK PEOPLE LOCKED
UP IN DANE COUNTY JAIL.
AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY AND
POWER SPECIFICALLY FALLS ON OUR
DANE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JOEL
PARISI AND OUR SHERIFF.
SO THEY HAVE THE POWER TO LET
PEOPLE OUT.
AND WHAT WE KNOW IS WHAT
COVID-19 HIT, THEY DID LET
PEOPLE OUT.
SO WE KNOW THAT THEY CAN IF THEY
REALLY ARE INTERESTED IN JUSTICE
AND A FAIR SYSTEM.
>> AND I DID WANT TO ASK YOU
ABOUT YOUR DEMANDS.
YOUR ORGANIZATION, ALONG WITH
FREEDOM, INC. AND THE PARTY FOR
SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION HAVE
MADE THIS LIST OF DEMANDS.
ARE THESE DEMANDS IN LINE
GENERALLY WITH WHAT OTHERS ARE
CALLING FOR ACROSS THE COUNTRY?
>> YES.
IT'S IN LINE WITH THE BLACK
MOVEMENT, MOVEMENT FOR BLACK
LIVES, OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE,
REPARATIONS FOR BLACK PEOPLE AND
REALLY BUILDING RESOURCES FOR
THE BLACK COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE
WE ARE UPLIFTING BLACK PEOPLE
AND WE'RE SUPPORTING BLACK
PEOPLE WITH OPPORTUNITY,
RESOURCES AND JUSTICE, THEN
EVERYONE IS LIBERATED.
>> WHERE DO YOU SEE THINGS
GOING?
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THE OUTCOME
OF THESE PROTESTS WILL BE?
OR DO YOU FORESEE YOURSELF
PROTESTING EVERY DAY FOR WEEKS
AND MONTHS TO COME?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A HARD
QUESTION.
THAT'S TOTALLY UP TO THOSE IN
POWER.
IT'S TOTALLY UP TO OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, OUR LOCAL POLICE
DEPARTMENT, OUR LOCAL MAYOR, OUR
LOCAL DANE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, OUR
SEVER.
OUR
SHERIFF.
IF FOLKS WANT THIS TO END, THIS
HAVE TO BE CHANGES.
I DON'T SEE IT STOPPING UNTIL
ACTUAL STEPS HAPPEN.
THIS IS HISTORIC AL.
THERE IS A REVOLUTION HAPPENING
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
I DON'T SEE IT ENDING.
I SEE IT INCREASING NND UNTIL
ACTIONABLE STEPS ARE TAKEN TO
END THE ENDING OF LIVES OF BLACK
BODIES.
THEY HAVE TO POWER TO END THIS
AT ANY MOMENT.
THE QUESTION IS WHEN THE
PROTESTERS ARE GOING TO STOP.
IT'S WHEN ARE THOSE IN CHARGE
AND IN POWER GOING TO START
DOING THINGS TO PROTECT BLACK
BODIES?
>> ALL RIGHT.
BRANDI GRAYSON, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
>> A MAN WHO HAS MADE BRIDGING
GAPS AND BRINGING COMMUNITIES
TOGETHER HIS LIFE'S WORK
DESCRIBES THE RIOTS AS THE
VOICES OF THOSE WHO ARE FED UP,
MARGINALIZED ON THEIR JOBS,
PRICED OUT OF NEIGHBORHOODS,
OVERCHARGED ON PAYDAY LOANS AND
OVER-POLICED.
MICHAEL JOHNSON, PRESIDENT AND
CEO OF THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF
DANE COUNTY JOINS US FOW.
NOW.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SO YOU HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED TO
GEORGE FLOYD A MODERN DAY
LYNCHING.
DESCRIBE HOW THIS FEELS FOR YOU
AND THE COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE?
>> YOU KNOW, LAST NIGHT I WAS AT
A GROCERY STORE WITH MY WIFE,
AND ME AND MY WIFE MET AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
WE WENT TO SCHOOL AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
PLAYED FOOTBALL AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.
