Community Determined to Ensure Voters Vote on Rushed Photo ID Ruling
COMMUNITY
“We are concerned about the integrity of our elections due to this ruling.
Image courtesy of Hispanically Speaking News
In response to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the controversial voter photo ID law, The Coalition to Protect Wisconsin Elections and the African American Roundtable responded with concern and determination at a community press conference Tuesday at the NAACP’s Milwaukee office. A major theme was the concern eligible voters would
VOL. XXXIX Number 8 September 17, 2014
The Milwaukee
JOURNAL
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT: What you need and need to know to vote Nov. 4 (Page 5)
not be able to vote given the last minute ruling and decision. “In Wisconsin, we take seriously integrity in our elections and the system is trusted.” Said Chris Ahmuty, Executive Director of WI ACLU. “We are concerned this last minute decision hurts the integrity of our WI elections. This makes elections less likely to be free, fair, and accessible.”
The Coalition to Protect Wisconsin Elections estimates the State of Wisconsin, the Government Accountability Board, School Campuses, and the DMV are not ready with staff and resources to properly implement this last minute decision. This is a primary point of worry for the coalition. One large group of people who will need attention is college students, especially from out of state, who only have a student ID as a photo ID. Currently, most student
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George Hinton, CEO of the Social Development Commission (SDC) expresses his views on the violence in the community and the causes during a news conference at the offices of the NAACP, Milwaukee Branch. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
Vernon C. Townsend
Community leaders speak out on violent crime, its root causes and accountability Compiled by MCJ Staff
Black, Latino, and White leaders spoke out about violent crime in Milwaukee and its root causes, and how the symptoms from these root causes appear as high levels of poverty, joblessness and incarceration during a news conference at the King Drive offices of the Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP Tuesday. The leaders, representing community based organizations, civil rights groups, health and academia also discussed chronic problems in the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) and the misguided decisions local and state lawmakers make that contribute to these problems. Also discussed was the issue of accountability for addressing the problems, the majority of which are focused in communities of color. The participants in the news conference were: Dr. R.L. McNeely, a member of the Felmers Chaney Correctional Center Advisory Board; Dr. Stan Stojkovic of the UWM Helen Bader School of Social Welfare; Fred Royal, chair fo the NAACP’s committee on economic development, Chris Ahmuty of the ACLU of Wisconsin, Paula Pennebaker, President and CEO of the YWCA of Southeast Wisconsin; Rev. Willie Brisco, president of Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH); Ralph Hollmon,
president and CEO of the Milwaukee Urban League (MUL); George Hinton, CEO of the Social Development Commission (SDC); Dr. Lois M. Quinn of the UWM Employment and Training Institute, and Dr. Patricia McManus, president and CEO of the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin. Christine NeumanOrtiz of Voces de la Frontera, was unable to attend the news conference because of a scheduling conflict. “Each of these individuals and organizations identified care deeply about ending violence in Milwaukee, as well as reforming the policies, practices and operations of the MPD and its interactions with the community,” said James Hall, president of the Milwaukee NAACP and the moderator for the news conference. Using historical and statistical analysis, Dr. McNeely laid out the reasons and facts that has brought the Black community nationally and locally to the dire straits it faces today. McNeely said the Black family should not be blamed for the violence currently afflicting the “central core” of the city of Milwaukee. “African American families themselves have been and are victimized by many forces including some unknown to them,” he said, adding local elected officials--from the mayor, the Common Council, the
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, to state officials--”need to stop blaming families and enact the proactive policies required to combat the underlying (but often unseen) causes of the violence.” McNeely revealed the African American family was reasonably stable at the turn of the last century. “For example, only 8.7% of the Black households were single-parent households in 1910 versus 7.4% of white households. “But, by 1980, 20.5% of Black households were single-parent households compared to 7.1% of white households. He added in Milwaukee county in 2000, only 28.2% of Black families were two-parent families compared to 73.5% of white families. As to what happened to change the statistics so drastically, McNeely noted several forces that undermined Black people: The practice of arresting and imprisoning Black men for minor, nonsensical infractions such as riding freight cars without a ticket or loud talk. These men would then be put into “the bondage of forced labor” to industrial giants like U.S. Steel and other companies. “Thousands died (in forced labor). This practice didn’t end until WWII. The threat of being sold into forced labor was a primary deterrent to voting and
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Sheriff and St. Marcus students remember 9/11
PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY
Photos and question by Yvonne Kemp
ALETHA STEWART: “I think that the NFL was correct in banning Ray Rice from the league because they should not condone violence of any kind towards women, especially with incriminating evidence being supplied.”
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke joined St. Marcus School students and staff for a silent walk to MFD Engine 21 fire station for a 9/11 observance. The students gathered in front of the station while the principal made brief remarks, and the MCSO Honor Guard stood at attention, along with members of the MCSO Command Staff. The bells tolled at St. Marcus to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11. Sheriff Clarke also addressed the attendees, and the students gave the fire fighters handmade thank you cards for their service to the community. (Photos courtesy of Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office)
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: “Did the NFL do the right
thing in banning Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice from the league for assaulting his wife?”
