Author: Editor

Historical Society reopens to the public with new exhibit covering 150 years of Milwaukee politics

The Milwaukee County Historical Society (MCHS), which closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will return to welcoming guests on June 29 with safety protocols and a new exhibit that spans 150 years of Milwaukee’s political history. As part of the new safety procedures, all visitors, staff, and volunteers will be required to wear masks during their visit. Additional protocols include increased cleaning procedures, sanitization stations, and social distancing measures. “The staff has worked hard to be sure that we can continue to carry out our mission of sharing Milwaukee’s history while also ensuring visits can be safe...

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Juneteenth Flag: Historic symbol of Black liberation from slavery flown at City Hall Complex for first time

First time in the city’s history the Juneteenth flag was flown over a municipal building on June 19. It was a long overdue recognition for Milwaukee’s Black community, and one of many smaller events that took place throughout the area to celebrate the special day. Milwaukee is home to one of the longest standing Juneteenth Day celebrations in the country. Because the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the festivities for 2020, the city was able to start the day with a raising of the Juneteenth Day flag outside the Zeidler Municipal Building. The ceremony offered a positive way for the Milwaukee...

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Demonstrators pause outside police headquarters to hold “Black Lives Matter” candlelight vigil

After eleven days of marching across Milwaukee in protest over the unlawful death of George Floyd by Minnesota police, demonstrators took a brief pause on June 8 to hold a memorial gathering on the doorstep of the Milwaukee Police Department’s (MPD) Administration building. The Black Lives Matter candlelight vigil was organized as an opportunity for members of the public to come together and express support for black men in the community who were killed due to police violence – simply because of their skin color. Several speakers also shared their personal journeys and hardships from police brutality during the...

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A Legacy of Lies: “Lost Cause” myth distorted Civil War history to infect America’s soul with White Supremacy

The U.S. military recently began rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols, including the Army base names, mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd in police hands. Ten major Army installations are named for Confederate Army officers, mostly senior generals, including Robert E. Lee. Among the 10 is Fort Benning, the namesake of Confederate Army Gen. Henry L. Benning, who was a leader of Georgia’s secessionist movement and an advocate of preserving slavery. Others are in Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana. The...

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