Milwaukee Grass Roots Organizing By Frank Nitty, Khalil Coleman And Vaun Mayes Have Ignited Local Protests For Social Justice And Reform

Mayes says that Milwaukee local protests with continue until public elected officials are able to act on their demands for social justice and change.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 8, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Sunday, Vaun Mayes, a local African-American activist posted a Facebook video confirming that he was the first to call for action in Milwaukee to protest the murder of George Floyd by former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin and three other cops involved and that Khalil Coleman then led the organizing of protests with Frank Nitty (birth name, Frank Sensabaugh), two local African-American activists that have had a history of fighting for social justice and equality for the African-American community, and who have stood against police brutality and the murders of unarmed Black civilians by police. Mayes also mentioned Tory Lowe another local African-American activist involved as well in the protests.

Mayes says that other individuals including unions have organized protests, but the organized peaceful protests and marches organized and led by Coleman and Nitty continue to focus on police brutality and calling for justice, reform and accountability of police officers involved in the murder of unarmed civilians of color.

The three main groups that are involved in the organizing of local protests are the New Milwaukee Group, ComForce MKE and the People's Movement, according to Mayes.

Mayes says that the protests and marches will continue until local, county and state public elected officials, including Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett adopt the following demands for reform posted at the following link https://bit.ly/2AQdE53 proposed by ComForce MKE (Community Task Force MKE).

ComForce MKE on Monday released an updated list of demands.

The members of ComForce MKE are committed to the advancement of equity, dignity and human rights for all. Since our formation we have always supported building community and engaging in programs in parks and public spaces that prevent violence and crime. We are a grassroots coalition of

community/resident/youth leaders, activists, faith based orgs, electeds, and others

striving toward peace, unity, and progress in Milwaukee.

All of our members are committed to the elimination of police brutality and racial

discrimination. At our roots we have always been ready, willing and able to rise up in the face of injustice. 

We are grieving the loss of George Floyd, but we are also grieving the many Black and

Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) killed across the nation and right here in Milwaukee at the hands of police.

Some of the demands are as follows:

African-American Roundtable MKE (AART) & Black Leaders Organizing

Communities (BLOC)

• Community investment:

A $75 million divestment from the Milwaukee Police

Department and reinvestment into building healthy communities that can thrive.

In accordance, $50 million must be allocated to fund public health and $25 million to housing cooperatives.

• The rights of protestors are respected and no harm comes to them:

Governor Tony Evers must withdraw the National Guard from Milwaukee. Mayor Tom Barrett must end the 9 p.m. city-wide curfew. The Milwaukee Police Department must stop shooting rubber bullets and using teargas on protestors. City and County officials must release all arrested protestors, and revoke curfew fines and tickets.

• Justice for Joel Acevedo:

Officer Mattioli must be terminated from the Milwaukee Police Department immediately and criminally charged for the murder of Mr. Acevedo. In addition, the three named accomplices must also be held accountable by law and also brought to justice.

• FPC be the voice of the community:

The Fire and Police Commission must remain the lead investigator on the internal investigation involving police officer Michael Mattioli. The Fire and Police Commission is an extension of the community; its role is to represent the interests of Milwaukee residents. Community voices must be given precedence in the six month review process of Police Chief Alfonso Morales.

• Accountability to the community:

Common Council President Cavalier Johnson must immediately appoint community members to the Community Collaborative Committee.

• Instead of an Executive Order to Activate the National Guard, the Governor & County Executive Should Provide Safeguards to Black communities during COVID-19 pandemic.

• Housing:

Implement a moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, rent, mortgages, and utility disconnections for Milwaukee County residents through the end of 2020.

• Healthcare:

Declaration of racism in the state of Wisconsin as a public health crisis. Public health services must be expanded to ensure Milwaukee County residents have access to affordable healthcare.

Office of Violence Prevention (OVP)

• Continue regular trainings in areas of crisis intervention, fair/impartial policing, and procedural justice

• Share data with grassroot and community-based orgs that service the community

for sustainable violence prevention efforts.