94-year-old WWII veteran take “Honor Flight” to DC to visit war memorial
Vernon c. Townsend was one of two African American World War II veterans out of over 200 veterans to recently participate in a “Stars and Stripes Honor Flight” from Wisconsin to Washington D.C. The Honor Flights are a way for the nation ot extend its grateful appreciation for the freedoms it has due to the service of Townsend and others during WWII. The flights are also a constant reminder of the sacrifices that were made to ensure freedom for all Americans. Townsend, 94, enlisted in the Army July 2, 1942, where he served with the U.S. Army Medical Corp for “three years, six months and 26 days,” he proudly proclaimed during a recent interview at the MCJ offices. Townsend is the long-time owner of Townsend Brothers Truck and Car Repair. The flight takes veterans to the nation’s capital to visit Arlington Cemetery and the WWII Memorial, where Townsend and other state vets saw the names of their comrades who did not return to the “Badger State,” having made the ultimate sacrifice. The highlight of the memorial visit for Townsend was posing with a statue of President Harry S. Truman. Townsend said Truman is his favorite president because he signed the presidential order ending segregation in the U.S. Military. The honor flights are sponsored by “Operation Homefront,” which provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and Wounded Warriors. (Photo by Yvonne Kemp)
“New Jim Crow” author Alexander to speak at MATC By Taki S. Raton
Civil right lawyer and social justice advocate Michelle Alexander is scheduled to present at MATC’s Cooley Auditorium, 1015 North Sixth Street, on Friday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to noon. She is author of “The New Jim Crow” considered as one of the top African American books of 2010. This title won the NAACP Image Award for “outstanding literary works of non-fiction.” An Associate Professor of Law at Ohio State University, Alexander’s work has sparked a national conver- Michelle Alexander sation on the inequities of America’s criminal justice system. She has been featured on numerous radio and television outlets to include The Bill Moyers Journal, the Tavis Smiley Show, NPR and C-Span Washington. Additional to her tenure at Ohio State, this legal scholar also holds a joint appointment at the Kirwin Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Prior to joining the Kirwin Institute, Alexander was an Associate Professor of Law at Stanford Law School where she directed the Civil Rights Clinic. “It is highly appropriate for MATC, Wisconsin’s only ‘majority-minority’ college, to hear from Michelle Alexander,” says Walter J. Lanier, Director of Counseling and Advising and Chair of MATC’s Diversity Council. He adds that Milwaukee, Wisconsin, “carries the tragic title of ‘the worst place in
Blacks, Hispanics Have Doubts About Media Accuracy
(continued on page 6)
Article courtesy of Jesse J. Holland of the AP via BlackpressUSA.com
ANNETTE FRAZIER: “I agree with the NFL’s decision to ban Ray Rice. I don’t promote violence, especially assaulting women.”
WAYNE ROBBINS: “Yes, I agree with the NFL. It’s sad it takes such violence for us to make a stand.”
TYRONE DUMAS: “The punishment and consequences of his actions warrant a penalty, but with rehabilitation and apologies. He should be forgiven and given a second chance to change for the better and set a positive example for others on what a changed man looks like in regards to respecting and valuing women!”“
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new study shows a large majority of African-American and Hispanic news consumers don’t fully trust the media to portray their communities accurately, a statistic that could be troubling for the news industry as the minority population of the United States grows. Three-fourths of African-American news consumers and two-thirds of Hispanics have doubts about what mainstream media report about their communities, according to a survey released Tuesday by the Media Insight Project. And while most say it’s become easier to get news generally in the last five years, few feel the same way about news regarding their own community, the survey said. African Americans and Latinos currently make up a third of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By 2043, the number of minorities is expected to eclipse the number of non-Hispanic whites, with the total minority
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The Milwaukee Community Journal September 17, 2014 Page 2
SIGNIFYIN’ Life Isn’t Fair
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 17, 2014 Page 3
Talking loud and doing very little! By Mikel Kwaku Osei Holt
Following the election in 2010 of Republicans to state assembly and senate majorities, a high ranking Black Democrat was heard to say the ‘next four years will be ‘easy because all we have to do is blame and complain.’ In case you can’t figure that out, what was implicit in that comment is Black politicians would have a safety net against criticism that they are not solving any of the myriad of problems facing the Black community because they can blame Republicans for blocking any introduced initiative, or otherwise turning a deaf ear to the plight of the Black community. For sure, that strategy implies a certain level of gullibility by their constituents, as well as an assumption of political ignorance by the masses. But that doesn’t mean it’s a farfetched actuality. Because in truth, most Black folks have grown to expect little if nothing by those we send to office when it comes to the larger issues defining our existence. We either come up with excuses for them, or we accept our second-class status as the norm. That’s not to say Black politicians are just sitting on their behinds. Most will fight for equity in project funding and cast the correct vote on legislation. They will also show up at the occasional pep rally or march against violence, police misconduct or joblessness. But when it comes to solving any of the major problems facing our community...? Suffice it to say every negative social and economic indicator shows we are worse off today than we were last year, or the year before, or the decade before that. Part of the reason for that dichotomy is we don’t hold Black elected officials accountable. Never have, and probably never will. But, as I’ve said a million times, we elect Black politicians to office based on their ability to “articulate our problems,” not to provide solutions! And let’s be honest about a related point: When it comes to Black politicians, we are faithful beyond rationality. We will support them through allegations of corruption, misuse of (campaign) funds, and personal misconduct. Allegations of wrongdoing bounce off them like water on a duck’s back because we are always mindful of “the hidden conspiracy.” Despite our unwavering support, we have grown to accept or expect little in return when it comes to resolving major issues. The same can be said of our blind support of the party we support without question. One national leader once said we support the Democratic Party “because it is either the lesser of two evils, or the only party that promises not to be as bad as the alternative.” Moreover, we have bought into the propaganda that being a Republican is synonymous with being a racist, and even though we consider ourselves socially conservative, we are politically liberal, even when it is contrary to our religious or cultural beliefs. I would venture to guess that deep down inside, most Black leaders know neither political party has our true best interests at heart, yet they play the game as it is regulated. Or maybe they feel getting lip service from one party is better than getting silence from the other. But again I digress. Let’s deal for a second or two with the bold statement that opened this column. There are two ways to look at this declaration: One deals with our gullibility, and other with our ineptitude or lack of political sophistication of politicians and politics. I touched on the widespread reality of the first theory. And if not, suffice it to say every other ethnic group and special interests either laughs at or remains puzzled by our political impotence. After all, we are for the time being the largest minority group, and as such should be given our due. But the reality is, we’re just as bad off today as we were 50 years ago. In some cases, our condition has worsened. Our socioeconomic status hasn’t changed through