League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County Statement on Deployment of Federal Law Enforcement Officers to Milwaukee
Milwaukee – The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County joins the League of Women Voters of the United States and local Leagues throughout the country in condemning the arbitrary deployment of uninvited federal officers to various cities, including Milwaukee.
The League of Women Voters of the United States issued this statement:
“The increasing number of attacks on our democracy by some elected leaders and appointed members of our government are violating the First Amendment rights of people in this country and requires our organization to speak out against the actions of this administration.
“On July 21, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection division confirmed that it deployed officers from three paramilitary-style units to act against protesters in Portland, Oregon. Dressed in unidentifiable military gear, in unmarked vehicles, our government unleashed a wave of fear and intimidation against people executing their Constitutional right of free speech.
“This administration’s tactics all too closely resemble authoritarianism. We have seen out-of-control leaders, past and present, who have used their power to intimidate, attack, or arrest their opponents in the name of ‘law and order.’ These actions are unpatriotic and un-American.
“The League of Women Voters is calling on the President and his administration to put an end to these unconstitutional acts. We also call on Congress to exercise its power to hold the administration accountable, immediately investigate the Department of Homeland Security and any other government agency involved in these heinous acts, and stand up for American democracy.”
The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County supports the prerogative of local elected officials in these matters. Governor Evers has stated “this type of unilateral intervention has not been requested by either the City of Milwaukee or the State and is not welcome in Wisconsin.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the Federal Agent Surge
- Federal “Surge” Is At Least 25 Agents - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 29th, 2020
- City Hall: Milwaukee Federal Agent “Surge” Nothing New? - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 27th, 2020
- Op Ed: Trump Has Enormous “Emergency” Powers - Matt Rothschild - Jul 27th, 2020
- League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County Statement on Deployment of Federal Law Enforcement Officers to Milwaukee - League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County - Jul 27th, 2020
- Special Public Safety and Health Committee meeting set for Monday, July 27 - Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic - Jul 25th, 2020
- Common Council opposes divisive and unwanted federal action in Milwaukee - Ald. Khalif Rainey - Jul 24th, 2020
- MPD responds to reported deployment of federal agents in Milwaukee - Milwaukee Police Department - Jul 23rd, 2020
- Trump Sending Federal Agent “Surge” to Milwaukee, State, Local Officials React - Jeramey Jannene - Jul 23rd, 2020
- Mayor Tom Barrett released the following statement: - Mayor Tom Barrett - Jul 23rd, 2020
- Council could back legislation requiring federal law enforcement officers to wear visible identification - Ald. Milele Coggs - Jul 23rd, 2020
Read more about Federal Agent Surge here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County
