Democracy Now Amy Goodman

Kenosha has history of bad police

On Aug. 23, Rusten Sheskey, a white police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, fired seven shots at point-blank range into the back of 29-year-old African American Jacob Blake as Blake leaned into his car. Inside the car were Blake’s three sons, aged 3, 5 and 8. While Blake miraculously survived, a viral video of the shooting, reminiscent of George Floyd’s police killing in Minneapolis, sparked an uprising in Kenosha against racDEMOCRACY NOW ism and police brutality. Police unAMY leashed tear gas, pepper spray and GOODMAN Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times at point-blank range by a seven-year veteran of the Kenosha Police Dept. rubber bullets to suppress the growthey never bought them,” civilAnother officer pulled his weapon, ing Black Lives Matter protests. rights attorney Benjamin Crump, placed it against Bell’s head and

A militia group dubbed The Kenwho is representing Blake, tweeted. pulled the trigger, killing him. osha Guard circulated a call on “They’re in the budget ... in 2022. The Kenosha Police Department Facebook to “any patriots willing If it weren’t for a neighbor’s video, conducted its own review, comto take up arms and defend our city the police shooting of Jacob Blake pletely exonerating the officers. tonight from evil thugs.” Scores of would’ve vanished and no officers Bell’s father, Michael Bell Sr., comarmed white vigilantes answered would be held accountable.” missioned an independent inquiry the call, and one of them allegedly This is not the first controverthat found the police account shot and killed two of the protestsial police shooting in Kenosha. suggested a coverup. The Bells ers, seriously wounding a third. On Nov. 9, 2004, Kenosha Police launched a campaign that suc

The video of Jacob Blake’s shootstopped Michael Bell, a white ceeded in 2014, making Wisconsin ing came not from a police body 21-year-old man, in his car in front the first state to require that outside camera but from a bystander’s of his parents’ home. Bell dashed investigators conduct investigations cellphone. “Kenosha City Council up the driveway and was grabbed into police shootings. passed an ordinance in 2017 requirfrom behind by two officers who That’s where the Jacob Blake ing all officers wear body cams. But pinned him against a parked car. investigation is now, under the supervision of the Wisconsin 946 Department of Justice. Kenosha SWIFTWATER Police Chief Daniel Miskinis, while admitting he knows little about the investigation, did take the time durADVENTURES ing a news conference to blame the murdered protesters for being out after the city-imposed curfew. Online videos from Tuesday night implicate 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse as the killer of the two protesters. He has been arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Wisconsin State Rep. David Bowen, speaking on the Democracy Now! news hour, said of the militia members who descended on Kenosha, “They were on a hunting spree, not Professionally guided Whitewater Rafting trips protecting property.” on the St. Louis River. Just 15 minutes south Duluth, MN Rittenhouse’s social media accounts show an obsession with No Experience Necessary. Ages 11 and Up law enforcement and guns from a young age and strong support for Call 218-451-3218 or book online: swiftwatermn.com President Donald Trump. He posted a TikTok video from the front row

of one of Trump’s last prepandemic rallies at Drake University in Iowa last January.

“We will have law and order on the streets of this country,” Vice President Mike Pence promised at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, as he accepted his renomination. “The hard truth is you will not be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”

Pence invoked recent protests, but didn’t mention the underlying systemic racism and police killings that have provoked these historic demonstrations, and ignored the role of the right-wing militia in the Kenosha murders. When mentioning the murder of Federal Protective Services officer David Patrick Underwood during protests in Oakland, Pence left out the fact that Underwood’s killers were associated with the armed right-wing “boogaloo” movement who were using the Black Lives Matter protests as cover for their crimes.

Jacob Blake remains hospitalized, reportedly conscious but paralyzed from the waist down, his prognosis uncertain. Blake hails from Evanston, Ill., where his grandfather, also named Jacob Blake, was pastor of the Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church and was active in Martin Luther King Jr.’s campaign to desegregate housing in greater Chicago, redoubling his efforts after King’s assassination.

“The arc of the moral universe is long,” Martin Luther King said, “but it bends towards justice.”

Protesters are demanding that Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey be charged in Blake’s shooting. Peaceful protests continue, now joined by professional athletes.