Democratic or Republican administrations--locally or nationally--in the last half century. Yet we continue to express our loyalty, with little to show for it, merely because that’s what we have always done, and what we have been told to do. Or at least most of us do. As for me, I stopped tap dancing two decades ago. I may allow the rhythms to influence my body movement (sway to the beat), but I’m not going to break dance anymore. In other words, I broke my general rule about contributing to national campaigns when I earmarked contributions to Obama’s campaign, but I soon reverted back to my principles and priorities and give now only to the Malik Holt Scholarship, a Black united fund or my church, the House of Grace. Each of those charities affects Black lives, which is more than I can say about political contributions. Since Obama’s first election, I’ve been barraged with solicitations they say are earmarked for him and our general welfare, but last I heard, he’s a lame duck and my people are still poor. Worse still, when I ask for specifics (how will it benefit my brothers and sisters), I get silence. All I’m told is the sky is falling, and things will be worse if a Republican is elected in New Mexico, South Dakota or Rhode Island. Give me a break! I say if they really want my few coins, tell me you’re going to tackle the myriad of problems facing our community—poverty, joblessness, violence or police misconduct, most of which emulates from racial profiling. Will they implement policies that will reverse previous policies that have made Wisconsin the number one state in the union in Black incarceration? Will they restore affirmative action (which was killed by Bill Clinton) or will they fix the
The Perspectives Page will return next week! THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL
(continued on page 5)
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Part Two
Rahim islam
UNIVERSALLY SPEAKING By Rahim Islam
My question to both the Black and White communities is: How many countries benefited from or were privileged by the American Institution of Slavery? This was a global economic phenomenon. How many United States companies directly benefited literally off the backs and plight of Blacks in America? How many industries were direct beneficiaries from the United States Institution of Slavery? How many other United States institutions
were built and were direct beneficiaries from the United States Institution of Slavery? The United States Institution of Slavery was an economic windfall for a number of states and the argument used today by many Whites that they didn’t participate in the actual slavery, is very weak argument. How do you describe the alarming amount of wealth held by the White community? Experts stated that nearly 85% of all wealth is generational. Very little wealth is created by today’s generation. There is a direct link to the overwhelming economic benefit enjoyed today by White people, businesses, and institutions. This competitive advantage is lethal and plays out in every sector of American life. This is also why very few Black “for-profit’ companies are adequately capitalized and hardly any of our “non-profit” institutions are endowed. Our community lacks resources that the White community takes for granted. Our community lacks capital (discretionary investment and gifting) that the White community takes for granted. Today, too many of our children are born into poverty compared to White children because where you start is absolutely critical and Blacks continue having to play catch up to Whites, which could never be achieved. Life isn’t fair but we can make it fair if we are armed with knowledge and sense of “collective” purpose. Unfortunately we spend too much time trying to assimilate and emulate those sitting at the top of the food chain (this is a direct consequence of the Willie Lynch model of making a slave). While we should be trying every
possible way to force America to repair what it’s done to Black America, in many cases, we are just happy to get Her approval. Given the economic disadvantage Blacks have inherited and the economic superiority that Whites have inherited, if we are to have a shot at making any economic gains, we must have “structural” unity. We can’t give away more ground by diluting our economic strength with disunity. Unfortunately, many of our most talented and economically mobile individuals have the wrong concept about our group and really don’t see themselves as part of the solution. They say that they’re doing their “own thing” which is a type of assimilation. What do I mean by assimilation? I mean that because we have achieved some economic mobility, what choices are we making? What attitudes do we adopt? What philosophies do we actually practice? The answer for many of these questions can be seen in the concept of “me.” Unfortunately, it not just you; your gains can be tied to the sacrifices of your Black ancestors and so should your attitudes, philosophies, and practices. If you don’t have this approach, what approach are you operating with? If you don’t make life fair, it will never be for so many Black people. If they would admit it, many Blacks hold a high level of disdain about their own communities and their people (this is a direct consequence of the Willie Lynch model of making a slave). Coupled with their formal education and some say miseducation, they believe that they are doing their own thing but in reality they are copying what Whites do when they have similar economic
mobility. There is a very big difference. While it appears that everything is equal (both groups are operating the same), Whites are at the top of the food chain and Blacks are buried deep in the bottom of the food chain. Individuality doesn’t hurt White people like it hurts Black people because they own it all. When we operate like this, it’s very clear that many Blacks have become very disconnected to their own people. In fact, I maintain that you have been educated to do just that. What has White academia taught our Black educated? Did they teach us and give us the tools to think for our people, to think for self? Did Harvard, Yale, Princeton University teach how to do for self? The tools we were given only reinforced what is the so called right way of doing things (European centered approach). Do like I do is definitely not an African-centered (self-determination) approach. I’m not bashing successful Black people, I’m only calling attention to the fact that we all have been programmed (under the guise of education) to not use our skills, capacities, and our resources in the self-determination of our own people. Blacks have been trying everything they can to seek approval from the White community and it has taken many shapes and forms. How do Blacks define success? I’ll tell you a few descriptions because we hear it all of the time: 1) I’m the only Black living in this neighborhood on this block; 2) I’m the only Black in this club; 3) I’m the only Black in this office; 4) My children attend a predominately White private school. These type of references are very damaging to both how we perceive ourselves and how we are perceived.
RELIGION
WHAT’S HAPPENING!
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 17, 2014 Page 4
God's ways are often not our ways
The Readings for September 21, 2014 are: Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a; Matthew 20: 1-16a. What the scriptures teach us today is that our God is beyond any human comprehension. Already in the first reading we hear God say: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways." We cannot think thoughts that are as self-giving as God is, or as full of mercy as God is. And the Gospel brings that thought home: our justice is not God's justice; our so-called justice is always tinged with tit for tat, an eye for an eye. We claim not; we claim that our justice sets things right and in many cases it does. But it lacks the depth and the breath of God's love. The measure of God's love is the death of His Son, killed, murdered and still no retaliation, no "justice" as we define it. We don't hear "who will pay for this injustice." No one pays. God is love. In the parable we hear Jesus tell the story of men being hired to work in the field for a day's wage. And whether you work eight hours or one, the owner of the field will give the worker a day's wage. The hot button issue here is that some feel they should have gotten more since those who work less got as much as they got--a day's wage, as promised.