• Become more acclimated and supportive of language within Blueprint for Peace

• Conduct regular reviews od incidents of violence in coordination with public health, hospital, and community partners

• Conduct regular community town hall meetings which support community input

on public safety in neighborhood

Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT)

Instead of an Executive Order to call in the National Guard, we urge Governor Evers,

County Executive Crowley, and Mayor Barrett to all issue emergency orders to support Black lives and dismantle racist practices in all our institutions they have authority over:

1. Declare racism a statewide emergency with the same force and resources of the National Guard

2. Remove all police and policing resources from our neighborhoods and schools immediately

a. Shift 25% from Milwaukee city police, county sheriff, and state police budgets to public health equity efforts focused on Black and Brown residents.

b. Cut all policing resources from Milwaukee Public Schools and shift the $16 million budget to hire more counselors and mental health professionals for Black and Brown students

3. Demilitarize our streets and stop accepting Federal surplus of military weapons

4. Allocate emergency and permanent resources to invest in Black and Brown lives like counseling, strengthening our schools, replacing our lead pipes, and rebuilding our Black and Brown businesses.

5. Audit all government institutions to identify racist practices and deliver a comprehensive plan to address the problem.

Our Demands:

We need our legislators to back the people across this nation in drafting and co-sponsoring the following laws, policies and procedures.

A Red Flag System

The officer who killed George Floyd had 20 former complaints. This is typical of officers who end up escalating behavior that gets hidden off in personnel files. If officers get too many of or certain complaints that officer needs to come under review and up for firing/suspensions due to the complaint and findings Intervention/Deescalation Policing should be about de-escalation. Comprehensive mental health assessment and training must be provided by the police department. Any officer who escalates a situation unnecessarily, especially if it leads to excessive force, injury, or death, should face automatic firing and possible charges. Any officer should be able to override or intervene to de-escalate a situation if they see a fellow officer overreacting or being irate/violent unnecessarily. Any officer who does NOT intervene in any incident that results in injury, violence, or death should also be held accountable, face firing, and or possible charges.

Misconduct in Office

This is an enforceable law on the books currently, yet it is almost NEVER used. Why is that? It is an automatic felony that would help strengthen prosecution.

Good Samaritan Law

Citizens should be able to enact this clause of power if an officer is unnecessarily harming a citizen. Intervention should lead to de-escalation. This can also be amended into the citizens arrest law where citizens can invoke the right to intervene and detain/deter an arrest until another or superior officer arrives in the spirit of de-escalating the situation and applying less force.

Racism

Any officer found to use, participate in, or employ racist rhetoric, language, or perform

with a racist bias on duty should face immediate firing. This includes social media

comments, posts, etc, especially if that officer works in any area that is predominantly

preoccupied by another race of people they have clear bias or prejudice against.

Funding/Pensions

Districts/stations that have alarming numbers of complaints should be in jeopardy of losing funding from city, state, and federal funders. Currently, we have tens to hundreds of millions of lawsuit payouts occurring yearly. These should start affecting their budgets and funding, and possibly even their pensions. Officers need actual reprimand that will affect them as encouragement and incentive to act professionally and humanely.

• Executive Branch:

Provide citizens with protective rights to intervene with law enforcement when suspects are detained with excessive force.

Digitize a nationalized law enforcement complaint registry, complaints against law enforcement officers should be easy to view/track, citizens should be able to digitally file reports, upload images/footage etc. much like the BBB

• Judicial System:

Expunge arrest records of non-violent felons to allow them to re-enter the workforce and further stimulate our working economy

Until the justice system is able to guarantee that all members of the judicial system have not been recorded as racially biased or discriminatory, reduce all crimes committed by BIPOC to half than that of whites.

• Financial Institutions:

Provide credit score modifications (normalizations) to African-Americans

given the severe impact of poverty and historic poverty within our communities.

• Municipal Government:

Immediately erect a committee to eradicate the lead water issue completely and declare it a public health crisis within predominantly African-American communities.

• Education System:

Educate African-American students on past, current and potential future civil rights laws. Proficiency in said rights and laws are required prior to them being subject to any judiciary system.

