The world is watching, and the Legislature’s silence and inaction is deafening

The end of the week is nearing and I have yet to receive notice from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos that we will convene in special session this Monday, August 31st.

As the only City of Milwaukee alderperson who also holds an Assembly seat as a State Representative, I again call on Speaker Vos and the Republican-controlled Legislature to heed Governor Tony Evers’ executive order (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/29b9893 ) and bring us into special session to do the people’s work.

Wisconsin is at a crossroads. We must acknowledge the need for meaningful and real reform. Governor Evers has put forward common sense bills on policing accountability and transparency. These are bills that also have the support of leaders in law enforcement!

The Milwaukee Bucks made history yesterday when they decided to boycott their playoff game to tell the world how important the issues of reform, racial justice and police accountability are to them in the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake and others. They publicly urged the Legislature to reconvene to address these issues, which are of the utmost importance to all who live in Wisconsin.

They rightly called for an end to the silence and inaction in our state’s legislative chambers. They seized the moment in an effort to help change the narrative and move the effort for real change forward, and it’s time for us as legislators to listen.

Let us not sit idly by while our great state’s heart breaks. We can help our constituents find resolution. By doing our duty and debating important legislation we can bring our people together and start the work toward justice, equality, and unity. We can have substantive discussions (and even tense but meaningful debates) and we can explain and teach each other why we are hearing the rally cry, “Black Lives Matter.”

And I know we will be better people, nay, better Wisconsinites for it. Now, please, let’s get to the important work that needs to be done.

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.