Several GoFundMe Accounts Briefly Open To Raise $1.5M Revenue To Bail Out Milwaukee Cop Killer Jonathan C. Copeland Jr.

Several GoFundMe accounts were opened to raise at least $1.5M each to bail out alleged cop killer Copeland Jr., but GoFundMe closed accounts.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 31, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, several GoFundMe accounts were opened by Orlando Norwood and Wood Good Facebook account names to raise $1.5M each to bail out alleged cop killer Jonathan C. Copeland Jr. But, GoFundMe managed to closed the accounts and posted no longer available. Copeland Jr. has a Wisconsin Department of Corrections hold placed on him for a parole violation and is not subject for release on bail.

Copeland Jr. allegedly ambushed Milwaukee Police Officer Michael J. Michalski, 52, on July 25th while attempting to serve a felony warrant for controlled substance (heroin), harassment intimidation offenses (domestic violence) and a parole violation charges at a Northside residence in the 2400 block of N. 28th St. The criminal complaint stated that Copeland Jr. was hidden behind some clothes in the stairs and when Officer Michalski was coming up the stairs, Copeland Jr. shot the officer twice striking him in the head and body. Another officer with Michalski was also wounded by Copeland Jr., but survived.

Copeland Jr., 30, was charged with three felony counts, 1st-degree intentional homicide/use of dangerous weapon (facing life in prison, if convicted); attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide/use of dangerous weapon (facing 60 years in prison, if convicted) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (facing 10 years in prison and up to $25K in fines, if convicted) and he appeared on Tuesday at a Milwaukee County Court bail hearing. Copeland Jr. is scheduled to appear for a preliminary court hearing on August 9th. 

1970's UWM Education Activist Delfina Guzman-Estevez And First Latina Principal At Milwaukee Public Schools District Passed Away

Guzman-Estevez became the first Latina Principal at View Elementary School for the Milwaukee Public Schools District in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 30, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, Delfina Guzman-Estevez, 73, passed away leaving a legacy of education activism, Latino civil rights advocacy and was instrumental with other  Latino community education activists in the 1970's by helping to create the Bilingual Program at Milwaukee Public Schools District. Guzman-Estevez was one of more than 500 education activists that took over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor's Office on August 27, 1970. The UWM 1970 Takeover led to the creation of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (S.S.O.I), which later became the Roberto Hernandez Center after the barriers of discrimination were eliminated at UWM that kept Latinos from enrolling in higher education.

Guzman-Estevez became the first Latina Principal at View Elementary School and was later transferred to Pierce Elementary School. She is also credited as being one of the co-founders of the Spanish Speaking Center (Centro Hispano).

Guzman-Estevez retired from MPS after 44 years of service. She was one of several women who was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award from El Conquistador Newspaper in 2016 and later received the Legacy Award from the Southside Organizing Center in Milwaukee.

Guzman-Estevez is survived by her son, Andres "Andy" Guzman and loving grandmother to Maya Sofia. She was the former wife of Andres Guzman who was also an education activist and participated at the UWM 1970 Takeover as well.

Funeral services for Delfina Guzman-Estevez:

• Wednesday visitation from 4p.m. to 8p.m. at the Bruskiewitz Funeral Home, 5355 W. Forest Home Ave. in Milwaukee, WI.

• Thursday visitation from 9a.m. to 11a.m. at the funeral home, with a funeral service at 11a.m., then interment will follow at the St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee.

Stay of Deportation Filed For Undocumented Immigrant Ricardo Fierro, Currently LULAC-WI Council 347 President

Fierro, a long time Racine community resident was taken into custody by ICE last week.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 30, 2018

Racine, WI - On Monday, a Stay of Deportation was filed with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Enforcement and Removal Operations Office in Chicago (ICE/ERO) seeking bond and temporary release for Ricardo Fierro, 39, who was taken into custody by ICE agents on July 24th at his residence. Fierro is being held at the Dodge County jail while being process for deportation.
The ICE/ERO is expected to decide whether to release Fierro pending a decision for deportation or allow him to seek legal status as an extraordinary case in several weeks, according to his attorney.