Looters Are Not Peaceful Protesters, They're The Organized Criminal Element That Creates Havoc In Communities During The Unrest For Social Justice

Milwaukee police seems to be targeting peaceful protesters instead of the looters that create havoc during the recent unrest and protests for social justice seeking accountability for rogue cops that commit illegal acts while wearing a badge.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 7, 2020

Milwaukee, WI - On early Sunday, dozens of vehicles carrying looters struck the Cesar E. Chavez Drive business district. The looters just after 2:00 a.m. targeted the U.S. Cellular store and other businesses in the 1200 block of S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive. 

Multiple witnesses say that a looter in Black clothing fired multiple shots at the front door of the U.S. Cellular store and numerous looters entered the store and stole items.

An individual who went to the cellular store just before 2:00 p.m. on Sunday while Alderman Jose G. Perez was near by found several 9mm spent cartridges in the sidewalk just outside and in front of the cellular store. According to the individual who didn't want to be identified, he confirmed that the cellular store experienced a "smash and grab" in which items and cellphones were taken by the looters.

Police officers who responded to the looting at U.S. Cellular store around 2:00 a.m apparently failed to investigate thoroughly and recover the 9mm spent cartridges that were found at least 12 hours after the shooting first occurred targeting the store.

A witness also stated, that the looter who shot at the front glass door of the store appeared to have an extended handgun magazine.

Vehicles were seen driving over the sidewalks on early Sunday on Chavez Drive, also looters were seen drinking beer, passing opened liquor bottles to each other, smoking marijuana and in one incident, a Black female seating in a hood of a dark SUV was thrown from the vehicle in the adjacent parking lot of the U.S. Cellular store, according to a witness. The Black female sustained injuries to her leg.

The looters creating havoc around Milwaukee are not peaceful protesters seeking social justice, they're definitely the organized criminal element taking advantage of the unrest and peaceful protests. The looters communicate and organize looting incidents by social media.

The looters do take advantage to commit their criminal acts knowing that police are targeting peaceful protesters instead of the criminal element during the unrest.

Milwaukee riot police have shot rubber bullets and tear gas at peaceful protesters during multiple incidents caught by the mainstream news media, but have failed to prevent looters from engaging in further looting.

The Milwaukee Police Department hasn't released any stats about how many looters have been arrested and charged for looting, since the unrest began.

Police should target the looters instead of wasting valuable resources, while shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at peaceful protesters.

Milwaukee police released the following propaganda video attempting to justify targeting peaceful protesters and shooting at them with rubber bullets and tear gas. 

Wisconsin 8th Assembly District Candidate Enrique Murguia (D) Collected 63 Elector Nomination Signatures From The 9th District, Filed Complaint Alleged

The manager for the JoAnna For Wisconsin campaign alleged that Democratic candidate Enrique Murguia actually obtained at least 63 elector nomination signatures to be placed on the ballot from the Wisconsin State Assembly District 9 and not from the 8th Assembly District, which he is running to fill the seat recently vacated by JoCasta Zamarripa (D) who decided not to run for reelection. Candidates need 200 valid elector nomination signatures to get on the August Partisan Primary Election ballot.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 5, 2020

Madison, Wisconsin - On Thursday, Jackson Weber, the campaign manager for the JoAnna for Wisconsin (Democratic candidate JoAnna Bautch) in the Wisconsin State Assembly 8th District filed a election complaint with the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) claiming that Enrique Murguia, Democratic candidate in the Wisconsin State Assembly 8th District collected at least 63 elector nomination signatures from the 9th Assembly District and not from the 8th Assembly District, thus making those signatures ineligible to place him on the ballot for the August 11, 2020 Partisan Primary Election. Weber also claimed that 13 other electors either failed to sign their complete names and to enter date when signed and in one case, an elector signed Murguia's nomination paper after Murguia, the circulator signed the nomination paper as the circulator.

Murguia turned in at least 253 nomination signatures to get on the ballot for the Partisan Primary Election in August. If Weber prevails in his complaint against Murguia and the WEC agrees with Weber, Murguia will not be on the ballot in August.

Candidate Bautch is State Representative Zamarripa's sister.

