Legislators Clash on Black History Month
Republicans remove Colin Kaepernick from resolution, Rep. Bowen cries foul.
Wisconsin State Capitol. Photo by Dave Reid.
Wisconsin lawmakers clashed Tuesday over a Black History Month resolution that named controversial athlete Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL quarterback.
The resolution text, drafted by the state Legislative Black Caucus, said it aims to “recognize the significant contributions people of African descent have made, to the foundation, growth and development of our country and state.”
After more than an hour of debate, Kaepernick was removed from the resolution, which includes figures like Lucien H. Palmer, the first African-American to be elected to the Wisconsin Assembly, Violette Neatley Anderson, the first African-American woman to practice law before the United States Supreme Court and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
A member of the Legislative Black Caucus said having to alter the resolution in order for it to pass was disappointing.
According to Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, some Republican members of the state Assembly were concerned about Kaepernick’s inclusion in the resolution.
Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has been a lightning rod for political debate since he began kneeling during the national anthem preceding games in 2016 as a way to protest racial inequality in the United States. He has since left professional football, but remains a polarizing figure.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said it was unfortunate the caucus chose to include such a divisive figure in their resolution.
“We’re in a new era, we’re trying to figure out ways to work together,” Vos said. “We would hope they would have more consideration to say, let’s look at finding ways to work together, rather than always looking at ways to drive us apart.”
Rather than vote on the resolution drafted by the caucus, Republican lawmakers at first attempted to bring up their own Black History Month resolution. That resolution omitted Kaepernick and Milwaukee Rev. Greg Lewis, and added Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Vel Phillips, the first African-American to be elected to statewide office in Wisconsin.
Chairman of the state Legislative Black Caucus, Rep. David Crowley, D-Milwaukee, called GOP lawmakers’ refusal to take up the caucus’ resolution as drafted a “slap in the face.”
“The biggest issue that we have as a black caucus is people choosing to pick our leaders for us,” Crowley said.
The state Senate is expected to take up a Black History Month resolution Wednesday.
The office of Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, did not immediately return a request for comment about which resolution to the Senate would vote on.
Listen to the WPR report here.
Wisconsin Lawmakers Spar Over Including Colin Kaepernick In Black History Month Resolution was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
More about the Capitol's Colin Kaepernick Controversy
- Murphy’s Law: Republicans and Colin Kaepernick - Bruce Murphy - Feb 19th, 2019
- Colin Kaepernick to be featured in city’s 28 Days of Black History - Milwaukee Common Council - Feb 15th, 2019
- GOP Senators, Too, Resist Honoring Kaepernick - Shawn Johnson - Feb 14th, 2019
- Legislators Clash on Black History Month - Laurel White - Feb 13th, 2019
- Statement from Rep. Brostoff in Support of Colin Kaepernick’s Achievements - Rep. Jonathan Brostoff - Feb 13th, 2019
- Representative LaKeshia Myers Issues Statement Regarding AJR8 - State Rep. LaKeshia Myers - Feb 12th, 2019
Read more about Capitol's Colin Kaepernick Controversy here
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- December 17, 2015 - David Crowley received $100 from David Bowen
“We’re in a new era, we’re trying to figure out ways to work together,” Vos said. “We would hope they would have more consideration to say, let’s look at finding ways to work together, rather than always looking at ways to drive us apart.”
This is what Vos should have said: “We’re in a new era, we’re trying to figure out ways to work together. We would hope WE would have more consideration to say, let’s look at finding ways to work together, rather than always looking at ways to drive us apart.”
It’s always someone else’s fault, isn’t it Mr. Speaker.
The onus has always been on people of color to make whites feel OK. The fact is we live in a country that for almost 400 years oppressed all peoples of color. It’s time for YOU to start offering the hand of inclusion. This notion that including someone who makes YOU feel uncomfortable is not an act of “working together.” Time for you to own up to your racism and commit to being a better leader.
Is February “Black History Month” or “White People Be Trippin” month? Maybe both?