March slams racist treatment of Black official

Demanding justice for poor and working people in Milwaukee, dozens of people marched down Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Pere Marquette Park Aug. 3.

WW photo: Bryan G. Pfeifer

They chanted, “What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now! Whose streets? Our streets! We want justice! Free McGee!”

The participants also hoisted placards with demands including living-wage jobs not W-2 jobs, an end to racist police brutality, an end to the U.S. war in Iraq, freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal and justice for embattled Black Alderman Michael McGee Jr. They marched for over a mile in near 90-degree heat.

“I got news for you today. We need each other. If we don’t come together and stand for something, we’re going to fall for anything. ... I ask you today: What are you doing to make Milwaukee a better place and to assure freedom for all people?” said Wanda Montgomery speaking to the crowd from the park’s rotunda stage. Montgomery, McGee’s sister-in-law, also called for the immediate freedom of McGee.

McGee has been charged in state court with seven felony counts and five misdemeanors related to elections, bribery, conspiracy and contempt. He has also been indicted in federal court on charges that allege he pressured businesses in his district for money to get licenses okayed through the City Council. McGee is facing at least 30 years in prison on the state charges and 115 years on the federal charges if convicted.

Many in Milwaukee’s Black community and other allies say the targeting of McGee is for his support of progressive actions on political, economic and social issues. McGee posted bail on both the state and federal charges but was denied release by a federal judge. He is now in federal custody in Waukesha County jail in a segregation unit.

The protest also came a week after a federal jury on July 27 found former Milwaukee cops Jon Bartlett, Andrew Spengler and Daniel Masarik guilty of conspiring to violate the civil rights of Frank Jude Jr. and his friend Lovell Harris and of assaulting Jude. Suspended cop Ryan Packard was acquitted on all counts. According to community organizer Brother Earl, McGee was transported to jail with some of these convicted cops.

The Aug. 3 action also came amidst recent proposed budget cuts and fare increases for the Milwaukee County bus system, an increase in the cost of living, a 50 percent unemployment rate for Black men and ongoing attacks on poor and working people, particularly people of color.

“I’m here today supporting Alderman McGee because he’s a respected community leader and an attack on a community leader is an attack on the community; it’s an attack on all of us. So we’re here to let him know we’re not forgetting him and we want him back,” Mike “Skip” Helbick of the Milwaukee Bolivarian Circle told Workers World.

Other organizations participating in the Aug. 3 event included Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), International Action Center, Justice for Jude Justice for All!, NAACP, Strive Media Institute, Troops Out Now Coalition, and Workers World Party.

At the park speakers included Brother Earl, co-host of the WNOV radio show “Word Warriors,” with community activist and Aug. 3 organizer Lamonte Harris. They are both filling in for McGee in his absence.

Other speakers were community activist Sister Ifama; Minister William Muhammad from the Nation of Islam’s Mosque No. 3 in Milwaukee; longtime revered community activist Jeanetta Robinson from Community Youth Development; Robert Miranda, editor of the Spanish Community Journal and Pastor Moses Fuller from St. Timothy’s Baptist Church.

An open mike followed where community members spoke on issues affecting poor and working people, including virulent racism.

Closing the rally, Harris said, “We’re going to continue to work. We’re going to continue to do the things we’re doing out here in this community.”