BREAD IN THE WILDERNESS
By Fr. Carl Diederichs, All Saints Catholic Church
They didn't remember what God said through the Prophet Isaiah; "My ways are not your ways, nor my thoughts your thoughts." The owner says to those grumbling: "Are you envious because I am generous?" I'm afraid that many who hear this Gospel feel that the owner is being unjust. How do we deal with that? We certainly know that the economics in play these days would have none of this. How do we know? All we need to look at is the disparity between the rich and the poor. Those who have want more and those who don't have are cheated out of the little they have. Who among us is willing to concede that every laborer should be able to make enough for at least the food he will need for his family that day? That is what is in play here. The owner gave each worker enough to feed his family that day. So he wasn't
Matthew 25: Mass and Meal - Help All Saints Serve Those in Need
Following the desire of Pope Francis that we all be like Jesus and provide service to those in need, All Saints Catholic Church's second annual fundraiser, "Matthew 25: Mass and Meal, is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2014. The event begins with Mass at 4:00 pm at All Saints Catholic Church, 4051 North 25th Street in Milwaukee with concelebrants the most Reverend Joseph Perry, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the most Reverend Donald Hying, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Father Carl Diederichs, Pastor of All Saints Catholic Church.
overly generous, he was just making sure that he was able to help all the workers here and now. What is the lesson for us? First of all, to remember that God's ways are often not our ways. We must remember that Jesus was practicing "Sabbath Economics." The economics of the Kingdom where all share in the bounty of the earth; No one has too much, no one has too little. Our efforts these days ought to be focused on those who do not have enough to feed their families or themselves. If we could only appreciate the good things we have and then spend our time making sure that others have the same. Then we could be an extension to those in need of the generosity that God showed in the parable. And then our own life will be spent for others as we care and share and not reap and keep.
Following the Mass, there will be a short presentation and blessing of the icon of Father Augustus Tolton by Bishop Perry. Father Tolton (1854-1897) is the first recognized Black Priest in America and is on the path to sainthood as a "Servant of God." Dinner will be at 6 p.m. in the All Saints Church Hall and features "Adekola and Friends" as entertainment. Funds raised will help the church to serve those in need. All Saints Catholic Church serves one of the poorest communities in the city. In 2013, the church served 24,000 meals to the poor and hosted 9,600 visits to the food pantry. Tickets are $50 per person or $300 for a table of six. Reservations and payment should be sent to All Saints Catholic Church, 4060 North 26th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53209 by September 30th. For further information, please call the church at (414) 4445610 or see http://www.allsaintsmke.com/
Community leaders speak out on violent crime (continued from page 1)
other civil rights progress. Noting that the proliferation of drugs in the Black community like heroin in the 1950 and 60s, and the discouragement of corporations in the hiring of Black men, preferring Black women instead, which caused further rift between the sexes and the family, McNeely said Milwaukee lost 55,000 industrial jobs between 1975 and 1987. “Jobs which had been the mainstay of the Black middle class. In fact, Blacks in the 1980s had the highest metropolitan unemployment rate in the nation.” McNeely also noted incarceration as “another invisible hand” eviscerating Black families and neighborhoods. “Wisconsin is the worst state in the nation for disparately incarcerating Black males, often for relatively minor drug-related charges. This has created a “circumstance of male scarcity” in the Black community. “This means that no matter what some Black women do, they will not be able to secure a same-race lifetime mate,” McNeely said. “Despite the Valiant efforts of so many single moms, what happens when you have so many single-family homes? You have greater crime and greater health and mental health problems in the community.” Listing a number of negatives for children who grow up
in single parent homes, including higher drop-out rates, behavioral problems, drug and alcohol abuse, and higher rates of violence among fatherless boys, McNeely stressed governmental leadership enact proactive reintegration, employment and other policies needed to combat violence. Ironically, Milwaukee’s corporations were blamed for being active participants in creating and maintaining the plight of the city’s Black community and the poor. “Policies have been created to keep whites in a dominate position and not impede continued white progress,” Mcmanus boldly stated. “What has been done in the last four decades has been intentional.” Also intentional, she added, was the forced and entrenched acceptance by Blacks of their condition. Mcmanus and the news conference participants all agreed a joint, collaborative effort is needed by non-profits, corporations, community residents, and political leaders to deal with the problems of crime and poverty. Said the ACLU’s Ahmuty: “(Citizens) must vote to make changes in government that will lead to changes in policy.” However, with the recent enactment of the state’s Voter ID law, Ahmuty admits it will be difficult for people to engage in the voting process so those policies can be changed.
In Your Faith-Based Community...
Calvary Baptist Church celebrates 119th anniversary
Come celebrate 119 years of serving God with Calvary Baptist Church, the oldest African American Baptist church in Milwaukee, Sunday, Sept. 21, at 9:30 a.m. Calvary is located at 2959 N. Teutonia Ave. Rev. Dr. John R. Walton, Jr. is the senior pastor. The guest preacher for the worship service will be the Rev. Dr. Russell B. Williamson, pastor of Milwaukee’s Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. There will be a dessert tasting reception after the service. For additional information, call 414-372-1450.
Next Door Celebrates 45th Anniversary Brentwood to host comedy show for its scholarship fund Oct 11 at Get Ready Lois M. Chapple Scholarship fund of Brentwood Church of Christ will Event Sept 18th The present “Laugh to Educate,” Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at 7 p.m., in the
In 1969, Next Door began serving youth and families at the parsonage house right “next door” to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Wisconsin Avenue (right). Since then, the agency has evolved into a leading early education provider, serving 1000s of children in some of the most at-risk areas of the city. Next Door will commemorate the opening of its new site at 5310 West Capitol Drive and its coinciding 45th Anniversary at their “Get Ready to Celebrate” event on September 18th, from 5-7 p.m. at the Capitol Drive site. Plans for Phase 2 of the renovation will be announced. For more information, please call 414.562.2929 or via email.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
--Isaiah 40:31
In Loving Memory
Leroy Durley Fellowship Hall of Brentwood COC, located at 6425 N. 60th St. Popular comedian Marlin Hill will perform, along with Chassity Washington. Admission is $10 per person. There will also be a consession stand to allow members of the audience to grab some food while watching the show.
Back to School Praise Talent Show
Grace United Church of Christ will host a Youth Back to School/No Violence Praise Talent Show Saturday, Sept. 27 from 6 to 10 p.m. Grace United is located at 4920 N. Sherman Blvd. This free and positive event is being sponsored by T.A./USW 1114/AFL-CIO and the Milwaukee Area Labor Council. there will be Praise Dancers, Gospel Rappers and Youth Singers, Poets, Youth Choir and Singers. Free hair cuts will also be provided. For more information, call 414-426-3762.