Just as Aaron Huber and JoJo Rosenbaum were doing when they were murdered in Kenosha Tuesday, these athletes and thousands from Kenosha and beyond are demanding justice for Jacob Blake, police accountability and an end to systemic racism. Amy Goodman is the host of Democracy Now!, a daily international TV/ radio news hour airing on more than 1,400 stations (including KUMD, 103.3, 9 am weekdays). She is the co-author, with Denis Moynihan and David Goodman, of the New York Times best-seller Democracy Now!: 20 Years Covering the Movements Changing America.

Things that puzzle

If you look at some of the online (Charles Arthur) Floyd 1904-1934. news sources (mainly those with threeBoth were known to police for their letter acronyms) you may notice the good deeds; both were killed by police. way ads are stuck in with the news. Maybe being a Floyd is a risk factor. They’re marked AD, but Pretty Boy was often aided their presence alongside a news piece seems worrying. Why treat news NORTHSHORE by locals and was reputed to be generous to common folk with money from the and sales so similarly? Does this mean the motive NOTES banks he robbed. Haven’t heard if the recent Floyd in a sales ad and the was as Robin Hoodish, but news is the same? I hope not, but frankly I think HARRY we can aspire. Call me old sexist pig, the distinction between reporting and selling is DRABIK but something about female Democrat leaders so muddled or far gone sets them off from the that challenging it is a lost other party. Nancy, as cause. example, is an impeccably dressed

What does it tell us if news has impressively gorgeous woman, but I to be entertaining, if reporters are look at her and see the asp that killed personalities, or if news stories need to Cleopatra with a bite to her femininity. be presented in ways fitting advertisers’ (A jump aside, but I see Schiff and Sock audience profiles? Is that news or Monkey pops automatically to mind. salesmanship (or salespeopleship, Try it, you’ll see.) salespersonship, etc. if you prefer)? You Hillary is another. Doesn’t take much can be justly suspicious of news done observation to see why Bill cheated. as a commodity pitched for profit or He withstood hammering by Congress, gain. but imagine him double teamed

One commercial in particular makes Hillary/Chelsea. I’d have run faster me grimace. Maybe you’ve seen it than from a sneeze in a nursing home. where a young person is bemoaning And why is Michelle so bitter when student debt holding them back. So she tries to be nicely likable? Her way sad, isn’t it? Sad as having to start of reasonable is angry enough to make at entry level and paying dues as Bigfoot flee for its life. (I recognize the experience is gained. Has the case been smile from having worked with people proven that greenies need a break so most dangerous when they wore one.) they can flourish? Won’t there always I don’t like to generalize, but if there is be a fresh greenie supply needing, a pattern am I not allowed to recognize wanting, calling for or demanding it? advantages? Would be nice for new Diversity is a great talking point workers to rise debt free to the top, but much favored about food, choice of would all of them fit in the executive costume, personal habits, and variety offices doing what, I wonder? of friends’ colors and ethnicities.

A whiner can’t be too damned smart But the value frequently praised of or have learned much getting a degree diversity as a strength doesn’t seem to if they don’t understand a diploma is get as warm a reception for diversity of their advantage. They had four years opinion. to figure that out, so what in hell were There is no cure for personality. Trust they doing if they graduate in a state me. I’ve looked. of clueless distemper? I do wonder At the time shortly after the US what that commercial is actually about came to be a small “r” republican was and if it’s wrong of me to say paying a supporter revolution and democracy for their education is one way to help to replace monarchy with a republic. ensure the student makes suitable It’s not worth comparing old with choices and takes their education current meaning in small r and large seriously. If it’s their game shouldn’t it R republicanism other than point out be their skin in it? political positions making big shifts

Nondiscrimination has become one generation to the next. discrimination because it’s unfair In the English speaking world you if minorities don’t get positive can look back at numbers of revolts, discrimination. mutinies, worker movements, etc. that

Why do some blame their anger on mirror and in some instances repeat in others? If a person is pissed off is it detail the calls for reform and change really Obama’s or Trump’s fault? heard today. Interesting and worth

Before George we had Pretty Boy remembering, reformers tend to turn authoritarian as the surest way to get the unruly human mob they claimed as revolutionary justification to tow and toe the line. In the end revolutionaries feel their creation is too important to be left in the hands of common people. Regardless of their comforting talk, when given power the actions of idealists, ideologues, and activists has often proven more deadly than a pandemic.