HAD A FAMILY THAT LIVED IN THE
SOUTHERN PART OF MINNEAPOLIS.
SO WHEN I WAS -- WHEN I SAW IT,
I IMMEDIATELY BROKE DOWN IN
TEARS.
HE WASI WAS DEVASTATED BOY WHAT DEVASTATED BY WHAT I SAW.
I WATCHED MY WIFE BREAK DOWN IN
TEARS.
AND SO WHAT WE SAW WAS
DEVASTATING, IT WAS
HEARTBREAKING.
AND TO KNOW THAT WE LIVE IN 2020
AND THAT THESE KINDS OF THINGS
CONTINUE TO HAPPEN TO PEOPLE WHO
LOOK LIKE ME IS JUST NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ON
THIS PROGRAM AND OTHERS ABOUT
THE USE OF FORCE PROCEED HE PROTOCOL FOR
POLICE OFFICERS.
BUT IN YOUR MIND IS WHAT
HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS THE
SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING MUCH
DEEPER?
>> YEAH.
I THINK WE DO HAVE SYSTEMATIC
RACISM IN OUR COUNTRY THAT WE
HAVE TO NOT ONLY ADDRESS.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT RACIAL
DISPARITIES, SYSTEMATIC RACISM.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T DO AS A
COUNTRY IS MAKE THE APPROPRIATE
INVESTMENT TO ADDRESS SYSTEMATIC
RACISM.
YOU CAN ONLY ADDRESS SYSTEMATIC
RACISM AS IF YOU MAKE IT A
FINANCIAL PRIORITY.
A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU LOOK AT
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, THEY TALK
ABOUT IT.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEIR MUNICIPAL
BUDGET, IT JUST DOESN'T ALIGN
WITH THE PLANS.
>> SO WHAT KINDS OF FUNDS SHOULD
THEY BE PUTTING TOWARD THINGS IN
MUNICIPAL BUDGETS?
>> YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW,
WISCONSIN.
I LOVE THIS STATE.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR TEN YEARS.
BUT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
RACIAL DISPARITIES FOR 50 YEARS.
AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS AND OTHER
KIDS OF COLOR NOT GRADUATING THE
SAME RATES OF THEIR WHITE
COUNTERPARTS IS A SYMPTOM OF THE
LACK OF INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE
MACED IN
PLACED IN OUR SCHOOLS.
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE WITHIN
ITSELF.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HEALTH
DISPARITIES AND THE LACK OF
RESOURCES FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN
FAMILIES AND OTHER FAMILIES OF
COLOR, IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY, THE
KIND OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT'S
NEEDED IS NOT THERE AND A LOT OF
TIMES AGENCIES THAT ARE LED BY
PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME DON'T
NECESSARILY GET THE FINANCIAL
SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS
WORK AT ALL DIFFERENT LEVELS
ACROSS THE SPECTRUM.
>> AND SO WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
THAT AS SYSTEMATIC,
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM?
>> I WOULD SAY WHEN YOU LOOK AT
-- JUST GO LOOK AT THE BOARDS OF
DIRECTORS OF OUR LARGE COMPANIES
HERE.
LOOK AT THE C SUITES OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN THE CEO, CFO AND COO
SEATS.
LOOK AT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
RUN THE CORPORATIONS IN OUR
STATE.
LOOK AT OUR FON NONPROFIT LEADERS.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION, THAT'S A FORM OF
SYSTEMATIC RACISM.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INADEQUATE
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES, THAT'S A FORM OF
SYSTEMATIC RACISM.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE SEE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY
IN WISCONSIN, BUT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO
ADDRESS.
OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE'LL BE
TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES 15,
20 YEARS FROM NOW BECAUSE WE
HAVE NOT MADE THE APPROPRIATE
INVESTMENTS, WE HAVE NOT COME UP
WITH THE APPROPRIATE VISION AND
THE PRIORITIES TO SUPPORT,
ERADICATE THESE ISSUES THAT
ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY.