Mason Temple COGIC to host Diamond Jubilee
The Women’s Department of the Wisconsin Northwest Jurisdiction of the Church of God In Christ (COGIC) will hold a 10th Diamond Jubilee and Worship Celebration for Dr. Grace A. Harris, the Wisconsin Northwest Jurisdictional Supervisor. The event will be held Monday, September 22, at Mason Temple COGIC, 6098 N. 35th St., starting at 6:30 p.m. Superintendent Osie Tatum, Jr. is the host pastor. For more information, call 414-365-0683.
Mt. Zion MBC to hold annual revivial
The Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church will hold its annual revival Monday, Sept. 22th through Wednesday, Sept. 24th, 2014, starting at 7 pm nightly. The theme for the week is “Finding Faith Through God’s Grace”, Matthew 6:33. Our Lecturer will be Rev. Donald Sibley, Pastor, New Evergreen Baptist Church, Jena, Louisiana and Speaker, Rev. Harry Blake, Pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, Shreveport, LA. We look forward to a spiritually uplifting revival filled with praise, worship and joy. There will also be guest choirs from various churches each night of the revival. Mount Zion is located at 2207 North 2nd Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Reverend Louis E. Sibley, III is the pastor. All are invited to attend and bring a friend to this soul saving revival. For additional information you may contact the church secretary at (414) 3727811.
Quality Service... a tenured tradition sincere concern at your time of need.
Offering pre-need, at need and after-care services to families in Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and other communities throughout our state.
J C Frazier Ernestine O’Bee Funeral Director Founder Services scheduled from September 17 to September 24, 2014
Alemayehu, Aga Age 69 yrs. September 4, 2014. Beloved husband of Ethel Alemayehu. Loving father of Teodros Alemayehu and Mekasha Alemayehu. Grandfather of Tareku Alemayehu and Mekasha Alemayehu Jr. Also survived by other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 13 at 12 Noon at Cross Lutheran Church 1821 N. 16th St. Visitation Saturday 11AM at the CHURCH until time of services. The family is served by: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Madison, Lawrence E. "Larry" Age 66 yrs. September 8, 2014. Beloved father of Lawrence(Tamika) Whitehurst of Colonial, TX. Loving son of Eric and Mary D. Madison. Brother of Jacqueline Russell, Mary B. Madison, Claude (Carolyn) Madison and Claudette(Milton)Perry. Also survived by 2 grandchildren and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 11AM. Visitation Friday 3-7PM(Family will receive guests from 6-7PM) at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Sims, Dories J. Age 82 yrs. September 8, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 17, at 11AM. Visitation Wednesday 10AM until time of services at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Davis, Carolyn L. The First Lady of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. Beloved wife of Rev. Hugh Davis, Jr. Loving mother of Tammy L. Williams and Hugh Davis III. Sister of Peggy Vallard and Curtis Scuggs. Also survived by 6 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 19, 11AM at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church 1717 W. Meinecke Ave. Instate Friday 10AM at the CHURCH until time of services. Visitation Thursday 3-7PM(Family will receive guests from 6-7PM) at: Northwest Funeral Chapel O'Bee, Ford & Frazier 6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020
Families served by:
Northwest Funeral Chapel O’Bee, Ford & Frazier
Milwaukee 6630 W. Hampton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53218 Telephone: (414) 462-6020 Fax: (414) 462-9937
Racine 800 Barker St. Racine, WI 53402 Telephone: (262) 637-6400 Fax: (262) 637-6416
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 17, 2014 Page 5
P O L I T I C S &G OVERNMENT
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y • C o u n t y • S t a What you need...and need to know to
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VOTE! NOVEMBER 4, 2014
Registration Deadlines There is no registration deadline in Wisconsin. Voters may register: By mail, up to 20 days before the election; In person at the municipal clerk’s office, up to the Friday before the election at 5:00 PM or close of business, whichever is later; or In person at the polls on Election Day. How to Check if You Are Registered To verify your registration status, check the My Vote Wisconsin webpage. You can also call 1-866-OURVOTE (1-866-687-8683). How to Register Online Individuals may not register to vote online in Wisconsin. In-Person Individuals may register to vote in person at the polls on Election Day. You must always provide a proof of residence document when registering. If you attempt to register at the polls and have a current and valid Wisconsin driver's license or state ID card, but are unable or unwilling to provide the card number at that time, you will be required to vote a Provisional ballot, which will only hbe counted if you provide the required information nto the poll workers by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day or the municipal clerk by 4:00 p.m. of the Friday following the election. Provisional ballots will not be given to individuals who attempt to register at the polls on Election Day without providing a proof of residence document. They may also register in-person at the municipal clerk’s office. Registration at the municipal clerk’s office ends the Friday before the election at 5:00 PM or close of business, whichever is later. Voters can use the municipal clerks directory or search for their municipal clerk on My Vote Wisconsin. You must always provide a proof of residence document when registering. By Mail You can register by mail up to 20 days before the election. Registration forms should be mailed to your municipal clerk. Forms are available at http://gab.wi.gov or the My Vote Wisconsin website. Forms must be printed, signed, and mailed to the clerk. If you are a first time voter in the State of Wisconsin and you register by mail, you must provide proof of residence. This cannot be a residential lease. By Special Registration Deputy (SRD) Municipal SRDs must turn in all registration forms by 5:00 PM on the 20th day before the election and cannot collect registrations after that date. You must always provide a proof of residence document when registering. Registration Eligibility You may register to vote by mail, in person at the municipal clerk’s office, or at the polls on Election Day. You must be a resident of your current address for 28 days. Voters who have moved within Wisconsin less than 28 days before the election must vote using their previous address, either by absentee ballot or at the polling place.