So far, the WEC approved the following candidates to be on the Partisan Primary Election ballot in the State Assembly 8th District, Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D), JoAnna Bautch (D), Enrique Murguia (D), Angel J. Sanchez (R) and Ruben Velez (R). The highest vote getter in the Primary Election for each partisan political party will face off in the General Election in November. 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) has also noticed that Republican MAGA (Make America Great Again/Keep America Great) candidate Ruben Velez submitted 382 nomination signatures, which 2/3's of the totaled elector signatures were collected by known MAGA enthusiast Mario Herrera, who is the former Hispanic Outreach Director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin and who in August 2019 helped create a fake Latino MAGA Facebook page with Dawn Maldonado, aka, "Damaris Perez" to target non-MAGA Latino community members in Milwaukee with Nazi propaganda and fake allegations.

In the 9th Wisconsin State Assembly District, the following candidates were approved to be in the August Partisan Election, Incumbent Marisabel Cabrera (D) and Christian Saldivar (D). Veronica Diaz, the only Republican on the ballot in the 9th Assembly District will face off the democrat that prevails in the Primary Election, in the November General Election.

Four Former Minneapolis Cops Charged In Connection With The Murder Of George Floyd

All four former Minneapolis cops have been charged with the murder of a Black man during an arrest.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 4, 2020

Minneapolis, MN - On Wednesday, state prosecutors charged former Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao, 34, J. Alexander Kueng, 26, and Thomas Lane, 37, each with aiding and abetting second-degree murder while committing a felony, and with aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence in connection with the murder of George Floyd, 46, an African-American on May 25th, Memorial Day. Both charges are categorized as "unintentional" felonies under Minnesota state law. The three ex-cops were booked at the Hennepin County jail on Wednesday and bail was set at $1M. If convicted, Thao, Kueng and Lane are facing up to 10 years in prison.

Also, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, 44, who was arrested four days after Floyd's homicide had his charged amended to second-degree murder, in addition to the original charges of third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence, according to the criminal complaint. Chauvin was video recorded by a witness holding his knee on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes contributing to Floyd's death. If convicted, Chauvin is facing up to more than 60 years in prison for both murder charges. Chauvin's bail was set at $1M.

Chauvin was moved to a maximum security prison after being booked for murder. 

Floyd was accused of trying to purchase cigarettes with a $20 counterfeit bill.

The Floyd homicide sparked protests for justice in Minneapolis and throughout the U.S., since Memorial Day. Thao is Hmong and Kueng, Lane and Chauvin are White.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Floyd's death a homicide caused by "a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained" by officers who had subjected Floyd to "subdual" and "neck compression". It noted other "significant conditions": arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, fentanyl intoxication, and recent methamphetamine use. Also an independent autopsy ruled Floyd's death a homicide by asphyxia due to compression of the neck", which affects the "blood flow and oxygen going into the brain".

Law Enforcement Officers Don't Wear Large Identifying Numbers Other Than A Police Tag In Riot Gear To Be Identified By Citizens When Engaging In Illegal Acts During Protests

Milwaukee police, the Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies including other law enforcement officers in Wisconsin participating in crowd control and protests don't wear large numbers and letters in their riot gear other than a police tag, so citizens can't be able to identify rogue cops that engage in illegal acts and abuse of authority during protests.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

June 2, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - During recent protests in Wisconsin including in the City of Milwaukee, the public have noticed that Milwaukee police officers, the Milwaukee County Sheriff deputies including other law enforcement officers participating in protests and crowd control don't wear any type of large numbers and letters other than a police tag in their riot gear, so they can't be identified by citizens when individual rogue officers commit or engage in illegal acts and abuse of authority during protests.

All police officers and law enforcement should wear large identifying numbers and particular letters in their riot gear, so citizens can be able to identify an individual officer who engages in an illegal act. Officers are not above the law, but are public servants paid by taxpayers and citizens should be able to identify any rogue officers that are abusing his or her authority. 

Many police officers and sheriff deputies including other law enforcement officers do have integrity, are very professional as well when dealing with the public and do follow the law and should be acknowledged for it, but there are always a few racist rogue cops that abuse their authority and do commit illegal acts, which then reflects on all of the officers during protests and other incidents.

Today, the Milwaukee Police Department nor the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department have a mandatory Standard Operating Procedure requiring all officers and deputies participating in protests and crowd control to wear clear identifying numbers and letters for cirisens to identify and make it easier to locate a rogue officer or a sheriff deputy accused of an illegal act during a protest and crowd control.

