March slams racist treatment of Black official
By
Bryan G. Pfeifer
Milwaukee, Wis.
Published Aug 10, 2007 8:06 PM
Demanding justice for poor and working people in Milwaukee, dozens of
people marched down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Pere Marquette Park Aug.
3.
WW photo: Bryan G. Pfeifer
|
They chanted, “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now! Whose
streets? Our streets! We want justice! Free McGee!”
The participants also hoisted placards with demands including living-wage jobs
not W-2 jobs, an end to racist police brutality, an end to the U.S. war in
Iraq, freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal and justice for embattled Black Alderman
Michael McGee Jr. They marched for over a mile in near 90-degree heat.
“I got news for you today. We need each other. If we don’t come
together and stand for something, we’re going to fall for anything. ... I
ask you today: What are you doing to make Milwaukee a better place and to
assure freedom for all people?” said Wanda Montgomery speaking to the
crowd from the park’s rotunda stage. Montgomery, McGee’s
sister-in-law, also called for the immediate freedom of McGee.
McGee has been charged in state court with seven felony counts and five
misdemeanors related to elections, bribery, conspiracy and contempt. He has
also been indicted in federal court on charges that allege he pressured
businesses in his district for money to get licenses okayed through the City
Council. McGee is facing at least 30 years in prison on the state charges and
115 years on the federal charges if convicted.
Many in Milwaukee’s Black community and other allies say the targeting of
McGee is for his support of progressive actions on political, economic and
social issues. McGee posted bail on both the state and federal charges but was
denied release by a federal judge. He is now in federal custody in Waukesha
County jail in a segregation unit.
The protest also came a week after a federal jury on July 27 found former
Milwaukee cops Jon Bartlett, Andrew Spengler and Daniel Masarik guilty of
conspiring to violate the civil rights of Frank Jude Jr. and his friend Lovell
Harris and of assaulting Jude. Suspended cop Ryan Packard was acquitted on all
counts. According to community organizer Brother Earl, McGee was transported to
jail with some of these convicted cops.
The Aug. 3 action also came amidst recent proposed budget cuts and fare
increases for the Milwaukee County bus system, an increase in the cost of
living, a 50 percent unemployment rate for Black men and ongoing attacks on
poor and working people, particularly people of color.
“I’m here today supporting Alderman McGee because he’s a
respected community leader and an attack on a community leader is an attack on
the community; it’s an attack on all of us. So we’re here to let
him know we’re not forgetting him and we want him back,” Mike
“Skip” Helbick of the Milwaukee Bolivarian Circle told Workers
World.
Other organizations participating in the Aug. 3 event included Industrial
Workers of the World (IWW), International Action Center, Justice for Jude
Justice for All!, NAACP, Strive Media Institute, Troops Out Now Coalition, and
Workers World Party.
At the park speakers included Brother Earl, co-host of the WNOV radio show
“Word Warriors,” with community activist and Aug. 3 organizer
Lamonte Harris. They are both filling in for McGee in his absence.
Other speakers were community activist Sister Ifama; Minister William Muhammad
from the Nation of Islam’s Mosque No. 3 in Milwaukee; longtime revered
community activist Jeanetta Robinson from Community Youth Development; Robert
Miranda, editor of the Spanish Community Journal and Pastor Moses Fuller from
St. Timothy’s Baptist Church.
An open mike followed where community members spoke on issues affecting poor
and working people, including virulent racism.
Closing the rally, Harris said, “We’re going to continue to work.
We’re going to continue to do the things we’re doing out here in
this community.”
Articles copyright 1995-2012 Workers World.
Verbatim copying and distribution of this entire article is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email:
ww@workers.org
Subscribe
wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news
DONATE