Community determined to ensure voters vote on rushed photo ID Ruling
(continued from page 1) IDs do not comply with this Photo ID ruling. One student called this last minute law as a challenge that students will not back down from. “Before I was a student at UW Waukesha, I was a solider in the US Army, where I served my country in Kandahar Province. I did not fight for our democratic values in Afghanistan, to have Gov. Walker threaten our democracy in Wisconsin.” Saul Newton, Student and Veteran. Newton went on to say, “Governor Walker claims we need Voter ID because of fraud. Let me tell you, the real fraud is politicians who try to manipulate the process for political gain.” “Who are the victims of last minute voting laws? Seniors, veterans, poor, minorities, students, homeless, people with disabilities and people of color,” said community organizer Anita Johnson who has been speaking at churches since May saying that people would not need a photo ID. Johnson said she would try to go back to as many churches as possible to spread the word. “We all have to work to make sure all eligible citizen in Wisconsin are able to exercise their right to vote and to make sure elections are free, fair and accessible to all eligible citizens.”--Article courtesy of African American Roundtable and Coalition to Protect Wisconsin Elections.
Voters who have moved to Wisconsin from another state less than 28 days before an election are only eligible to vote in Presidential elections. A proof of residence document is always needed when registering to vote in Wisconsin. (Note: If you are an active military voter or a permanent overseas voter with no intent to return to the U.S, then you do not need to provide a proof of residence document.) Proof of residence examples include: Current and valid Wisconsin driver's license or state ID card with the voter’s current name and address; Official I.D. card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit; Employer-issued photo I.D. card, issued in the normal course of business, but not a business card; Real estate (i.e., property) tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the dating of the election; University, college or technical college photo I.D. card, but only if the voter provides a fee receipt dated within the last nine months or the institution provides a certified housing list to the municipal clerk; Gas, electric, or telephone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before Election Day; Bank statement; Paycheck or a government check or other document issued by a unit of government; Affidavit on public or private social service agency letterhead identifying a homeless voter and describing the individual’s residence for voting purposes; and Residential lease that is effective on the date of registration. (This is not valid if the voter is registering for the first time in Wisconsin by mail.) Note: The proof of residence provided must contain the applicant's name and current address.
Identification Requirements to Cast a Ballot
A recent decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on September 12 reinstated Wisconsin’s photo ID requirement to cast a ballot. Consequently, you must provide a photo ID in order to cast a ballot, regardless of whether it is during early voting, by absentee, or at the polls on Election Day. The following photo IDs are acceptable for voting purposes, and can be unexpired or expired after the date of the most recent general election (currently, the November 4, 2014 election): A Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended A Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service A U.S. passport book or card The following photo IDs are also acceptable for voting purposes, but must be unexpired: A certificate of naturalization that was issued not earlier than two years before the date of an election at which it is presented A driver license receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days) An identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days) An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin A photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college that contains the following: Date of Issuance Signature of Student Expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance The university or college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves enrollment. In addition, if you are registering to vote at the polls or at an early voting site, you must also meet the identification requirements to register to vote described immediately above in “Identification Requirements to Register to Vote.” Have questions or need more information? Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683)! Applicants may present their proof of residence document as a hard copy or paper document. They may also present the document on their smartphone, tablet, or computer. An Internet connection will not be provided for this use. If you are unsure if your document will qualify as acceptable proof of residence, please call your municipal clerk or 1-866-VOTE-WIS. You may also email gab@wi.gov.
Identification Required for Registration If you have been issued a Wisconsin driver’s license, and it is current and valid, you must provide the number and expiration date. If an applicant has not been issued a Wisconsin driver’s license, he or she must submit his or her Wisconsin DOT-issued ID number or the last four digits of his or her social security number.
Talking loud and doing very little! N
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education system? Now to the final point: A strong case can be made that collectively, we have one of the weakest fields of Black politicians in recent memory. I’m not pointing a finger at anyone; but instead bringing to light the fact the majority of the current crop at the state level, seem to be more loyal to the party than their people and, as a result, our plight suffers. Political immaturity may be a factor, but I also believe the more tenured Black representatives have become complacent and with only a handful of exceptions, the newer ones are being controlled by special interests who seem more intent on fighting to maintain a status quo that has led to Black genocide more than in empowering Black folks. Remember, it was but two years ago when Democratic Party leaders orchestrated campaigns against several “maverick” Black candidates who they declared (and I’m quoting Chris Larson and Mike Tate) “were not progressive enough.” The definition of “maverick” has changed since I was politically active and now means someone who strays outside the Democratic Party agenda. Polly Williams found herself in that category when she put the interest of Black people before the party and introduced a bill to carve out a Black school district. She was called a traitor when she reached across the aisle to Republicans because the Democrats valued teacher union support more than Black people. Lena Taylor, Elizabeth Coggs and Gary George were all described as being weak Democratic “Field Negroes” because they at one point or another put our people before party. And, of course, Coggs and Jason Fields incurred the wrath of the party for seeking compromises two years ago to secure legislation that benefited Black folks. It’s obvious the Democratic Party leadership (and there are no Black faces in that board room) is set on “resistance at any cost” mode. Don’t cooperate, negotiate or even try to navigate when Republicans have the upper hand. That may have been a good strategy during the “Uncivil War,” but how does that impact a Black community that is dying on the vine? Is the Black community better off when nothing is introduced in Madison involving Black people other than a proposal to make White legislators “honorary members of the Black and Hispanic Caucus?” Yeah, you heard that right. The Black legislator mentioned in the opening sentence is probably right. But as the old saying goes, we get the representation we deserve. Hotep.
