The Wisconsin Mexican-American Community And Farmworkers In The State Didn't Get A Cesar E. Chavez Day Proclamation From Governor Tony Evers's Office

Governor Evers's Office has failed to issue a Cesar E. Chavez Day Proclamation on Chavez's birthday on March 31st.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 31, 2021

Madison, Wisconsin - Apparently, the State of Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers's Office failed this year to issue a Cesar E. Chavez Day Proclamation to recognize Chavez on his birthday. So far, there is no record of a Chavez Proclamation for March 31, 2021 by the Governor's Office. 

Has Governor Evers forgotten that the Latino community including Mexican-Americans in Wisconsin were instrumental in getting him elected. Is Governor Evers taking the Latino vote for granted?

The Legislative Latino Caucus in Wisconsin is introducing a resolution for Chavez Day and might take up at least seven days to approve, but Governor Evers' State Office could issue a Proclamation from his Office without going through the legislative process.

The City of Milwaukee is the eight city to have a life size bronze statue of the late United Farm Worker's leader, Cesar E. Chavez at the 900 block of S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive in the Southside of Milwaukee.

Chavez's legacy on Cesar E. Chavez Day is "of a man who is a true hero to all working Americans...who help bring national attention to the unsafe and unfair working conditions of farm workers, and inspired millions of people of all races to join in the nonviolent movement for farm workers rights," according to former City of Milwaukee Alderman T. Anthony Zielinski (2014).

Also, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) has learned that the City of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's Office has also failed to issue a Chavez Day Proclamation for 2021 including the Milwaukee Common Council. The City of Milwaukee has an optional holiday for Chavez's Birthday, which City employees can take off.

Update:

The Governor Evers's Office contacted Hispanic News Network U.S.A. after the article was published and released the Cesar E. Chavez Day Proclamation, which will be posted in the Governor's Office website Proclamation section. 

Here's the copy of the Cesar E. Chavez Day Proclamation for 2021 that was recently released by Governor Evers's Office.

Four Tulum Municipal Transit Cops In Quintana Roo, MX Charged For The Murder Of Salvadorian Immigrant Victoria Esperanza Salazar Arriaza

Salazar Arriaza had her back broken while being subdued in Tulum by three males and one female who were identified as municipal transit police officers in the State of Quintana Roo in Mexico.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 31, 2021

Tulum, Quintana Roo, MX - Four Tulum Municipal transit police officers, three males and one female have been charged with the murder of Victoria Esperanza Salazar Arriaza, 36, who was residing in Tulum under a legal visa for humanitarian purposes, but is originally from Sonsonate, El Salvador.

A video that went viral on Saturday, showed the Tulum Municipal transit police officers subduing Salazar Arriaza at a corner while a female transit officer had her knee on her neck blocking the victim from breathing and another transit male officer had his knee on her back. The victim died at the scene while handcuffed.

The transit cops are later seen lifting the lifeless body of Salazar Arriaza into the back of the Municipal transit police truck while still handcuffed.

Salazar Arriaza was allegedly intoxicated and was blocking traffic when the transit police attempted to detain her. She didn't resist, but was killed in the process of being detained.

The Quintana Roo Medical Examiner's autopsy indicated that Salazar Arriaza suffered a broken spine (back) and had both the first and second vertebraes were fractured, which resulted in asphyxiation.

The former Tulum Police Chief Jesús Pérez Abarca was replaced by Nesguer Ignacio Vicencio Méndez and the four transit cops involved in Salazar Arriaza's death were arrested, charged for murder and jailed awaiting further court proceedings. 

If convicted for murder, each transit cop is facing up to 50 years in prison. The three male suspects were identified as Miguel Ángel C, 34; Raúl L, 35, both from Valladolid Yucatán and Juan C. The female suspect who placed her knee on the victim was identified as Verónica V, 42, from Mérida, Yucatán.

Salazar Arriaza is survived by two daughters in El Salvador ages 15 and 17. 

The body of Salazar Arriaza will be returned to El Salvador for funeral services.

The family of Salazar Arriaza are seeking justice and protests in Tulum are calling for the Tulum Municipal transit police officers involved to face justice. Transit police in Mexico are not authorized to engage in criminal law enforcement or arrests, but only deal with traffic violations.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has condemned the deadly act and says that the transit officers involved in Salazar Arriaza's murder will be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law.