After seeing the admonition “Wearing a mask saves lives” I walked all over saving as many lives as I could; hundreds if not thousands. I figure I did my part, but was I wearing a properly lifesaving mask? Why haven’t the proclaimers insisting on this lifesaving essential seen fit to be specific with details? If they can’t be specific on what mask is required then seems to me they might not know and are proclaiming in order to feel good about doing something that sounds and looks right. By my lights it’s not that long until Halloween, enough time to plan for a massive mask event. If we get enough masked citizens on the streets Halloween Eve we might be able to save the entire planet; a worthy goal, maybe.

Who defines racism? Some talk as if you’re born with it as a genetic defect. Others say it’s how you vote. If I vote for someone of my race am I therefore racist, or does my race define the definition? Regardless of definition, terms used as accusations amount to verbal stoning.

Great injustice has often been done to the cry of justice.

GOP lawmakers absent from Evers’ special session on policing

Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature bypassed Gov. Tony Evers’ call for a special session on police training and policies on Monday.

A clerk convened the state Senate’s special session shortly after noon, with only a few Democratic lawmakers present. WISCONSIN The state Assembly NEWS convened at about the same WPR time, with two GOP lawmakers present to go through the procedural motions. No debate or votes were held.

Both chambers are officially in recess until Thursday, but it’s unlikely they Protesters clash with police in riot gear, who fired tear gas and pepper spray, on State will return for votes any time soon. Street in Madison in May. Bridgit Bowden/WPR

Evers signed an executive order compelling the Legislature to convene standards for all law enforcement Republicans have resisted his call, in a special session last week, less than agencies. saying they want more time to review 24 hours after police shot and seriously ª Require every officer to complete his proposals and to craft their own. wounded Jacob Blake in Kenosha. The at least eight hours of training on Republican Assembly Speaker Robin governor asked lawmakers to take up use-of-force options and deescalation Vos, R-Rochester, has accused Evers nine bills he introduced earlier this techniques each year. of being partisan and disingenuous summer in response to Black Lives • Require the Department of Justice in his call for a special session, saying Matter protests across the state. The to collect demographic information the governor hasn’t done enough to package includes bills that would: on use-of-force incidents and publish foster bipartisan support for any police• Ban police use of choke holds. annual reports. related policy changes. • Ban police use of no-knock • Create a $1 million grant program Vos reiterated that on Monday warrants. for community organizations that have afternoon. “After the tragic events • Create a civil penalty for racial violence-prevention programs. this past week, the best way forward profiling. Evers can call the special session, but is not through divisive and partisan • Establish statewide use-of-force he cannot force lawmakers to debate or politics but through bipartisan vote on bills. cooperation,” Vos said, adding that he has asked Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, to chair a legislative task force on racial disparities, educational opportunities, public safety and police policies and standards. Vos unveiled the task force last week, at about the same time Evers called the special session. Speaking with reporters on Monday, Steineke said he expects the task force We Buy, Sell & Trade new & used musical instruments Musician Owned to introduce a “broad package of bills” in early 2021, at the beginning of the next regular legislative session. “The Democrats’ package of bills addresses part of the problem. But www.musicgoround.com it doesn’t address everything that 218.727.1420 we need,” Steineke said. “I think the Democrats’ package will be part of that

conversation. But we want to make sure that it’s broadly accepted and impactful at the end of the day when we bring it to the floor for a vote.”

Steineke said the task force won’t be made up of just lawmakers, but will include faith-based leaders, community organization heads and “people from all walks.”

Steineke addressed reporters from in front of the Assembly chamber, which was covered in scaffolding while workers did maintenance near the ceiling. The Speaker’s office said the construction could continue until November, meaning if lawmakers did convene a special session, they’d have to do it somewhere else.

Evers criticized the GOP’s task force approach on Monday afternoon, saying Wisconsinites want quicker action from lawmakers.

“The people of Wisconsin don’t want another task force or more delays – they want action and results, and they want it today, not tomorrow or some day months down the road,” the governor said in a prepared statement. “It’s disappointing that there’s no sense of urgency from Republicans, and it’s a let down to all the people who are asking us to lead.”

Democratic lawmakers also expressed frustration at the Republican majority’s lack of action.

Speaking at a press conference on the Capitol steps on Monday morning, members of the legislative Black caucus decried the choice to bypass Monday’s session.

“Inaction is not an option,” said Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee. “Inaction, if that is what they are planning to do (today), only adds to the anti-Black sentiments that are being spewed across this country and across this state.”

Rep. Shelia Stubbs, D-Madison, said it is “apparent that Wisconsin is in a crisis.”

“Jacob Blake is not the first person in our state to be victimized by law enforcement officers and, without change, he will not be the last person,” she said.

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