Author: Op-Ed

What a funny way Donald Trump has of reaching out to black people. The Republican presidential nominee came to Milwaukee and, skirting black neighborhoods, drove out to the lily-white suburb of West Bend to urge African-Americans to vote for him — a perplexing pattern he has since repeated in Michigan and North Carolina. In the West Bend speech he accused Hillary Clinton of “talking down” to African-Americans. But what do you call lecturing people without even bothering to look them in the eye? In contrast, Clinton talks face to face with African-Americans. The real estate tycoon could have done...

Dear Residents: I would like to share with you my Op-ed recently submitted to the Journal Sentinel. It is time to roll up our sleeves and redouble our efforts. As challenging as last weekend was, I am focusing on Milwaukee’s future. Yes, our City was wounded, but we are already working to heal. Of course, nothing possibly justifies the criminal behavior displayed by some in recent days. Accountability is important for those who broke the law. But that is a small part of what’s ahead. The larger undertaking involves building trust, addressing disparities, and reducing violence. Where hope is...

I’m a white Milwaukeean writing to other white Milwaukeeans (though I hope it’s useful for white folks elsewhere). I write with a heavy dose of humility — I’m not scoring perfect tens here and know darn well that we have to do a heck of a lot more listening. I write though because one of the simplest and most often ignored requests that people of color make of us is to talk to each other. This past Saturday, the world watched as our city burned. By the time the sun was out Sunday morning our not-so-well-kept secret was clear for all...

Russ Feingold is running as a candidate for 2016 U.S. Senate, a position he previously served in from 1993 to 2011. Aside from campaign reform legislation, he is best remembered as the only Senator to vote against the Patriot Act. People still ask me why I was the only U.S. senator to vote against the Patriot Act — and Republicans are still attacking me for it. Just this week, a right-wing super PAC supporting Senator Ron Johnson called Let America Work started running ads attacking me for this vote. The reason why I was the only senator to vote against the...

In a recent interview, Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Campbellsport) was asked how he thinks potential GOP nominees will fare in the 2016 Presidential election. In his response, Grothman said, “Now we have photo ID…photo ID is gonna make a little bit of a difference,” confirming that the purpose of voter ID is not to prevent voter impersonation, but to rig elections in favor of Republicans. Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement in response to Republicans’ recent admission of their intentional fraud against the people of Wisconsin: “At least Congressman Grothman is telling the truth. The Republican Party...

A joint Op Ed by County Supervisor Supreme Moore Omokunde and State Representative David Bowen in response to comments made within local media about the County Executives race. If you have been paying attention to local media over the last three weeks you’ve heard a consistent theme play out: Chris Abele’s new campaign strategy is to drive a wedge in the black community in order to score a win on April 5th. There have been some incendiary comments made in reference to black elected officials who have chosen to support Senator Chris Larson for Milwaukee County Executive. Election season...