34-year-old Biker Enthusiast Richard L. Alva Jr. Fatally Shot At S. 23 And W. Scott In Milwaukee's Southside

Alva Jr. became a victim of a fatal shooting on Monday morning, just two days short of his 35th birthday, according to Milwaukee police.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 29, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Milwaukee police responded to a shooting scene just after 5:05a.m. near the 2300 block of W. Scott Street and found a 34-year-old man critically shot. The victim, a motorcycle enthusiast was identified as Richard Louis Alva Jr. who died at the scene. 

Alva Jr. would have turned 35 on March 31st. 

The Milwaukee Medical Examiner's Office was called to the homicide scene. Alva Jr.'s shooting death is being investigated as a homicide by police and the ongoing investigation continues to determine the circumstances leading to his murder.

Police are seeking a 22-year-old murder suspect in the case.

Update: On Monday evening, a vigil was held for Richard L. Alva Jr. between S. 23 and S. 24 Streets in an alley behind the 1100 block of S. 23rd in Milwaukee. Richard Alva, the father of Alva Jr. told those that were attending the vigil that a 22-year-old male suspect being sought by police allegedly used a handgun with a laser to shoot his son. 

According to Alva, police were able to recover video surveillance footage from multiple places in the alley that captured the deadly shooting. Friends and family members gathered to remember the life of Alva Jr. who is survived by three sons and three daughters and another unborn daughter on the way. 

A fundraiser for Alva Jr. will be held on Wednesday at the Points View Boite, 1619 S. 1st Street in Milwaukee starting around 8:00p.m., Alva announced at the vigil.

Milwaukee Police Department Has Failed To Release Open Records Request For Traffic Enforcement Activity During The Mexican Independence Impromptu Parading On September 2020

Six months have gone by since an open records request was submitted to the Milwaukee Police Department and no records or info has been released.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 28, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - So far, six months has passed, since the first open records request was submitted to former Police Chief Michael J. Brunson Jr. and Captain David Salazar, the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) including its Open Records Section and no records have been released, according to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) who filed an open records request concerning the MPD traffic enforcement during the Mexican Independence impromptu parading in the Milwaukee Aldermanic 12th District, which the Milwaukee Police District 2 Station is located and Captain Salazar is the commander.

The following request was filed (submitted on September 17, 2020) by HNNUSA: Requesting stats of any Milwaukee Police arrests, vehicles towed and violation citations issued during the Impromptu vehicle parading on September 13 and 16, 2020.

HNNUSA continues to wait for the MPD records request very patiently.

Party For Socialism And Liberation Rally Against Asian Hate Deemed As A Protest By Milwaukee County Park Rangers

Several Milwaukee County Park Rangers apparently mistook a peaceful outdoor rally against Asian hate by the Party for Socialism and Liberation as a protest prohibited at any Milwaukee County Park.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 27, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Saturday, the Party For Socialism And Liberation (PSL) held a peaceful rally against Asian hate, but were confronted by an unidentified female Milwaukee County Park Ranger for placing multiple rally signs on Milwaukee County Park property, just a few feet from the Northeast corner sidewalk. The female and a male ranger apparently mistook the peaceful PSL rally as a protest and claimed that it was prohibited at all County Parks.

When the Park Rangers were approached by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) to clarify what had happened near the sidewalk where a group of PSL rally attendees had gathered and the female park ranger telling them to go across the street was unfortunate and drew questions about the legality of the outdoor rally.

When HNNUSA asked the Milwaukee County Park Rangers to explain what they were claiming, they both said that protests were prohibited at County Parks on videos recorded by HNNUSA. The female park ranger says that she was just advising them to move across the street, for them to have more room to rally.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), it is legal to protest or hold a rally on a public sidewalk and don't need a permit to do so as allowed by the First Amendment, as long as those protesting or holding a rally don't block access to pedestrians walking through and access to buildings are not block.

The PSL rally attendees held their peaceful event at the corners of S. Layton Blvd. and W. Pierce Street in the Southside of Milwaukee and across from Mitchell Park with no incidents reported other than what happened with the Milwaukee County Park Rangers.

The PSL Facebook page posted the following info about Saturday's event by Mitchell Park, "Milwaukee joined over 60 other cities and towns today for a national day of action against anti-Asian violence, the hate crimes committed in Atlanta, and all forms of racism. We must recognize all manifestations of white chauvinism and xenophobia in this country and categorically reject them. We must not shy away from publicly condemning racism in all its forms, whether that be systematic, state sanctioned violence against Black People, or the racist fetishization of Asian Women by a white supremacist."

