Editor, Author at Milwaukee Independent

Jacqueline Olive: Filmmaking when racial terrorism is always in season

Posted by Editor | Mar 3, 2017 |

As a director and producer who uses filmmaking to tell nuanced stories of the people and cultures in our diverse world, Jacqueline Olive is currently developing the documentary Always In Season to explore the intimate personal accounts of African American lynchings. She was the keynote speaker at the Founder’s Day Gathering for America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) in Milwaukee, where she showed a preview of her film with Danny Glover and spoke about the century of racial tеrrоrism that still impacts Americans today. Olive gave the Milwaukee Independent an exclusive interview about racial repair and reconciliation. | Q&A with...

Sheriff Clarke ruled exempt from releasing immigration records

Posted by Editor | Feb 28, 2017 |

Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned rulings by a Circuit Court judge and a unanimous Appeals Court about public access to local immigrant deportation information. The 4-2 decision from the court’s conservative majority on February 24 reverses lower-court decisions that ordered Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke to disclose the information under the state’s open records law, following a request from the immigrant advocacy group Voces de la Frontera. The ruling allows the sheriff to withhold information about detentions at his jail for federal authorities. “It is time for this pro-illegal immigration group to embrace the rule of law in this country...

Milwaukee legends honored at celebration of Black History

Posted by Editor | Feb 27, 2017 |

The public gathering was a culmination of a 28 day initiative that recognized Milwaukee residents who made notable contributions to local Black History. Black History is honored during the month of February, but usually in recognition of past accomplishments. This year, Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and Alderwoman Chantia Lewis decided to create a program that focused on individuals who had significant roles in forming Milwaukee’s African American legacy. The inaugural program was held at City Hall on February 24. More than two hundred visitors attended, packing the rotunda to watch African drumming and dancing, speeches and poetry, and an...

George Banda: The Humble Hero

Posted by Editor | Feb 24, 2017 |

“What does a hero feel like? I was just doing my job, it was what I was trained to do. That’s what I did, and I was lucky enough to survive. So I feel uncomfortable and a little embarrassed to be called a hero.” – George Banda Celebrated as an American hero for his service in Vietnam, Milwaukee native George Banda has always been uncomfortable with any titles of honor. In a reflection of his humility for being awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star as an Army Medic, he says he was just doing the job our country...

Trump’s deportation directive targets vulnerable Milwaukee families

Posted by Editor | Feb 23, 2017 |

The Department of Homeland Security released a series of memos outlining administrative changes to make possible the mass deportation program outlined by President Trump in his January 25th executive order on immigration. Representatives from the Milwaukee city government, along with community leaders and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), gathered at City Hall on February 22 to address the issues of concern about latest executive order about immigration issued by President Donald Trump. “We are organizing throughout Wisconsin so that local law enforcement leaders will reject efforts to have them act as Immigration agents through the 287g...

Mobile app breaks down barriers for Milwaukee advocates

Posted by Editor | Feb 20, 2017 |

National civic engagement platform gives the local Milwaukee public an ability to message Congressional Representatives. The Countable mobile app makes it easy to stay informed about what our government is up to. It allows users to learn more about important issues, influence Congress with one tap voting, and rally friends around specific legislation. “Countable is doing something that no one else does. Under one roof and right at your fingertips, Countable makes news and issues easily understandable and digestible, then provides a way to make it easily actionable. It helps open the closed doors of Washington politics, and makes...