“New Jim Crow” author to speak at MATC
The Milwaukee Community Journal September 17, 2014 Page 6
(continued from page 1) America to be Black’ – particularly in the area of mass incarceration. Ms. Alexander’s work helps us to see that the disturbing data regarding mass incarceration in America is rooted in a continuing history and system of racial control exacted by our nation’s criminal justice system.” Lanier further positions that incarceration is, “not the result – as some believe – of an inferior race of people. The understanding of this matter as a system problem helps us to look critically at the system. Alexander’s presentation represents a great opportunity to bring a high level of thinking and discussion about mass incarceration and issues of race to Milwaukee and to MATC.” In her insightful analysis, Alexander not only exposes the depth of mass incarceration in this millennium and the illusion of a so-called “colorblind” society, but she also underscores the historical relationship of the Jim Crow era to today’s “Age of Obama”. Pursuant to this writer’s class notes for point brevity, Chicago Black Star founder and head Phillip Jackson would comment in his Black Star Journal that 149 years ago in 1865’s Emancipation Proclamation, 4 million newly freed Negroes were released from bondage. Now do keep in mind that these 4 million Blacks were skilled because they had all the jobs during their 246 years of bondage from 1619 to 1865. They were also much more literate at the point of emancipation than history would lend credit. We were quick learners and many of the free Blacks were already seasoned professionals with training and degrees in medicine, law, and education. So it would be of no surprise that great numbers of the newly freed Negros would in a very short span of time become blacksmiths, bricklayers, carpenters, merchants, teachers, doctors, lawyers, farmers, ranchers, cooks and more, says Jackson. During this period called Reconstruction for 1866 to 1877, we built houses, towns, communities, businesses, farms, families, schools, universities, institutions and futures. Dr. Booker T. Coleman said of these ten years that “Black folk were going to school, graduating, becoming doctors and lawyers. They were speaking Greek and Latin better than the people who taught Greek and Latin. They were becoming Senators; they were becoming Congressmen; they were becoming a part of the world arena.”
Seven Congressman – Robert C. DeLarge, Jefferson H. Long, Hiram R. Revels, Benjamin S. Turner, Josiah T. Walls, Joseph H. Rainey, and R. Brown Elliott were among Black men who served as elected officials during these Reconstruction years. From 1869 through 1901, twenty African Americans were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Now it is within this Black upward mobile social matrix where we begin the see the parallels between the historical Jim Crow and Alexander’s “The New Jim Crow” with her subtitle, “Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” Rutherford B. Hayes was elected president in 1877. Many white Southerners could not and did not accept African American freedom, equality or upward mobility during these ten years of Reconstruction. But in all due honesty, what is not nearly ever mentioned in historical accounts is that it was perhaps not an issue of freedom or “equality” as if another person was innately “better” than you. It was an issue of competition and real equality – Black man to White man - in all areas of humankind interaction and not “equality” as defined by the wording of civil law or civil rights mandates as though white folks were a “superior” breed, a culture or a group that we had to “catch up” with and/or model ourselves behind. In all actuality, the world historical record records just the opposite. You see, the Black man was never an “unequal” or “unequal” to the white man. If anything, given the opportunity to grow and nurture in keeping with his own accord; in keeping with his own needs and in keeping with his own cultural gifts, the Black man – then and now – was not only “equal” to the white man, he was at best most competitive in all skill and professional arenas and if not, in some areas, more masterful then his former enslaver. As Shahrazad Ali said in Hidden Colors 1, the Western version of history never wants Black people to know “how great we are because that is the missing link. If we really knew, if we really knew how great the potential that we have…and whenever that potential is able to get free, then we will go to the top. They don’t keep you out because you are the worse. They keep us out because we are the very best.” So whites resented 137 years ago
in 1877 the effort and freedom of African Americans to attend school, hold public office and be skill competitive in all open market endeavor. So Hayes’ election brought forth an end to the Reconstruction era. “Black Codes” were initiated under his presidency to take back and deny African Americans their civil rights. A caste system was restored, thereby placing African Americans at the bottom rung of the social order. During this era of what would be called “Jim Crow,” African Americans were forbidden to bear arms. They had no legal standing in the courts. Southern whites enacted measures that effectively took away our right to vote. “White Only” venues, bathrooms, and drinking fountains began to appear throughout the South. Fast forward to the era of the integration 70’s, Blacks were going to school, graduating from colleges, holding jobs on the city, regional and federal levels, having presence in the corporate arena and becoming “equal” participants on the national stage. By the time of the 80’s, according to Alexander, whites were again (or had again) become resentful of and threatened by Black desegregation, busing, open housing and affirmative action. In 1982, 105 years after the election of the Rutherford B. Hayes, President Ronald Reagan officially declared his drug war policy. In her May 8, 2010 Huff Post Politics posting, “The New Jim Crow: How the War on Drugs Gave Birth to a Permanent American Underclass,” the author asserts that at this time, drug crime was declining, not rising and that this “war on drugs” had everything to do with what she termed, “racial politics.” A few years after the drug war was announced, crack cocaine hit the streets of inner-city communities. The Reagan administration seized on this development to make innercity crack abuse and violence a media sensation bolstering public support for the drug war which, notes Alexander, would lead Congress to devote millions of dollars in additional funding to it. President Bill Clinton’s “tough on crime” policies during his eight-years in office from 1993-2001 resulted, says the May posting, in the largest increase in federal and state prison inmates of any president in American history. He and the “New Democrats,” writes Alexander, championed legis-
lation banning drug felons from public housing and denying them basic public benefits to include food stamps for life. Felons were not allowed to vote. Discrimination applied to virtually every aspect of political, economic, and social life is now perfectly legal if you have been labeled a felon. Federal funding was flowing to those agencies directly responsible for drug arrest and not towards those arenas seeking to bust or bring down drug lords. During the 1990’s, the author reveals that nearly 80% of the increase in drug arrest was for marijuana possession, a drug generally considered less harmful than alcohol or tobacco and at least as prevalent (if not more) in middle-class white communities as compared to the inner city. Among several stats shared in the Huff Post account, Alexander posits that there are more African Americans under correctional control today – in prison or in jail, on probation or parole – then were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began. When we pull back the layers of the historical record and take a fresh look at this so-called Obama era “colorblind” society, we see in the author’s words, “a familiar social, political, and economic structure – the structure of racial caste. The entrance into this new caste system can be found at the prison gate.” Michelle Alexander’s September 26 MATC speaking engagement is presented by the Helen Bader foundation with lead area sponsorship of Milwaukee Area Technical College, the NAACP Milwaukee Branch and WestCare Foundation. Supporting sponsors include the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and UW-Milwaukee and the YWCA. The event is free and open to the public. Her comments will be followed by discussion among local experts regarding the impact of wide-spread incarceration in education, within the quality of family membership to economic opportunity.
The Youth& Education page will return next week!