10 Killed Including Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley By 21-year-old Suspect Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa At King Soopers Supermarket In Colorado, Most Deceased Victims Were Unarmed

Video courtesy of DJ Bezo Reveal Stars

Boulder police confirmed that a 21-year-old male suspect had been taken into custody after killing 9 unarmed victims and a 51-year-old police officer responding to the mass shooting scene around 2:30p.m. on Monday at a local supermarket.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 23, 2021

Boulder, Colorado - On Monday, Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, 21, of Arvada, Colorado while armed with an alleged AR-15 style rifle entered the King Soopers Supermarket and fatally shot 9 unarmed victims and Boulder Police Officer Eric Talley, 51, who was responding with a patrol rifle to the mass shooting incident around 2:30p.m. Officer Talley was the first officer to arrive at the scene when he was shot by Alissa. Apparently, none of the 9 deceased victims at the store were armed.

Alissa was reported injured and was taken into custody after the mass murder.

Deceased Officer Talley was an 11-year veteran in the Boulder Police Department and had 7 children, according to the Boulder Police Department.

The deceased victims were identified as Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Teri Leiker, 51; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; Rikki Olds, 25; Neven Stanisic, 23; Denny Strong, 20; Boulder Police Department Officer Eric Talley, 51 and Jody Water, 65.

Alissa is being charged with ten felony counts for 1st-degree murder, if convicted on all counts, he is facing life in prison.

The latest mass murder in Boulder is the 7th mass murder shooting incident in the U.S. where the suspects target gun free zones or businesses that barred law abiding citizens to carry conceal weapons in order to defend themselves from crazed domestic terrorists who prey on unarmed and unsuspecting victims for whatever motive.

Crazed domestic terrorists, especially most who are White have been committing mass murder, which has become the latest White domestic terrorist pandemic to strike the U.S. and gun free zones including the gun restrictions aimed at law abiding citizens that restricts them from carrying conceal carry or open carry at local businesses makes it easier for domestic terrorists to target unarmed victims.

Also, more gun control measures are pushed after each mass shooting, which only targets law abiding citizens by further regulating their ability to carry and own weapons for self defense. 

There are mass gun control measures in place in many states, but most are not enforce and in many cases, especially felons arrested for having a weapon in possession don't get a mandatory full sentence in prison, whether a State charge or federal conviction.

Biden on Tuesday, called for the U.S. Congress to pass an assault weapon ban and other gun control measures.

Dr. Anselmo Villarreal Becomes The President & CEO Of Southwest Key Organization Based In Austin, Which Provides Shelters For Immigrant Children Separated From Undocumented Parents Detained By ICE

Villarreal was the former President & CEO of La Casa de Esperanza in Waukesha, Wisconsin for more than 30 years, according to its website.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 22, 2021

Austin, Texas - Dr. Anselmo Villarreal left his position as President & CEO of La Casa de Esperanza after more than 30 years of service at the non-profit organization in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Villarreal became the new President & CEO of Southwest Key Organization another non-profit based in Austin, Texas in February 2021.

The Southwest Key org. is best known in Texas including in Wisconsin for an ongoing program that provides immigrant (for undocumented children separated from families when detained at the border by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) shelters for unaccompanied children entering the U.S. illegally under a $458M multimillion annual contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Refugee Resettlement to hold undocumented children since 2018 and has made nearly $2B in the last 12 years under government contracts and the former Trump administration. 

The Biden administration has not confirmed, if Southwest Key org. will continue the government contracts under the current administration for Southwest Key org. to provide immigrant shelters to separated children from undocumented parents illegally entering the U.S. or to unaccompanied undocumented children detained at the border by ICE.

In 2018, Villarreal faced a call to resign from the Southwest Key Board, which he was serving for more than 12 years with a petition on social media by The Young People's Resistance Committee. Villarreal when contacted at the time by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) stated that he wouldn't resign from the Southwest Key (SWK) Board and Villarreal released the following statement in 2018, "SWK doesn't support the separation of families at the border, SWK and other communities providers in this service area are the alternative to the cages you have seen in the media."

"The kids that we serve and their well-being are our main priority. Our goal is to reunite children with a parent or sponsor, but until then we provide food, clothing, licensed medical care, counseling, education and most importantly a safe and loving environment.

