UBLAC Response to US AG Jeff Sessions in Milwaukee - December 18, 2017

Click Photo to Enlarge - UBLAC PROTEST

December 19, 2017
CITY-WIDE MILWAUKEE | UBLAC - Uplifting Black Liberation and Community led a protest in front of the Federal Court Building in Milwaukee to speak truth to power against US Department of Justice AG Jeff Sessions in Milwaukee.

Sessions spoke with law enforcers about the uptick in crime in Milwaukee and an announcement of 2 federal prosecutors being added to the Eastern District.

In the protest was State Rep. David Bowen.
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UBLAC Response Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 18, 2017

Contact: Markasa Tucker, Lead Organizer of UBLAC and Director of the African American Civic-Engagement Roundtable, 414- 699-5195, Markasa@WisconsinVoices.Org

UBLAC and the African American Roundtable Responds to Attorney General Jeff Sessions Visit to Discuss Violent Crime in Milwaukee

(Statement read this morning)

My name is Mahnker Dahnweih and I’m here representing UBLAC, a coalition of Black Women, Trans and Queer people working to Uplift Black Liberation and Community and the African American Roundtable that exists to improve the quality of life for African-American community in Milwaukee and surrounding areas.

I stand here today in utter disgust at the audacity of Mr. Sessions to visit Milwaukee to speak about violent crime with Sen. Johnson.

Jeff Sessions is a white man from Alabama who has built his entire career on the exploitation of Black families and other marginalized groups. When he had power as US Attorney for Alabama, he used it to prosecute three African Americans for defending their rights to vote. He also used his power to make sure that predominantly Black schools continued to receive less funding than predominantly White schools within the state.

When he had power in the US Senate, he used it to vote against paths to citizenship for immigrants and to prop up mass incarceration with his outdated and ill-informed opinions on cannabis.

More recently, in his role as Attorney General, he has again used his power to exploit Black families when he ended the Department of Justice’s collaborative reform initiative which investigated the Milwaukee Police Department in order to make our city more safe.

Mr. Sessions, you have no right to come into our city and claim to care about violent crime. You have called us the “N” word and referred to the KKK as an “OK” group. We don’t want you here.

You have said, in reference to violence prevention that public safety should remain in local control and local accountability. I agree with you on that front. Let community organizing groups with respect and love for our people continue to facilitate Community Led Town Halls and seek community centered solutions to promote safety.

Let us be guided by our own values of Black love and liberation to advocate for the Milwaukee we want to see for ourselves and generations to come.

Mahnker Dahnweih