WI GOP Rep. Calls President Obama Racist and Lectures Black Legislator on Black Existence in Milwaukee
"Rep. Kremer has repeatedly used his position of power as a state legislator to attack poor people, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color."
Jesse Kremer. Photo from the State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2015-16.
Rep. Mandela Barnes released the following statement regarding comments recently made by Wisconsin State Representative Jesse Kremer (R – Kewaskum):
“Jesse Kremer is accusing President Obama of ‘divisive racism,’ ‘hatred of Christianity,’ and is lecturing African Americans on black existence in Milwaukee – this is all you need to know about where his head and his heart are. Rep. Kremer has repeatedly used his position of power as a state legislator to attack poor people, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color. These most recent remarks by the Representative are just the latest in a long line of bizarre ploys, reprehensible comments, and divisive ideology coming from him and his GOP colleagues.
“Insinuating that I have blamed the massacre in Orlando on Christianity is a willful attempt to distract from the real issue at hand by mischaracterizing my sentiments. I have served as the Director for the Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), a coalition of faith-based groups advocating for peace and safety in the greater Milwaukee community, and to assert that I cast blame on the religion I practice for the terrible tragedy in Orlando is maliciously false.
“Last summer, it was a black church in Charleston; last fall, it was a Planned Parenthood in Colorado; and last weekend, it was a gay nightclub in Orlando during Pride month. The fact of the matter is that it is far too easy for dangerous people driven by dangerous ideology to get their hands on guns in this country. As we have witnessed time and again, minority groups are significantly more vulnerable to the deadly violence associated with this epidemic. While Rep. Kremer would rather dole out inappropriate, misguided advice in order to distract from what we need to be doing as elected leaders to protect our communities, I will continue to fight to end the scourge of senseless gun violence.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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Thank you Rep. Barnes for your thoughtful, mature response to Jesse Kremer’s attack on President Obama, and his denigrating attacks on you. Jesse Kremer is part of the problem going on in our country. Instead of reaching across the aisle to work together to resolve a problem, some Rep and Sen just throw sand in the gears while demonizing those who are trying to solve problems.