Fierro lived with his fiancé before his arrest and has five U.S. born children of his own ages, 17, 14, 9, 5 and a 4-month-old and his fiancé has two children ages 16 and 17.

According to a press release on Monday from the Racine Interfaith Coalition (RIC), Fierro was elected president of local LULAC Council #347 of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and enthusiastically participated in a host of multiple volunteer activities.  

Jaime Alvarado, President of LULAC-WI Council #346 when contacted on Monday by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA), he released the following statement, "He has no criminal record and already has dozens of support and letters of character from elected officials and community leaders. I recruited him to become member of LULAC this winter and he later became the President of Council 347."

RIC says that, Fierro is best known in the Racine community as the former local director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In recent years, Fierro served on the City of Racine Mayoral Advisory Board, Immigration Task Force Chairman for the Racine Interfaith Coalition, the Racine Unified School District Middle School Transformation Committee and the RUSD Diversity and Equity Task Force. 

"There are few people more dedicated to the Racine community than Ricardo Fierro," said Linda Boyle, co-president of the Racine Interfaith Coalition, which represents 27 local churches in a press release. "As the father of seven children of U.S. citizenship, and a responsible son and brother, Ricardo's detention has presented an unimaginable hardship to his family and loved ones."

Family members working for Fierro's release have received more than fifty letters of support which include United States Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Racine Mayor Cory Mason, Former Racine Mayor John Dickert, Racine Unified School District Superintendent Eric Gallien, Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave, Wisconsin State Representatives Greta Neubauer, Peter Barca and JoCasta Zamarippa, WISDOM State Executive Director David Liners, along with religious leaders and clergy from across the state. 

Fierro arrived with family members in the U.S. in 1995 with a valid visa at the age of 16. He overstayed his visa and was later deported at the age of 19 when he returned to Mexico as a humanitarian act to get needed medicine for his older seizure ailing brother, but was taken into ICE custody when he re-entered the U.S. illegally. Fierro was cited in December 2015 for driving without a valid license for a second offense (a misdemeanor charge, found guilty by plead of no contest) and in February 2018, Fierro was cited for driving without carrying a valid driver's license (penalty: money forfeiture), according to Racine County Court records.

A prayer vigil and rally for Fierro will be held on Wednesday, August 1, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at Monument Square in Racine, WI, according to Boyle.

Hmong-Canadian Rock Band Sudden Rush's "Mi Noog" Hit Single To Debute As Music Video On 10th Anniversary

Hit single "Mi Noog" music video production under way in the U.S.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 30, 2018

St. Paul, Minnesota - Sudden Rush (SR) from British Columbia  announced a partnership with Creative Results from Minnesota for the sponsorship of upcoming music videos to be produced and filmed in both Canada and Minnesota, U.S.A. 

SR is expected to release their latest recording in 2018-2019 just in time for their 10th Anniversary of their first recorded hit "Mi Noog" as a group. The SR/Creative Results production by Super-Seng Stage III today will include a Professional Music Video for the song "Mi Noog", an Official Karaoke Version and the release of their latest brand new hit single "Daim Nplooj Ntoos".

SR band members are Pat Her, Lead Vocals; Chee Nou Her, Guitar/Vocals; Roger Her, Drums and Joe Her, Guitar/Vocals.
SR is a Hmong-Canadian rock band and produces contemporary Hmong style of music venue.

Update: SR released the latest official "Mi Noog" video version for their 10th Anniversary celebration: https://youtu.be/FrDR9yKoj34

Sudden Rush latest single "Daim Nplooj Ntoos" release: https://youtu.be/AE8EHS7WH5Y

Tejano Singer Ram Herrera And The Outlaw Band's Touring Bus Involved In Texas Road Accident

Several occupants traveling with Tejano singer Herrera hospitalized after road accident involving a touring bus owned by Herrera's acquaintances.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 29, 2018

(Updated)

Schertz, Texas - On early Sunday, a bus owned by acquaintances of Tejano singer Ram Herrera in which he was a passenger apparently crashed after experiencing a blowout tire on the highway. The experienced RV driver managed to avoid a rollover after the blowout tire mishap just off I-35 and Schwab Rd. in Schertz, Texas about 21 minutes (19 miles) from San Antonio.  The bus ended up in a field. According to a member from La Nueva Imagen band who was traveling ahead of Herrera's friends bus posted on Facebook (FB), that Herrera and his band had finished a performance at the St. Mary's 37th Annual Church Festival (Jamiaca) in Lockhart, Texas and were returning home when the accident occurred.