"We don't make policy and we don't run detention centers "WE CARE FOR CHILDREN."

"For 30 years we have been committed to our values and mission, regardless of policy so kids in need are taking care of and reunited with their families. I am honor to serve in the Board of SWK, so I AM NOT RESIGNING."

The prior CEO salary at Southwest Key Org. according to Wikipedia, "In 2016, Southwest Key Programs' CEO Juan Sanchez was paid a base salary of $770,860 and received additional compensation for a retirement policy, under the direction of the Board of Directors, who work with outside auditors to evaluate all executive pay."

In addition, Sanchez made at least $3.6M in total compensation in 2017, according to federal tax filings, the Washington Post reported in 2019, the year that Sanchez left Southwest Key Organization.

On March 1, 2021, Shari Campbell became the Interim President & CEO of La Casa de Esperanza after serving more than 21 years in multiple roles at the non-profit organization in Waukesha.

Robert Aaron Long Taken Into Custody In Connection With Multiple Homicides At Asian Massage Parlor Spas In Georgia

Long was arrested in Georgia by State police and has been booked at the Crisp County Jail for allegedly committing multiple homicides of Asian massage parlor (spa) female workers at different spas.

H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 17, 2021

Atlanta, Georgia - On Tuesday around 8:30p.m. EDT, Robert Aaron Long, 21, of Woodstock, Georgia was taken into custody along I-75 by Georgia State Patrol and Crisp County Sheriff deputies. Long was seen in video surveillance camera footage at areas near the shootings at three locations, which resulted in eight confirmed homicides identified only as six Asian victims, which some were female massage parlor workers and two additional White victims that were also killed by gunfire.

Long confessed to police that the killings weren't racially motivated, but sexually motivated. Capt. Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office told reporters during the joint press conference that Long, the alleged shooter told investigators he has “sexual addiction” issues and targeted the spas to “take out that temptation.” 

According to Baker on Wednesday, "Yesterday was a really bad day for him and this is what he did". The suspect when arrested on Tuesday was headed to Florida to attack other massage parlors. Police recovered a 9mm firearm from Long's vehicle. 

According to police, Long killed four victims and wounded another at Young's Asian Massage, 6468 Hwy 92 #210, in Acworth, Georgia and than drove to the Atlanta area and killed three women at the Gold Spa, 1916 Piedmont Rd NE. in Atlanta and another women at the Aromatherapy Spa, 1907 Piedmont Rd NE B in Atlanta. 

The victims were identified as Daoyu Feng, 44; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Soon Chung Park, 74; Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Yong Ae Yu, 63, and Xiaojie Tan, 49, the owner of Young's Spa.

Long is awaiting multiple homicide charges connected to the quadruple murders.

Christian Castro-Veloz Charged With Multiple Felony Counts Connected To S. 16th Street Viaduct Fatal Crash in Milwaukee

Castro-Veloz at the time of the fatal crash had been speeding up to 73 miles per hour (MPH) on a 30mph speed limit and was driving while his driver's license had been suspended in 2020, according to police.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 15, 2021

Milwaukee, WI - Christian Castro-Veloz, 18, was charged on March 10th with three felony counts connected to a fatal crash at the S. 16th Street viaduct in Milwaukee that claimed the life of a 42-year-old victim from Waukegan, Illinois. A 36-year-old second victim from Waukegan was severely injured and five other people (passengers) in the same vehicle were reported with non-life-threatening injuries. Castro-Veloz was hospitalized for his injuries and taken into custody, according to the criminal complaint.

At the time of the incident, Castro-Veloz admitted to police that he ran a stop and struck the vehicle (speeding indicator in vehicle indicated he was speeding up to 73mph in a 30mph local speed limit and struck the vehicle after braking at 63mph) with 7 victims making a u-turn in the viaduct.

Castro-Veloz was charged with one felony for 2nd-degree reckless homicide, one felony count for knownly operating while suspended causing death and one felony count for knownly operating while suspended causing great bodily harm. If convicted, Castro-Veloz is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $100,000 in fines for the first felony count; is facing up to 6 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines on the second felony count and up to 3 years and 6 months in prison and up to $10,000 in fines for the third felony count.

A $5,000 cash bail has been set for Castro-Veloz, according to court records.