Citizens should demand for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission and the Milwaukee County Board including Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas to support a policy change that would allow the placement of large individual identifying numbers and letters on riot gear other than just a police tag that each officer wears during protests as one of the many steps to acquire accountability from law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin.

In many cases, cops that commit illegal acts are not held accountable or terminated by a law enforcement agency, but are placed back on duty. 

That's one of the reasons that the protests around the country have ignited due to a lack of accountability. 

In the case of the cold blood murder of George Floyd, 46, an African-American by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, 44, including Officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng that ignited recent protests for justice in Minneapolis and around the U.S. Chauvin was taken into custody four days after the Floyd murder and charged with two felony counts for third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin, Lane, Thao and Kueng were fired. Lane, Thao and Kueng have yet to be charged with Floyd's murder.

Here's an example where police officers have engaged in illegal acts and abuse of authority with no accountability.

In Milwaukee: On Sunday, Milwaukee County Supervisor Ryan Clancy was taken into custody by Milwaukee police while at a protest past curfew, but public elected officials were exempt from being arrested for violating the 9:00 p.m. City curfew. Clancy identified himself as a Milwaukee County Supervisor to police officers to no avail and was arrested.

Clancy might have been also exposed to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to detention close proximity with others that were detained. Supervisor Clancy will most likely be in self-quarantine for the next two weeks.

Supervisor Clancy released the following statement, "On Sunday, I was arrested near an event with a similar message, similarly peaceful behavior, but with a disproportionately violent response from law enforcement. During that arrest, which disproportionally targeted Black residents, the Milwaukee Police Department detained us in poorly-ventilated vans, buses and holding areas. They refused multiple requests from individuals both to be able to distance from each other and to be provided with personal protective equipment. Nearly zero of the arresting or processing officers even wore masks."

Clancy has filed an official complaint with the Milwaukee Fire & Police Commission against Milwaukee police who arrested him on Sunday.

Other incidents reported by the mainstream media: Examples of illegal acts that were exposed in multiple states, it's time to hold rogue cops accountable and to terminate them as well. https://nbcnews.to/3gHeIZi

Intoxicated Racist White MAGA Female In Wisconsin Dells Doesn't Like Puerto Rican Spanish Music And Verbally Attacks PR Group Having A Cookout In Newport Park

An intoxicated racist White MAGA female was video recorded by a group of Puerto Ricans in Wisconsin Dells verbally attacking them because she didn't like Puerto Rican music and the Spanish language being spoken by the group in a cookout after spending more than 70 days at home during the Coronavirus pandemic "Safer at Home" extended order by Governor Tony Evers (D).

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 31, 2020

Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin - A Facebook (FB) video recorded and posted on May 20 by Ramon Luis Cancel, 35, a Puerto Rico native from Caguas living in Baraboo in his FB account shows an intoxicated racist White MAGA (Make America Great Again/Keep America Great) female who verbally attacked a group of Puerto Ricans including Cancel who were having a cookout at the Newport Park in Delton Lake located in Wisconsin Dells. Cancel and the group don't actually know the woman's identity, but gave her the alias "aka" name of Karen who can be seen telling the group that she doesn't like their Spanish language music or them talking Spanish and erroneously identified them as Mexicans and they should play American music. Apparently, she doesn't realize that Puerto Ricans are actually U.S. Citizens and have a right to play any type of music including PR music, if they like.

The woman also mentions Trump in the video, which definitely indicated where she got her hate and racist rhetoric from, since Trump has been very opened in attacking Puerto Rico with his hate and racist rhetoric.

Also, the hateful MAGA woman seems to be very intoxicated and used explicit (foul) language aimed at the Puerto Rican group. According to Cancel, at least 60 to 70% of the people having an outing in the immediate park section were Latinos.

MAGAs are known to be very ignorant and alt-right White nationalists who feed on Trump's racist and hateful rhetoric including his pathological lying. Trump since being elected as the Republican President by the Electoral College has publicly stated more than 18,000 confirmed lies and mistruths.

