Community rallies behind Black alderman

On May 28, Michael McGee Jr., a Black Milwaukee alderman, was arrested and charged with various state and federal charges. As of June 4 he was still in jail on $100,000 bail, reduced from $250,000 set when he was arrested.

Despite the U.S. legal system’s “innocent until proven guilty” rhetoric, the main corporate mouthpiece in Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, called for McGee’s resignation as an alderman in a May 29 editorial only hours after the press conference announcing his arrest.

Many white Sentinel columnists joined in writing racist diatribes against McGee, repeating the state and federal accounts almost verbatim despite no trial yet and disregarding the COINTELPRO tactics carried out against him in the past.

The next day, Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines immediately removed McGee from all three committees he was on.

If convicted of the federal charges, McGee could face up to 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The charges include alleged solicitation of about $5,000 in bribes from business owners in exchange for help in getting or keeping liquor licenses. McGee was a member of the Common Council’s Licensing Committee.

The federal complaint also alleges McGee extorted business owners to donate to a successful campaign he waged against being recalled. In a field of eight candidates, McGee won with an overwhelming 64 percent of the votes in April.

State charges of solicitation to commit a felony/conspiracy and a felony/substantial battery have been filed and more charges could be forthcoming, according to Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chrisholm. He alleges McGee threatened business owners physically if they didn’t pay him to get the licenses they needed.

Two other Black men, Little Stewart and Dimitrius Jackson, face similar charges. If convicted, each could face a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. Most details of the state case remain sealed in accordance with a higher court ruling limiting release of wiretap information in Wisconsin.

McGee has appeared only in state court. A June 5 preliminary hearing will involve witnesses being called as the state seeks to bind over the three men for trial.

The investigation, according to the FBI and the state, began a year ago when a business owner allegedly called the FBI. McGee and his supporters became the subjects of wiretaps and undercover surveillance.

After McGee’s arrest, Chrisholm also revealed the state is “investigating” his recall campaign, resulting in the arrest of two campaign workers on May 31 and June 3. The state has charged them with paying people $5 to vote for McGee Jr. on absentee ballots.

A progressive record

McGee Jr. has been a longtime progressive community leader. His father, Michael McGee Sr., is a former Black Panther. Since being elected 6th District alderman in April 2004, McGee Jr., according to his supporters, has been targeted by white politicians and their bosses because of his proven record of assisting the poor and working class Blacks who make up the majority of his constituents, as well as engaging in other progressive activities such as:

• Advocating a safe spot for late-night youth vehicle cruisers and protesting against their treatment by the police;

• Consistently criticizing police terror, particularly after the near killing of Frank Jude Jr. by off-duty police, and leading protests against the acquittal of the officers;

• Assisting the family of Jasmine “Juicy” Owens, a four-year-old killed in a drive-by shooting in May, and helping other victims of random violence;

• Working to create living-wage jobs and improve social and economic conditions for the Black community;

• Writing a personal letter to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to inquire about heating oil assistance for poor people in Milwaukee;

• Opposing the handcuffing of emotionally challenged children in Milwaukee public schools; and

• Allowing his “Word Warriors” radio program to be used as a forum for the Black community.

McGee’s supporters say the way he is being treated as opposed to white politicians and/or corporate bosses who have actually admitted to far worse crimes, is preposterous and outrageous.

“There is nothing like this even remotely connected to his history as an activist and his history as an elected official,” said former Black Alderman Fred Gordon regarding the charges against McGee. “I don’t understand why it happened or if it did happen. Clearly, it’s a major move by the government to take down Alderman McGee. People are very upset. They’re very distressed. They’re very angry.”

Gordon, along with Black former Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt, filled in for McGee on the May 29 “Word Warriors” program on WNOV-AM. Station manager Jerrel Jones said no final decision has been made on McGee’s status at the station but that the show would continue with various hosts.

At McGee’s state court hearing May 30 at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, supporters appeared with “McGee 4 Me” shirts and hats.

After the hearing many McGee supporters made statements. “I don’t believe it. I’m sticking with him. I’m sticking by him and I’m riding for him,” said longtime community activist Lucille Berrien.

Activist Lamont Harris said the case is weak and shows that the government targets leaders who represent the poor and particularly people of color.

“I am disappointed that people would abuse their power to blow this up and make it much bigger than it appears to be,” Harris said. “What we are seeing here is when you step up for this community and do something good, you will be targeted.”

“The same thing happened to Marcus Garvey. The same thing happened to Malcolm X. When you’re trying to liberate your people you are going to be targeted,” one caller said.

Another caller said, “When we needed him for jobs, he was there. We needed him for the Jude situation, he was there. When we needed him for the handcuff situation in the Milwaukee public schools, he was there.”

McGee supporters say that if he has given grounds for suspicion, it is grassroots representatives of the Black community in his district who should have the right to pass judgment.