Alicia A. Ojeda, Pleads Guilty To Two Felony Counts Of Reckless Homicide For The October 2020 Fatal Crash Deaths Of Teresa And Luis Contreras In Milwaukee

Ojeda in a guilty plea agreement got two felony counts for knownly operating a vehicle under suspension causing death dropped, but the dismissed felony counts were read for the record in court.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 11, 2021

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, Alicia A. Ojeda, 34, entered a guilty plead to two felony counts for 2nd-degree reckless homicide, she is facing up to 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines for each count.

Ojeda is scheduled for a sentencing hearing in court on April 27th.

Ojeda in October killed a Milwaukee couple during a fatal crash in the Southside of Milwaukee at the 5200 block of S. 27th Street, the victims were Teresa Contreras, 50, and Luis Contreras, 48, according to the criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint says that Ojeda was driving at a high rate of speed (more than 75mph on a 40mph speed zone) and fatally struck the Contreras' vehicle and both Luis who was the driver of the second vehicle and his wife Teresa died at the scene. The Contreras couple was headed home at the time of the fatal crash.

Ojeda was also charged with two felony counts for knownly operating a vehicle under suspension causing death, she was facing up to 6 years in prison and $10,000 in fines for each count, if convicted, but the two felony counts were dismissed on Tuesday by recommendation from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.

Teresa worked for CORE el Centro in the Southside of Milwaukee for 16 years; she started in the role of coordinator of the Children's Program, became a Zumba instructor, and most recently before her death was the Manager of the Mujeres Con Poder Program, according to CORE El Centro, a non-profit organization.

Wisconsin Fugitive Theodore Edgecomb Wanted For The Homicide Of Local Immigration Attorney Jason T. Cleereman Arrested In Kentucky By State Police For OWI And Speeding

Edgecomb, a fugitive from Wisconsin has been arrested in Kentucky by State Police on a misdemeanor charge for OWI and is being held without bail on a felony murder warrant from Wisconsin in connection with the September homicide of local immigration attorney Cleereman.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 7, 2021

Radcloiff, Kentucky - State Police in Kentucky arrested Theodore Edgecomb, 31, on March 4, 2021 for a misdemeanor charge of OWI (.08), speeding over 12 miles the speed limit, giving officer false identifying information, possession of marijuana, open bottle of alcoholic beverage in vehicle and for a felony fugitive warrant from Wisconsin in connection with the September 22, 2020 murder of local immigration attorney Jason T. Cleereman, 54, in Milwaukee.

Edgecomb is facing a court hearing in Hardin County in Kentucky to determine, if he will be extradited to Wisconsin to face a felony count for a homicide charge or he will waive an extradite challenge.

On October 2, 2020, Edgecomb, was charged in Wisconsin with one felony count for 1st-degree reckless homicide,  including use of a dangerous weapon, one felony count for bail jumping and one misdemeanor count for bail jumping in connection with the September 2020 homicide of Cleereman, an immigration and divorce attorney who was fatally shot by Edgecomb in an apparent road rage incident at E. Brady St. and N. Holton St., according to Milwaukee police.

If convicted on all counts in Wisconsin, Edgecomb is facing up to 60 years in prison on the first homicide felony count, up to 6 years in prison and $10,000 in fines on the second felony count and up to 9 months and $10,000 in fines for the third misdemeanor count.

Cleereman was the passenger of a vehicle whose wife was the driver and she witnessed the shooting.

Cleereman practiced law for 22 years and was the former Chairman of the Southside Organizing Center (SOC) and an active Board member, according to SOC.

According to the criminal complaint, Edgecomb is being sought by Milwaukee police and a felony warrant was issued for his arrest in October.

Cleereman's wife told police that Edgecomb was riding his bicycle Westbound on the Eastbound side of the street as she was headed East and almost struck him. Cleereman reacted and made a comment.

While stopped at the corner, Edgecomb caught up with the victims and he got close and asked Cleereman, if he had said something about him and then struck Cleereman through the open vehicle window. Cleereman got out of the vehicle and confronted Edgecomb as he took out a gun and fired at Cleereman fatally striking him in the head. Cleereman's wife attempted to warn her husband that Edgecomb had a gun, but Cleereman didn't hear his wife's warning and got killed.

Edgecomb remained on the run at the time, but his bicycle was found at his home. Milwaukee police followed a trail of security cameras in the area, which footage showed where Edgecomb was headed too after the shooting.