Herrera was not injured, but some acquaintances traveling with Herrera in the bus were hospitalized due to minor injuries.
Anna Salazar Duarte posted on Sunday on FB that the "Bus DID NOT rollover. Band was NOT on the bus. This bus is owned by a friend of ours. 2 ladies went to hospital just to get checked. Everyone else is fine - just shaken up." Also Marsha Martinez Bautista posted on FB that "No rollover. Cuts and bruises on 2 people.  And everyone involved shaken up.  A tire blowout."

Martinez Bautista who is married to Ram Herrera band's sound engineer told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that Herrera, his girlfriend, the manager of the group including personal friends were traveling to San Antonio after a performance gig in Lockhart when the recreational vehicle (RV) had a tire blowout on the highway. The driver, Oscar managed to veered off IH-35 at the Schwab Rd. exit in Schertz, Texas and avoided a rollover, but ended up in a field. "The RV windshield was blown out upon impact from hitting the road signs," Martinez Bautista stated.
Herrera's girlfriend was one of the two people who were taken to the hospital for minor injury treatment. The Schertz Police Department responded to the accident after 1:00 a.m. and told the group involved in the accident that they were lucky that the RV didn't rollover.
A least six people were traveling in the RV including the driver, according to Martinez Bautista who was also traveling in the RV.
Three members of Herrera's Outlaw Band were traveling separately in vehicle behind the RV and were not involved in the accident.

Ram Herrera released the following official statement:

Ricardo Fierro, An Undocumented Immigrant Rights Activist From Racine Taken Into Custody By ICE

Fierro was taken into custody by ICE in the City of Racine.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 27, 2018

Racine, WI - On Tuesday, Ricardo Fierro, 39, from Racine was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Fierro who is undocumented and originally from Mexico is a known community and immigrant rights activist. Fierro is a member of the Racine Interfaith  Coalition for Immigration, Citizen Acton of Wisconsin (Acción Ciudadana de WI) and former Racine Regional Director for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin.

Fierro's family has obtained an attorney to challenge ICE's deportation proceedings and will file a Stay of Deportation on Monday, July 30th in federal court.
Fierro is being held at the Dodge County jail while being process for deportation.
Fierro lived with his fiancé before his arrest and has five U.S. born children of his own ages, 17, 14, 9, 5 and a 4-month-old and his fiancé has two children ages 16 and 17. 

Fierro also attended J.I. Case High School from I995 to 1999.

Marisabel Cabrera Elected Chairperson And Nelson Soler Vice-chair To Lead The Milwaukee Fire & Police Commission And Police Chief Alfonso Morales Officially Confirmed

Three Hispanics become the most influencial leaders in Milwaukee's law enforcement policy making and management of the Milwaukee Police Department.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

July 26, 2018

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Marisabel Cabrera was elected as the first Latina Chairperson and Nelson Soler as the first Latino Vice-chair of the Milwaukee Fire & Police Commission including the Commission's official approval and confirmation of Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales in the history of the City of Milwaukee law enforcement policy making and management. Morales became the second Latino police chief to serve the City. Cabrera, Soler and Chief Morales will no doubt have become the top leaders in Milwaukee's law enforcement today in the City of Milwaukee.

• Cabrera, is an immigration attorney, a Board member for the Council for the Spanish Speaking, also a member of Voces de la Frontera, Citizen Action of Wisconsin (Acción Ciudadana de Wisconsin) and American Immigration Lawyers Association.

• Soler, is the Chief Solutions Officer at Multicultural Entrepreneurship Institute, Inc., Adjunct faculty member at Cardinal Stritch University and Adjunct instructor at Milwaukee Area Technical College Alumni Network.

• Morales has an impressive and honorable service record in the police department. He was an officer from 1993 to 1999, then was promoted to detective from 1999 to 2003 where he served in the homicide division, then became a Lieutenant in 2003, where served in several assignments that included the homicide division, internal affairs, training academy and the narcotics bureau.