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The Milwaukee Community Journal September 17, 2014 Page 7
the MCJ lifestyle & entertainment section
Grass Roots Campaign Brings Back Strong Babies
Mayor Tom Barrett was joined by members of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee, City of Milwaukee Health Department, SERV Marketing and the Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (Milwaukee LIHF) Collaborative at a news conference at the United Way’s offices to announce the return of the “Strong Babies” campaign, a grassroots campaign designed to engage the community in the crucial conversation around the importance of changing the conditions that can lead to stronger babies. The new campaign reintroduces the popular Strong Baby ads, first launched in September of 2010, with a fresh look and renewed emphasis on using social media to engage the community in the conversation. (Photo courtesy of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee)
Blacks, Hispanics Have Doubts About Media Accuracy
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population reaching 57 percent by 2060. People of color who are “seeking out news about their communities, they can’t find it. And what they see, they don’t think is accurate,” said Tom Rosenstiel, executive director of the American Press Institute, which teamed with The Associated PressNORC Center for Public Affairs Research on the project. The survey was funded by the American Press Institute and the McCormick Foundation. When asked whether they thought news about their communities was accurate, 75 percent of blacks said only “moderately” or “slightly/not at all.” When Hispanics were asked the same question, 66 percent replied “moderately” or “slightly/not at all.” Tia C. M. Tyree, a Howard University professor and the assistant chair of the university’s department of Strategic, Legal and Management Communications, said the stereotyping of African-Americans and Hispanics in the media, and a distrust of systems in the United States that used to be rife with racism contribute to the distrust. “Many will believe there is embedded racism in many of America’s systems: the media system, the legal system, the educational system,” she said. “Many will believe that minorities aren’t treated fairly in those systems, and because of that, any products that come out of it will be problematic.” Tyree also pointed at the small number of African-Americans and Hispanics in the media, saying that affects the viewpoint of the product. “It matters who the owners are, it matters who the producers are, it matters who the editors are, because that’s often the agenda or the slant of the media and the news coverage,” she said. Part of the reason for the differing levels of skepticism between Hispanics and blacks, the survey said, is that Hispanics have access to a sizable amount of Spanish-language media on television, including Univision, as well as media from other countries. There are no longer any African-American daily newspapers, and
few cable channels aimed at African-Americans offer daily news programs. African-American consumers felt they could find the largest amount of news about their communities on local media. Twenty-three percent named a local television station as providing the most news about their communities, 15 percent named the black press, and 9 percent named newspapers. Hispanics by far — 41 percent — view Hispanic-specific news sources as the most frequent providers of information about their communities, 10 percent named 24-hour news stations 7 percent named a local news station. “There isn’t an analogous, what you might call ‘ethnic’ press (for blacks) that has evolved as the Internet has evolved — it’s been more of a disruptive medium — while the Hispanic media has sort of adapted and grown,” Rosenstiel said. More blacks get their news from television and on cellphones than non-Hispanic whites or Hispanics: 95 percent of blacks said they got their news from television versus 87 percent of non-Hispanic whites and 86 percent of Hispanics; and 75 percent of blacks said they got news on their cellphone versus 64 percent of Hispanics and 53 percent of non-Hispanic whites. The news industry needs to figure out how to reach these consumers of color, Rosenstiel said. “They’re affluent, they’re attractive to advertisers, there’s a market there,” he said. The Media Insight Project is an initiative of the American Press Institute and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. NORC, at the University of Chicago, conducted the survey Jan. 9 through Feb. 17, 2014. It involved landline and cellphone interviews in English or Spanish with 1,492 adults nationwide, including 358 Hispanic adults and 318 African American adults. Results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points; For Hispanics, the margin was 8.5 percentage points and for African Americans, 7.9 percentage points. --AP Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta contributed to this report.
“An Ounce of Prevention...”
COUNSELOR IN YOUR CORNER By Atty. John Casey
My law practice is dedicated to helping people who have suffered an injury -- through no fault of their own – to themselves, their family, or their property. Negligent and sometimes reckless behavior is to be blamed for most personal injury claims. On occasion, the behavior is even intentional.
Sadly, most personal injury cases could have been prevented using simple common sense. Ben Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” meaning you can save a great deal more in time, effort and cost by paying attention to situations before they become problems. This column will take a look at how you can protect yourself and your families from harm and potential financial devastation. By taking simple precautionary measures, such as driving carefully, maintaining a safe home and business environment, having the right amount of automobile insurance coverage, you can protect your family from issues. But sometimes, even when you follow the rules, others don’t and you and your family can be put in harm’s way and hurt. When that happens, confusion often sets in. This column will also review those situations – what happens when an injury occurs. What are your rights, what does Wisconsin law offer in terms of compensation, what are the potential outcomes. Unfortunately, the law cannot repair or replace an injured back, a permanent disability, a broken bone, or other accident related injuries. In most Atty. John Casey cases, monetary compensation is the only form of legal relief for accident victims. In arriving at the proper amount of monetary compensation, an experienced lawyer will be able to utilize Wisconsin law for the benefit of the client. Unlike a workers’ compensation claim where damages are set by formula and there is no remedy for pain and suffering, there are no formulas in a personal injury cases used to calculate damages for pain and suffering. If a lawsuit has yet to be filed, the personal injury attorney must convince the insurance adjuster that the injured person deserves compensation for pain and suffering. Likewise, if the case is being argued before a jury, then the lawyer must convince the members of the jury that the plaintiff deserves to be awarded a fair and just amount of damages for pain and suffering. Whether presenting the claim to an insurance adjuster or jury, the personal injury lawyer must have a firm grasp of the client’s medical history, a thorough knowledge of the medical procedures, a familiarity with the impact of pain on the client’s lifestyle, as well as the experience to present the claim effectively to the insurance adjuster or jury. In my next column, we will review the definition of “injured” and I will share a case study that demonstrates the process involved in the successful resolution in an injury case. Most importantly, I want to hear from you. I hope to use this column to answer specific questions you may have about the law and how to protect yourself. What is on your mind? Please write me at jcaseyesq@caseylaw.com About the Author: For nearly 25 years, Attorney John P. Casey has been practicing personal injury law, successfully representing the wrongly injured. Attorney Casey applies a combination of efficiency, understanding, and tenacity to each of his cases. Visit www.casey-injurylaw.com to schedule a free consultation.
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