2,383 Latinos/as Have Tested COVID-19 Positive In Milwaukee County Compared To Statewide Latino Total Of 5,649 Cases Reported And 49 Hispanic Deaths Due To Complications With The Virus Pandemic In Wisconsin

The conservative GOP controlled Wisconsin State Supreme Court justices ignited a spike in COVID-19 cases in the state after shutting down Governor Evers (D) "Safer at Home" order and created chaos around Wisconsin leaving most of the 72 counties without any COVID-19 restrictions to stop the spread of the virus pandemic.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

May 29, 2020

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WIDHS) reported at least 16,974 had tested Positive (+ 512), with 2,452 Hospitalized (+ 41), 550 Deaths (+ 11) and 220,719 had tested Negative (+ 10,114) from the previous day in the state, while Milwaukee County reported at least 7,182 Positive cases, 268 Deaths and at least 2,383 Latinos/as have tested Positive in Milwaukee County compared to a total of Hispanics statewide of 5,649, 33% of COVID-19 cases reported and 49 deaths among Latinos, 9% of reported deaths, with a majority residing in the Southside of Milwaukee. At least 599 Positive cases in a single day were reported on Thursday, making it the highest statewide COVID-19 cases in a seven day average, according to the WIDHS.

The increase in positive COVID-19 cases is due to the increase of testing sites in the state including Milwaukee County. Also the increase of virus pandemic cases was ignited by the Republican controlled State legislature, which filed a lawsuit with the Wisconsin State Supreme Court challenging Governor Tony Evers (D) extended "Safer at Home" order. The conservative WI State Supreme Court justices in a ruling 4-3 decided to shutdown Governor Evers extended order that would have lasted until May 26th leaving a majority of the 72 counties in chaos without any COVID-19 restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.

Allowing businesses and bars to open and patrons not being required to use facemasks and to also practice social distancing around the state including in Lake Geneva and other parts of Wisconsin.

Hospitals have been forced to make adjustments, since the State Supreme Court ruling to accommodate the expected Coronavirus (COVID-19) surge. Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that on May 19, 2020, Jill M. Berg, RN, PhD, FAHA, FATA, FAAN Vice President of Patient Care sent a memo "Expanding COVID Inpatient Capacity" to all Ascension St. Francis Hospital Associates and Medical Staff saying that the "...the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have a significant impact on the country, Wisconsin residents, and Ascension St. Francis Hospital. This week we are experiencing our highest number of confirmed and suspected (PUI-Patient Under Investigation) hospitalized patients. With this continued trend, we are now moving to the next phase of our surge plan." 

"Effective immediately, the existing Cardiac Intervention Center (CIC), will serve as our ICU for our non-COVID and non-PUI critical care patients. The existing ICU will be dedicated to care for COVID and PUI patients requiring critical and intermediate level of care. This arrangement will make the unit "acuity adaptable" so we do not have to transfer patients as frequently when their care needs change. Also, happening today, we are opening 3S as a second dedicated COVID unit to accommodate our expanding needs...The continued surge we are experiencing will require us to be creative as we adapt to these changing demands and rise to the challenge..."

With the continued COVID-19 surge in Wisconsin and no actual vaccine in sight and treatment, multiple outdoor major venues like the three-day Mexican Fiesta at the Summerfest grounds in late August sponsored by the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Inc. has been canceled including other ethnic festivals as well. Also the Wisconsin State Fair has been canceled for the first time in 75 years due to the virus pandemic.

The Latino community lost a well known doctor last weekend to COVID-19 complications. Dr. Leonardo J. Aponte, 86,  who served the Southside Latino community for nearly 45 years and provided affordable health and medical care to the residents passed away on Saturday due to complications with the novel COVID-19, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office.

As businesses, bars, restaurants and other venues in Milwaukee County and around the state begin to reopen, a word of advice is worth mentioning today, stay away from possible COVID-19 crowed havens and venues that don't practice facemask protection to keep droplets from spreading to others or unsuspecting victims and venues that lack the practice of social distancing restrictions to avoid getting infected by possible COVID-19 carriers.

Currently in Wisconsin, there is no law making it a felony criminal act to intentionally spread and infect others with COVID-19 when tested positive, while not wearing a facemask, not practicing social distancing and required to self quarantine.

WIDHS COVID-19 data link: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm

Update: On Friday, May 29, 2020, Wisconsin set a new record with 733 positive coronavirus cases reported in one day, according to the WIDHS.