>> PROTESTS AND RALLIES HAVE
HAPPENED ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
HERE AT HOME, AS YOU KNOW.
SOME HAVE TURNED VIOLENT.
SOME ORGANIZERS ARE UNAPOLOGETIC
ABOUT THAT.
WHEREAS YOU CALL FOR PEACEFUL
PROTESTS, AND YOU'RE EVEN
READYING TO HIRE LIKE 75
PEACEKEEPERS.
WHAT WILL THEY DO?
>> YEAH.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT, IMMEDIATELY
WHEN I SAW THE PROTEST THAT
HAPPENED IN MADISON, STARTED OUT
VERY PEACEFUL.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
YOU SAW BLACK PEOPLE, WHITE
PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, GAY,
STRAIGHT, LGBT COMMUNITY.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING.
I WAS GETTING A PHONE CALL FROM
THE MAYOR WHILE I WAS OUT RIDING
MY BIKE ASKING FOR SUPPORT.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I WAS
SEEING.
I SAW OUTSIDE AGITATORS, PEOPLE
ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO
BREAK INTO BUSINESSES.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
WE SHOULD NEVER UTILIZE THE NAME
OF SOMEBODY THAT WAS KILLED TO
PROMOTE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SO I DECIDED TO HIRE 75
PEACEKEEPERS WHO WOULD BE THERE
TO SUPPORT THE PROTESTERS, TO BE
THERE TO OFFER WATER, TO BE
THERE IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY
ISSUE, TO BE ABLE TO CALL E HEMS
WORKERS, TO SERVE AS A LIAISON,
IF SOMEBODY IS DOING SOMETHING
THAT IS GOING TO AGITATE AND
CREATE AN UNHEALTHY ENVIRONMENT,
WE WANT TO BE THERE TO
DEESCALATE THOSE KINDS OF
ISSUES.
AND LET ME SAY THIS, TOO.
I'M SORRY.
LET ME SAY THIS, TOO.
THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR PROTEST
HERE IN MADISON HAVE BEEN
PEACEFUL THE LAST TWO NIGHTS.
WE ASK THE POLICE CHIEF TO
DEMILITARIZE HIS POLICE FORCE.
HE LISTENED.
BECAUSE WE HAVE ADULTS OUT THERE
THAT WANT A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT,
IT HAS BEEN VERY, VERY PEACEFUL
THE LAST TWO DAYS.
>> WITH JUST ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT, WHAT IS YOUR HOPE AS WE
MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS?
>> I'M HOPING THAT WHAT HAPPENED
TO GEORGE FLOYD NEVER HAPPENS
AGAIN.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ERIC GARNER IN
NEW YORK NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
I HOPE THAT WE BEGIN TO REALLY
NOT ONLY TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY
AND INCLUSION, BUT WE ACT IT OUT
ON.
I HOPE AS A STATE AND AS A
NATION THAT WE MAKE A PRIORITY
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES.
WHAT YOU SEE IN OUR COUNTRY IS A
LOT OF BUILT-UP ANGER FROM FOLKS
WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED AND
IT'S GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE THAT
LOOK LIKE YOU AND PEOPLE THAT
LOOK LIKE ME AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE
INFLUENCE TO HELP CHANGE THESE
CRITICAL ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR
COUNTRY.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
MICHAEL JOHNSON, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE
WISCONSIN RESPONSE TO THE DEATH
OF GEORGE FLOYD AND CALLS FOR
ACTION AND REFORM, HEAD TO OUR
ONLINE NEWS SOURCE AT
pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK
ON NEWS.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW."
STAY TUNED NEXT FOR "RACE
MATTERS: AMERICA IN CRISIS," A
PBS "NEWSHOUR" SPECIAL STARTING
AT 8:00.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
STAY WELL AND HAVE A GREAT
WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS