Monday, November 29, 2021

19-year-old Dawan E. Turner, aka, Big Wan, A Popular Local Milwaukee Rapper And Hip Hop Performer Fatally Shot, Suspect Sought In Homicide

Turner was discovered fatally shot last week at a residence after someone shot at the home, according to police.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 29, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Last Friday, November 26, 2021 around 9:05a.m. police responded to shots fired at a residence in the 3800 block of N. 38 Street and found that a male victim had been struck by gunfire.

Police say that someone fired multiple gunshots at the residence and subsequently struck the victim. The deceased victim was identified as Dawan E. Turner, aka, Big Wan, 19, who died from gunshot injuries.

Police are searching for a suspect or suspects involved in Turner's homicide. The investigation is ongoing.

Turner was known to record multiple rap and hip hop songs under the performing alias Big Wan that included Weezy, Sticky Bandits, East Lane Lifestyle, Antidote, 8ight Blocks, Designer Drugs and many more.

Milwaukee Southside Fatal Stabbing Victim Identified As 34-year-old Dominic Salas

Salas died from multiple stab wounds and a 33-year-old suspect was taken into custody.


By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 29, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On November 23, 2021 at around 7:48p.m. police responded to the 1500 block of W. Lincoln Ave. and found Dominic Salas, 34, fatally stabbed at the scene. Salas got into an argument with a suspect, Chadwick R. Marcinkiewicz, 33, who fatally stabbed Salas multiple times during the altercation, according to police

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office responded to the crime scene on Tuesday and have ruled it as a homicide after Wednesday's autopsy.

Marcinkiewicz was charged with one felony count for 1st-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon. If convicted, Marcinkiewicz is facing up to 60 years in prison. A cash bail of $250,000 was set for Marcinkiewicz.

Marcinkiewicz is scheduled for a Milwaukee County preliminary court hearing on December 3, 2021.

Salas is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Criminal complaint:

15-year-old Juvenile Male Identified Only As Junior Arrested In Connection With The Murder Of His Mother, Aime Salinas-Alvarado In Dallas

Dallas police took into custody a 15-year-old juvenile identified only as Junior "Jr" by a sibling,  Jr confessed that he shot his own mother over the weekend.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 29, 2021

Dallas, Texas - On Friday, Dallas police responded to a child abandonment call at the 1200 block of McLean Ave. around 4:34p.m. and later on a welfare check assignment discovered a homicide female victim at the 4700 block of Lynnacre Drive. Police identified the deceased victim on Lynnacre Drive as Aime Salinas-Alvarado, 47, who died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

The homicide investigation led to the arrest of her 15-year-old son who was later taken into custody at a friend's house.

According to the criminal complaint, an unknown individual had dropped off a 2-year-old girl at her great-grandparents home and left. One of the great-grandparents then called police and reported a 2-year-old child had been abandoned and were worried about her grandmother who was supposed to be taking care of her at the 4700 block of Lynnacre Drive. When police went to the home at Lynnarce Drive, they found the body of Salinas-Alvarado. Salinas-Alvarado's husband is Mario Salinas.

Salinas-Alvarado's 15-year-old son was identified only as Junior by a sibling on Sunday in social media. He was taken into custody shortly after the homicide, Jr confessed to fatally shooting his own mother. No motive was released by police at the moment.

Through the course of the investigation, police determined that the victim's 15-year-old juvenile son had shot and killed her and took the child to the great-grandparent's home after committing the homicide offense. The juvenile suspect took the victim's vehicle and went to a friend's home. The juvenile suspect was taken into custody by Dallas Police officers without incident and provided a full confession to the Homicide detective. He was arrested and transported to Henry Wade Juvenile Detention Facility and will be charged with Capital Murder, according to the Dallas police criminal complaint.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Two Henry County Police Officers And Three Hampton Police Officers Indicted For Murder In The 2019 Homicide Of Fernando Rodriguez, 24, In Georgia

Five White Georgia police officers, two from Henry County and three from the Hampton Police Department were charged with malice murder and other charges for the September 2019 homicide of a 24-year-old Hispanic male.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 24, 2021

Hampton, Georgia - A Henry County grand jury indicted two Henry County Police Officers Robert Butera and Quinton Phillips, and three Hampton Police Officers Mason Lewis, Marcus Stroud and Gregory Bowlden were each charged with one felony count for malice murder, two counts of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault including violation of oath in connection with the September 2019 homicide of Fernando Rodriguez, 24, outside of the Atlanta Motor Speedway, which was hosting the Imagine Music Festival.

If convicted of all charges, each officer is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Butera, Phillips, Lewis, Stroud and Bowlden turned themselves in to the Henry County Sheriff's Office for booking on Monday and were released after posting $100,000 cash bail each.

Stroud, Bowlden and Lewis have resigned as officers.

The criminal indictment says that police were called about an unidentified man walking naked just outside of the festival event. The officers responding to the scene noticed Rodriguez walking in the middle of the road while being naked and was ordered to stop. Rodriguez wasn't combative, but seemed disorientated, uncooperative and confused as the officers tased Rodriguez at least 15 times. He was then handcuffed and was rolled over and an officer pressed Rodriguez to the ground. Other officers also knelt on Rodriguez's arms, neck and back making it hard for him to breath.

Rodriguez, on September 20, 2019 was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries on September 23, 2019. His death was ruled a homicide and cause of death was asphyxiation, according to the Henry County Coroner's Office.

Rodriguez's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Hampton Police Department and reached an out of court settlement for $3,000,000.

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

39-year-old Darrell E. Brooks Jr. Charged With 5 Felony Counts Of Intentional Homicide For The Waukesha Christmas Holiday Parade Drive-thru Vehicular Massacre

Brooks Jr. is facing a six felony count for 1st-degree intentional homicide in the recent death of an 8-year-old child who has died from the injuries incurred on Sunday when the suspect drove an SUV through police barricades and ran over at least 53 Waukesha Christmas Holiday Parade spectators and participants including children. Five adults died on Sunday.


By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 23, 2021

Waukesha, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Jackson Sparks, 8, became the latest victim to died from last Sunday's downtown Waukesha Christmas Holiday Parade vehicular massacre that resulted in the deaths of five adults and 48 injured participants and spectators when Darrell E. Brooks Jr., 39, drove through police barricades and drove along the parade route striking victims.

Brooks Jr. was charged with five felony counts of 1st-degree intentional homicide and an additional homicide charge is pending in the death of Sparks.

If convicted on all counts, Brooks Jr. is facing five life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. A $5,000,000 cash bail was set for Brooks Jr.

Police say that Brooks Jr. had been involved in a domestic dispute with another individual before fleeing the scene and then breaking through police barricades and striking multiple people along the parade route.

Police also say that there is no evidence of a domestic terrorist act and that Brooks Jr. acted alone.

Brooks Jr. was out on bail since November 11, 2021 on multiple felony charges that include 2nd-degree endangering safety and bail jumping and three misdemeanor counts for disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer, battery and domestic abuse enhancers on the 2nd-degree endangering safety, disorderly conduct and battery charges, according to court records.

In July 2020, Brooks Jr. was charged with two felony counts for 2nd-degree reckless endangering safety with a dangerous weapon and one felony count for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The 6 deceased victims were identified as: 

• Virginia Sorenson, 79-year-old female 

• LeAnna Owen, 71-year-old female 

• Tamara Durand, 52-year-old female 

• Jane Kulich, 52-year-old female 

• Wilhelm Hospel, 81-year-old male

• Jackson Sparks, 8-year-old child

Multiple individuals from the alt-right White nationalist (MAGAs/Make Amerikkka Great Again/Keep Amerikkka Great) social groups that support Trump and consider themselves as Republicans began to spread false information in social media that Brooks Jr. had taken retaliation against the "Not Guilty" verdict of the alleged White supremacist vigilante Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, who murdered in cold blood two unarmed White social justice protesters and injured a third with an AR15 in Kenosha, Wisconsin who were seeking justice for Jacob Blake, 29, a Black man who was shot in the back 7 times by a White Kenosha cop who wasn't charged in the incident.

Rittenhouse became known as crying Kyle during the trial after crying several times and only shedding one tear during his testimony at a Kenosha County court whose judge seemed bias and an alleged Trump supporter for having a cellphone ring tone of a song played at Trump rallies. It also draws concern, if the jury members were allegedly Republicans or MAGAs as well that wouldn't convict one of their own.

Kenosha like Waukesha are MAGA/Republican strongholds in Wisconsin.

Waukesha is also known to have one of the most corrupt legal systems in the domestic family divorce court on Branch 9 including the County Clerk and the Waukesha County D.A. who wouldn't investigate the alleged corruption and illegal acts by a judge that was exposed by a female victim in a divorce case whose children were unjustly taken away and not allowed to see them. 


Sunday, November 21, 2021

Fatalities And Multiple Christmas Holiday Parade Spectators And Participants Including Children Injured In The City Of Waukesha

A 39-year-old driver has been arrested and Waukesha police say, that he was a lone suspect involved with the crash through of a downtown Christmas Holiday Parade crowd leaving several spectators and participants dead and multiple injured including children.


By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 21, 2021

Waukesha, Wisconsin - On Sunday after 4:39p.m., a suspect was arrested in connection with a plow through crash along a downtown Waukesha Christmas Holiday Parade on Main Street leaving multiple spectators and participants dead and numerous injured including children, according to police.

Waukesha police confirmed that 5 people were killed and 48 others were reported injured.

The Waukesha Fire Department reported that 11 adults and 12 children were transported to 6 area hospitals for treatment of injuries. 

Dramatic videos posted on social media shows a red Ford Escape (SUV) going through a crowded parade route at a high rate of speed causing several fatalities and numerous injures.

A Waukesha police officer fired his weapon at the SUV and the SUV was later abandoned by Brooks Jr. near Carroll University.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to police.

The 5 deceased victims were identified as: 

 • Virginia Sorenson, 79-year-old female 

 • LeAnna Owen, 71-year-old female 

 • Tamara Durand, 52-year-old female 

 • Jane Kulich, 52-year-old female 

 • Wilhelm Hospel, 81-year-old male  


Update: The suspect detained in the Waukesha Christmas Holiday Parade fatal incident has been identified as Darrell E. Brooks Jr., 39, aka, MathBoi Fly, of Milwaukee, according to sources. 

Brooks Jr. is facing 5 felony counts of 1st-degree intentional homicide and other related charges are pending.

Brooks Jr. was out on bail since November 11, 2021 on multiple felony charges that include 2nd-degree endangering safety and bail jumping and three misdemeanor counts for disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer, battery and domestic abuse enhancers on the 2nd-degree endangering safety, disorderly conduct and battery charges, according to court records.

In July 2020, Brooks Jr. was charged with two felony counts for 2nd-degree reckless endangering safety with a dangerous weapon and one felony count for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

Police say Brooks Jr. might have been fleeing from a crime when he went through a crowed Christmas Holiday Parade route killing five people and injuring more the 40 victims including children.

Videos: Social Media/Facebook 

Courtesy of Jesus Ochoa, Angela O'Boyle, WXANDNEWS, Cody TheSequal and Brandon D. Vorkapich

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Deceased 16-year-old Giovanni Florentino Identified In Stolen SUV Fatal Crash In Milwaukee's Southside, 13-year-old Brother Sustained Critical Injuries

16-year-old Florentino was ejected on impact after a stolen SUV he was a passenger in crashed into a tree, his 13-year-old brother who was also a rear seat passenger in the SUV suffered critical injuries. The driver of the reported stolen SUV and a front seat passenger that the Florentino brothers accompanied fled the scene leaving Florentino to die on the street without calling 911 or rendering aid.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
November 16, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Police reported that on Friday, November 12, 2021, around 8:16p.m., a stolen SUV with four individuals inside including a driver who was driving recklessly at 90 mph in a 30 mph speed limit heading eastbound at the 3600 block of W. Lincoln Ave. lost control and crashed into a tree. The SUV split in half on impact with the tree and both Giovanni Florentino, 16, aka, Chucho, and his brother, Sebastián Florentino, 13, who were rear seat passengers were ejected in the impact. Giovanni suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Sebastián suffered critical injuries and was hospitalized.

Police say that the SUV was reported stolen a day before the fatal crash and the driver of the stolen SUV and a front seat passenger fled the crash scene leaving the Florentino brothers at the scene without rendering any aid.

Police are looking for both suspects that fled the scene.


Update: On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the mother of Giovanni Florentino released Facebook photos of the two alleged young suspects (juveniles) that fled the scene of the crash on Friday, November 12, 2021, that left her 16-year-old son deceased and his 13-year-old brother critically injured in the hospital. 

The family is seeking justice for the Florentino brothers and want both DeWayne Widmer Jr., 15, and his cousin Aiden to turn themselves in to Milwaukee police.


Saturday, November 13, 2021

12 Year Murder Case Dismissed Against Vidal Rodriguez-Alvarez Because Primary Witness Deported By ICE

Rodriguez-Alvarez was arrested in Mexico by Mexican federal authorities who extradited him to Wisconsin in late May for the murder of a 15-year-old girl in 2008.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 14, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, November 8, 2021, Vidal Rodriguez-Alvarez, 32, homicide case was dismissed without prejudice by  Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Glenn H. Yamahiro. According to court records, the primary witness that could identify Rodriguez-Alvarez in the murder case had been deported 10 years ago by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office (D.A.'s) who failed to protect the primary witness from being deported by ICE learned of his deportation several months ago and can't locate him, since they don't know the country that he was deported too. The D.A.'s office could charge Rodriguez-Alvarez again, if they locate the deported witness or find another witness to identify the suspect in Razo's murder.

Rodriguez-Alvarez faced a one felony count for 1st-degree reckless homicide for the 2008 murder of Liliana Razo, 15, in the Southside of Milwaukee. Rodriguez-Alvarez had fled to Mexico in 2008 shortly after allegedly throwing a screwdriver inside a vehicle where Razo was seating in the passenger's side resulting in her death. 

Rodriguez-Alvarez had been a fugitive for more than 12 years. Rodriguez-Alvarez was facing up to 60 years in prison for the reckless homicide. 

Rodriguez-Alvarez had violated probation for a felony theft of up to $10,000 and party to a crime conviction in 2007 when he fled to Mexico and is now being held by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (Milwaukee Secure Facility) for the probation violation. Rodriguez-Alvarez was sentenced in December of 2007 to four years in prison including 2 years of supervision at the time with 6 months months served, but the incarceration sentenced was stayed and was placed on probation.

Rodriguez-Alvarez has 2 years and 9 months to complete his sentence for the 2007 theft conviction. 

According to the criminal complaint, Razo and two males, which the driver of the vehicle was a C-14 gang member confronted Rodriguez-Alvarez, a member of the Mexican Posse gang and another individual at South Division High School on September 5, 2008 about gang related conflicts and allegations of killing gang members. Words were exchanged between them and school security intervene and both groups left the school property.

A while later, Rodriguez-Alvarez who was accompanied by the state witness who was deported spotted Razo and the driver of the vehicle near the 1300 block of S. 13th Street, he walked up to the vehicle where Razo was at and threw a screwdriver inside the vehicle striking Razo in the left temple. Razo died a day later after the screwdriver was removed during surgery by a doctor.

The state witness who accompanied Rodriguez-Alvarez was the primary witness that could identify the suspect in Razo's murder.

Friday, November 12, 2021

Milwaukee Latino And Black Voters Including State Legislators Of Color Unite To Oppose Multiple Proposed State Redistricting Maps That Dilute Minority Majority Districts In Wisconsin

Both members of the Latino and Black communities held a press conference at the César E. Chávez Placita in the Southside of Milwaukee to oppose multiple State proposed redistricting maps including Wisconsin Governor Evers's PMC maps and the GOP maps AB624 that was approved by the Republican controlled State Assembly on Thursday.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 12, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, members of the Latino and Black communities including the Brown Berets, the Black Panthers and Wisconsin State Representatives Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) and Lakesha Myers (D-Milw), State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw) and and Peter Peckarsky (D), a candidate for the U.S. Senate held a press conference at the César E. Chávez Placita on S. César E. Chávez Drive to oppose multiple proposed State redistricting maps that includes Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers's People's Maps Commission (PMC) redistricting maps and the recently approved GOP gerrymandering redistricting maps AB624/SB621.

All the redistricting maps dilute both the Latino and Black majority minority districts in Milwaukee creating opportunity minority districts, which are not protected by the Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965. The maps also violated the VRA mandates and used the wrong population data process instead of using the Citizenship voting age population data.

The proposed redistricting maps violate the VRA and dilutes Hispanic and Black VAP in State Senate Districts (SD) 3, 4 and 6, which includes Assembly Districts 7, 8 and 9 in SD 3, 10, 11 and 12 in SD4 and 16, 17 and 18 in SD6.

On Thursday, Governor Evers went to the Democratic Caucus gathering before the State Assembly Session convened in an attempt to get all the Democrats to support the PMC maps that he continues to promote that creates 44 White Democrat Districts at the expense of diluting and phasing out both the Latino and Black majority minority districts, which were instrumental in electing him. 

In Wisconsin politics history, it is unprecedented to have a Democrat governor supporting redistricting maps that dilutes majority minority districts that were instrumental in electing the governor. Governor Evers has yet to publicly redraw the PMC maps, apologize to both the Hispanic and Black communities for the mishap or even condemn the maps for diluting his Latino and Black voting block base that actually got him elected in the first place.

Also making history on Thursday, 17 Democrats including State Representatives Ortiz-Velez, Cabrera and Myers voted with all the Republicans to reject Governor Evers PMC's maps. Only 21 Democrats voted in favor of the PMC maps.

Governor Evers is expected to veto the GOP redistricting maps and most likely the legal battle to determine, which redistricting map will actually be adopted, would have to be decided in a State court or a federal court.

Sen. Taylor says that they will acquire attorneys to represent the Latino and Black communities in a court battle.


Thursday, November 11, 2021

Milwaukee Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa Has Concerns About Governor Tony Evers PMC's Redistricting Maps That Dilutes Hispanic Majority, But Comes Short From Condemning Act

Former State Assembly Representative Zamarripa who is now an Alderwoman in the Aldermanic 12 District in Milwaukee weighs in at the last minute on the proposed state redistricting maps.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 11, 2021

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, City of Milwaukee Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa from the 12th Aldermanic District and former State Representative from the 8th Assembly District released a press release targeted at State Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) and accused Ortiz-Velez of disinformation. Ald. Zamarripa wrote, "Disinformation about the Voting Rights Act has no place in the debate about legislative redistricting, from a Republican or Democrat...When Representative Ortiz-Velez spoke about the attempts by the non-partisan People's Maps Commission convened by Governor Evers to draw fair legislative maps, she carried water for Speaker Vos and his attempts to gerrymander an anti-Latino majority...Like many in the arena of public affairs, I have concerns with the product of the People's Maps Commission, but Latinos, immigrants, South Siders, and Democrats all would benefit from a straightforward, honest and public-interested discussion about district lines." 

Zamarripa came short in explaining her allegation of any specific disinformation in a debate about redistricting nor has she held a public debate to discuss the redistricting process in the state. Also, Zamarripa hasn't publicly condemned any proposed redistricting map that violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) mandates including the Governor Evers People's Maps Commission and the GOP redistricting maps that dilutes the Hispanic voting age population (HVAP) and the Black VAP as well.

Zamarripa as a State Representative was unsuccessful in passing any legislation due to her record for voting by Party lines, since the GOP control the State legislature, especially AB873 that she proposed and couldn't get bipartisan support to pass a César E. Chávez state optional holiday in 2014.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) couldn't reach State Representative Ortiz-Velez for comment.

On Wednesday, State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw) during a press conference phrased State Representative Ortiz-Velez for supporting the Black and Hispanic community by speaking out against all the proposed redistricting maps that violate the VRA and dilutes Hispanic and Black VAP in State Senate Districts (SD) 3, 4 and 6, which includes Assembly Districts 7, 8 and 9 in SD 3, 10, 11 and 12 in SD4 and 16, 17 and 18 in SD6.

During Thursday's State Assembly session, State Representative Marisabel Cabrera alleged that the GOP and the PMC's redistricting maps are not fair maps, which violated Wisconsin Open Meeting Laws, also violate the VRA and failed to use the correct processing data, which was the Citizenship voting age population and all the proposed redistricting maps used the wrong data. 

State Representative Cabrera (D-Milw) from the State Assembly District 9th and State Representative Ortiz-Velez from the State Assembly District 8th voted against the PMC map and also voted no for the GOP maps because they are unconstitutional, unfair maps, diluted both the Hispanic and Black VAP and violate the VRA.

Editor's note:

State Representative Ortiz-Velez gave a captivating, persuasive and powerful speech about the illegal process to dilute both the Hispanic and Black VAP including the multiple VRA violations committed, to the State Assembly and received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisles and 17 State Assembly Democrats voted no to reject Governor Evers PMC's redistricting maps while 21 Assembly Democrats voted in favor of the Governor's PMC maps that dilutes both Hispanic and Black VAP, which eliminates two Hispanic majority Assembly Districts in the Southside of Milwaukee and most of the six Black majority Assembly Districts in the Northside of Milwaukee including Senate Districts 3, 4 and 6. 

All 38 Assembly Democrats voted no to reject the GOP redistricting maps. The Republican controlled State Assembly voted 60-38 to pass AB624, their own version of the redistricting maps that Governor Tony Evers (D) has vowed to veto. 

The following State Representatives and a lone State Senator (all Democrats) that stood in the right side of history with minority majority communities and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 

The State legislators (1 State Senator and 17 State Assembly Representatives) voted against Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) favored People's Maps Commission (PMC) redistricting maps that diluted Latino and Black voting age populations in minority majority districts and who voted against the Republican controlled State legislature's gerrymandering redistricting maps AB 624/SB621. Also, all Democrats in the State Senate and State Assembly voted against the GOP gerrymandering maps. 

The following State legislators voted against the PMC's redistricting maps. 

 • Senator Lena Taylor 
 • Rep. Jimmy Anderson 
 • Rep. Jill Billings 
 • Rep. David Bowen 
 • Rep. Jonathan Brostoff 
 • Rep. Marisabel Cabrera 
 • Rep. Sue Conley 
 • Rep. Dora Drake 
 • Rep. Evan Goyke 
 • Rep. Kalan Haywood 
 • Rep. Diane Hesselbein 
 • Rep. Gordon Hintz 
 • Rep. Francesca Hong 
 • Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde 
 • Rep. LaKeshia Myers 
 • Rep. Greta Neubauer 
 • Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez 
 • Rep. Mark Spreitzer 


Update:

Wisconsin State Representative Ortiz-Velez response to Alderwoman Zamarripa's press release.

GOP Controlled State Assembly In Wisconsin Passed Their Gerrymandering Redistricting Map AB624 By 60-38 In Wisconsin That Violates The Voting Rights Act

The Republican controlled State Assembly voted 60-38 along Party lines to pass their own version of a redistricting map known as gerrymandering, which voting district lines are drawn to favor electing Republican candidates for the next decade.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 11, 2021

Madison, Wisconsin - On Thursday, the Republican controlled State Assembly voted 60-38 along Party lines to pass their own version of a gerrymandering map AB624 and to concur with SB621 redistricting map, which was passed in the State Senate on a vote of 21-12 on Monday. 

Also on Thursday, AB 625, the Congressional redistricting bill concurrent with State Senate Bill 622 was laid on the table by unanimous consent.

The AB624 map was supported by both State Assembly Republican majority House Speaker Robin J. Vos and State Senate Republican majority leader Devin LeMahieu with hardly no public support for the GOP gerrymandering maps.

The House Democrats at the last minute decided not to submit alternative redistricting maps because the Republicans alleged that they had violated open meeting laws by not allowing any public input on the maps, according to Vos. Vos offered an amendment 1 to allow the Governor Tony Evers's People's Maps Commission (PMC) redistricting map to be introduced, the amendment failed on vote of 21-77. 21 State Assembly Democrats supported the PMC map, which dilutes Hispanic and Black voting age populations in State Senate Districts (SD) 3, 4 and 6 including State Assembly Districts 7, 8 and 9 in SD 3, 10, 11 and 12 in SD4 and 16, 17 and 18 in SD6.

According to a press conference on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 held by State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw) and State Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw), all the proposed redistricting maps diluted the Hispanic and Black voting age populations (VAP) in minority majority districts in Milwaukee and violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) mandates. For the Latino districts to keep their VAP majority, they would need at least 70% of the Hispanic VAP in order to elect a representative of their choice. In the Black districts, they would at least need to have about 60% of Black VAP to elect their choice of representatives.

All the proposed redistricting maps diluted both the Hispanic and Black VAP majority districts compared to 2011.

During Thursday's State Assembly session, State Representative Marisabel Cabrera alleged that the GOP and the PMC's redistricting maps are not fair maps, which violated Wisconsin Open Meeting Laws, also violate the VRA and failed to use the correct processing data, which was the Citizenship voting age population and all the proposed redistricting maps used the wrong data. 

State Representative Cabrera from the State Assembly District 9th and State Representative Ortiz-Velez from the State Assembly District 8th voted against the PMC map and also voted no for the GOP maps because they are unconstitutional, unfair maps, diluted both the Hispanic and Black VAP and violate the VRA.

Now, the GOP redistricting maps AB624/SB621 head to Governor Tony Evers Office and Evers is expected to veto it. Either the GOP, Evers or the Dems will file a State court lawsuit to determine the legality of the redistricting maps.

Tuesday, November 9, 2021

WIGOP Controlled State Senate Approved Their Own SB621 Redistricting Map, Which Failed To Take Into Account The VRA 1965 Mandates And Rejected Governor Tony Evers (D) PMC's Map

The Republican controlled State Senate approved their own version of redistricting map and rejected alternative maps including the controversial Governor Evers (D) People's Maps Commission redistricting map that dilutes City of Milwaukee majority minority districts in both the State Senate and State Assembly.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 9, 2021

Madison, Wisconsin - On Monday, the Republican controlled State Senate majority voted 21-12 to adopt Senate Bill 621/Assembly Bill 624 redistricting map, which the Republicans support in order to keep control of the State legislature by continuing to practice gerrymandering, which prevents Democrats in the state from getting a majority for the next 10 years.

The Republican controlled Senate also rejected alternative redistricting maps from the Dems in the Senate and Governor Tony Evers's People's Maps Commission controversial redistricting map that dilutes (phases out or eliminates) two Latino majority districts and makes them as "Opportunity Minority Districts" in violation and in controrary to the mandates of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA), which assures that people of color can elect their choice of representatives where a large concentration of Latino population exists in a particular area (district). It also phases out the State Senate District 3 in the predominantly Latino community in the Southside of Milwaukee. The two Latino majority (8th and 9th) Assembly Districts will then become Opportunity Minority Districts with less than 50% of Latino voting population for the next 10 years.

The PMC map also dilutes 6 Black majority minority Assembly Districts (AD) to two majority Black districts and eliminates two Black majority minority State Senate Districts. The four ADs would become Opportunity Minority Districts with less than 50% of the Black voting population.

All the State Senate Democrats voted against the Republican SB621 redistricting map and 11 State Senate Democrats including State Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milw), an African-American voted for Governor Evers PMC controversial map, eventhough, Johnson's district will be diluted with less then 50% of Black voting population or eliminated, if the PMC map prevails in a court legal challenge, but most likely it will fail for blatantly violating the VRA of 1965. State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw), an African-American from Senate District 4 was the only one who voted no to reject all the redistricting maps presented in the State Senate on Monday.

Two other maps from the Democrats in the state legislature, B3 and E4 were also rejected. The B3 Dems map is considered as the best alternative compared to both the Republican and the PMC maps, according to a credible source in the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

The State Assembly will take up the Republican redistricting map AB624/SB621 and possibly other alternative redistricting maps for debate on Thursday. The Republican map AB624 is expected to be approved as well by the Republican controlled State Assembly and afterwards Governor Evers is expected to veto the Republican redistricting map. A state court challenge will definitely be filed by the either the GOP or Governor Evers and could include legal challenges from the Dems.

State Assembly Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) of  Mexican-Puerto Rican American descent from the 8th Assembly District in the Southside of Milwaukee on Monday called for people of color in both the Latino and Black communities including allies to take action and march in Madison for fair and just representation maps on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at the State Capitol in Madison at 9:00a.m.


Activist & Advocacy Podcast - Episode 5 ft. Lena C. Taylor and Sylvia Ortiz-Velez addressed Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers's PMC's maps that dilute the Latino and Black majority State Assembly Districts https://bit.ly/3odpMC8


Update:

Press conferences scheduled: 

• 1st Press conference about the Governor Tony Evers PMC redistricting maps that dilutes Latino and Black majority districts in Milwaukee will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Statue located at the 1700 N. MLK Jr. Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Video of Press Conference at link: https://youtu.be/WpdfXQbVudQ)

• 2nd Press conference about the Governor Tony Evers PMC redistricting maps that dilutes Latino and Black majority districts in Milwaukee will be held on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 6:00p.m. at the César E. Chávez Statue located at the 900 S. César E. Chávez Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Video of press conference)

Press conferences hosted by Wisconsin State Representatives Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) and Lakesha Myers (D-Milw), Vaun L. Mayes, State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw), Black Panthers, Brown Berets and allies.



Saturday, November 6, 2021

Eric H. Holder Jr. From NRDC Behind The People's Maps Commission Redistricting Proposal Which Delutes Wisconsin Latino Majority State Assembly And Black Majority Assembly Districts Including State Senate Districts

The NRDC is being credited for supplying the People's Maps Commission with the proposed redistricting maps that Wisconsin Governor Evers (D) is promoting in contrary to the GOP gerrymandering proposed maps for 2021.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 6, 2021

Madison, WI - On Saturday, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned from a credible source within the Democratic Party of Wisconsin that the proposed People's Maps Commission's (PMC) recent redistricting maps were allegedly provided by the National Redistricting Democratic Committee (NRDC) headed by Eric H. Holder Jr. The PMC redistricting maps, if approved would crack and delute the voting voices in the State Assembly District 8th and 9th, which are both majority Latino districts including the State Senate District 3 located on the predominantly Latino Southside area.

The PMC redistricting maps will also delute two Black majority Senate districts and at least 6 Black majority State Assembly Districts making them below 50% population of color or minority "Opportunity Districts", which would definitely violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The NRDC as a strategic ploy is promoting minority "Opportunity Districts" throughout the nation in order to challenged the GOP's gerrymandering maps that have kept the Republicans in political power for decades.


Thursday, November 4, 2021

Jeffrey B. Norman Appointed Milwaukee Chief Of Police By F&P Commission

Norman, Milwaukee Acting Chief of Police was officially appointed as Chief of Police by the Milwaukee Fire & Police Commission.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 4, 2021

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, the Milwaukee Fire & Police Commission (F&PC)  unanimously voted to appoint Jeffrey B. Norman as the new Milwaukee Chief of Police for a four year term. Norman had been Milwaukee Acting Chief of Police, since December 2020.

According to the Milwaukee Police Source, Norman was appointed to the Milwaukee Police Department in 1996.  As an officer, Chief Norman served in District 1, District 2, and the Technical Communications Division until his promotion to detective in 2002.  As a detective, he served in the Robbery Division, Violent Crimes Division and Homicide Division until his promotion to lieutenant in 2010.  As a lieutenant, he served in the Property Crimes Division, Metropolitan Division (Robbery Task Force, Homicide Unit and Cold Case Unit) and District 5 as the dayshift commander. Promoted to captain in 2017, he commanded the Inspections Division and District 3.  In 2020 he was promoted to Assistant Chief. 

Chief Norman was the executive commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau.  The Criminal Investigation Bureau oversees the Homicide, Special Investigation, Violent Crimes, General Crimes, Sensitive Crimes, Fusion and Forensic Divisions.  Chief Norman was the former commander of District 3.  His district served the west side of Milwaukee, which covers 11 square miles and over 100,000 residents. 

Norman was the commander of the Inspections Division.  The Inspections Division operates the Inspection, Accreditation, Audit and CJIS Compliance Units.  Chief Norman oversaw the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group (WILEAG) accreditation standards for the department and ensures districts and divisions are regularly audited and inspected for compliance according to departmental policies and procedures, national law enforcement best practices, and federal, state and local law.

On December 23, 2020, he was appointed to serve as the Acting Chief of the Milwaukee Police Department.

Chief Norman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a Masters of Public Administration degree from Kaplan University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School. Chief Norman is a graduate of the FBI LEEDA's Executive and Command Institutes, Southern Police Institute's Chief Executive Leadership, International Associations of Chiefs of Police's Leadership in Police Organizations and 68th Session of the Police Executive Research Forum-Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) in Boston, MA.

WI Governor Evers Proposed Redistricting State Maps Eliminates Latino Majority And Reduces Black Majority Districts Creating Only White Majority Dems Representative Districts For At Least 20 Years

Governor Evers and the People's Maps Commission recent proposed redistricting maps to challenged the state's GOP gerrymandering redistricting maps will definitely eliminate the Latino majority state representative districts and reducing Black majority districts in Milwaukee County.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 4, 2021

Madison, WI - On Wednesday, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) learned that the State Dems and Governor Tony Evers (D) including the People's Maps Commission's proposed redistricting maps actually delutes the majority eligible voters in the Latino majority 8th and 9th State Assembly Districts including the reduction of Black majority State Assembly Districts including any Black representation the State Senate in Milwaukee County. The assembly and senate districts affected will be labeled as minority opportunity districts.

Apparently, the White Dems in Wisconsin including Governor Evers seemed to favor that only White Democrats be elected in those state assembly districts including the state senate for at least the next 20 years, if Evers and the Dems actually manage to pass their proposed district maps to challenged the State's GOP (Republicans) proposed gerrymandering maps. 

The Republican controlled legislature for decades have passed gerrymandering maps in favor to keeping them in control of the state legislature.

If we compare both proposed redistricting maps, at least the GOP gerrymandering maps retains the two Latino majority state assembly districts and most of the Black majority districts compared to Governor Evers's and the People's Map's Commission's proposed recent redistricting maps. 

Evers was elected Governor with the majority of Latino and Black vote and today, he seems to be actually working to eliminate the Latino majority and Black majority districts by cracking and diluting the eligible Latino and Black vote that elected him into office in 2019. 

Shame on Governor Evers, the White Dems in Wisconsin and the People's Maps Commission.

Both State Representatives Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milw) from the 9th State Assembly District and Sylvia Ortiz-Velez (D-Milw) from the State Assembly District 8th have yet to release a statement concerning the possible dilution of the Latino majority in their districts that will lead to creating White majority districts in the Southside of Milwaukee and disenfranchising the predominant Latino community from electing a candidate of their choice.

WisPolitics reported, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu knocked the People’s Maps Commission proposals. The Oostburg Republican noted they would create fewer majority Black and Hispanic districts than the maps GOP leaders drew. He also pointed out more Wisconsin voters would have to wait more than four years to vote in a state Senate race under the commission’s maps vs. Republicans’. 

Under the GOP proposal, 138,753 voters would be moved from odd-numbered Senate districts — which are up in the 2022 cycle — to even-numbered seats — which aren’t up again until 2024. The same would be true of 523,402 voters under the commission’s plan, according to his office. 

“Governor Evers attached his name to maps that decrease racial majority-minority districts and disenfranchise over 500,000 Wisconsin voters,” LeMahieu said. “His Commission prioritized partisan gerrymandering over core constitutional protections.”  

Wisconsin State Senator Lena C. Taylor, (D-Milw) released the following statement, "Maps that don't maintain majority minority districts, as a required minimum standard is against the VRA (Voting Rights Act of 1965), and unacceptable to me." 

"Maps that do not consider the hypersegregation, voting patterns, mass incarceration, census under count, and citizenship challenges are VRA violations and unacceptable! 

"Maps that eliminate 2 senate and 6 assembly majority districts while professing to provide more minority "Opportunity districts" with 50% districts of color, totally miss the intent and benefited of the VRA, majority districts, END of story."

In other news, last Friday, October 29, 2021, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors approved Redistricting Map K1 on a vote of 10-7, which the Independent Redistricting Committee (IRC) including the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SWRPC) recommended to create an additional majority district with 70% of Latino majority in Supervisor District 4 and keep the existing Latino majority district in Supervisor District 12 with a 67% Latino majority, in addition it created a 18.9% of Latino voting-age population in Supervisor District 15.

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisor's approved K1 redistricting maps created 9 White majority districts and 9 minority majority districts that included 2 Latino strong majority districts and 6 Black majority districts and 1 diverse minority district.

Milwaukee County Supervisor Sylvia Ortiz-Velez who voted in favor of the K1 maps says, that the 9 White majority and the 9 minority majority Supervisor Districts was the most equitable maps passed by the County Board in decades and in Milwaukee County's redistricting maps history. Supervisor Ortiz-Velez also confirmed that the County Board of Supervisors did not change or eliminated one block of what both the IRC and SWRPC had recommended and kept their recommendation intact to create two Latino majority districts.

According to press release by Supervisor Ortiz-Velez, Members of the IRC and SEWRPC Executive Director Kevin Muhs acknowledged multiple times that because the county’s Latino population resides overwhelmingly in an area bordered on the north by the Milwaukee River, east by I-43/94, west by 70th Street, and south by Layton Avenue, creating more than two Latino districts could dilute the Latino vote.   
IRC Chair Judge Jean DiMotto wrote, “We did look at the possibility of three [Latino] districts, but this would have significantly diluted the voting power of the Hispanic/Latinx population in two of the three proposed districts.”   

“Adopting a map that had multiple districts with only slight Latino-majorities would have jeopardized potential Latino candidates and placed us right back where we are today, with only one real Latino-majority district,” added Supervisor Ortiz-Velez. “Public input further confirmed that our community preferred to have two secure districts to elect candidates of our choice and ensure that the Latino vote and voice is not diluted. This new map will provide hope and a path to actionable change for Milwaukee’s Hispanic and Latino community. Our children can finally see multiple leaders who look like them—that is what I call a successful map.”   

Under the current supervisory district map, District 8 is the only district where Milwaukee’s South Side Latino community can safely elect a representative from their own community.  

Monday, November 1, 2021

Democrats In Congress Won't Consider A Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill With Path To Citizenship In 2021

Democrats in the U.S. Senate are attempting to pass a water down immigration bill that would allow 8M undocumented taxpayers to apply for a 5-year visa with a one additional renewable 5-year step without a path to U.S. Citizenship.

By H. Nelson Goodson 
Hispanic News Network U.SA.

November 2, 2021

Washington, D.C. - Once again, the Democrats regained control in the U.S. Congress and the White House with the eligible Latino vote in 2020. The Democratic Party including Joe Biden (D) who defeated Trump on November 2020 committed to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill with a path to U.S. Citizenship for 11M undocumented taxpaying workers including essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now in November 2021, the Democrats in the U.S. Senate are attempting to pass a water down immigration bill that would allow 8M undocumented taxpayers to apply for a 5-year visa with a one time renewal for an additional 5-years without a path to citizenship.

The Biden plan includes $100B for immigration programs.

If passed, about 8M undocumented taxpayers would have access to a social security number and temporary protection status from deportation.

Democrats in Congress and Biden have no intention to fulfill their commitment in passing a Comprehensive Immigration Reform with a path to citizenship for more than 11M undocumented taxpaying immigrants residing in the U.S. today.

The U.S. Senate parliamentarian recommended not to include a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill for more than 11M undocumented workers because it would impact the federal deficit, despite the billions of dollars paid to the federal government by undocumented immigrants without getting a tax refund per year or any COVID-19 pandemic stimulus relief.

The Democrats in Congress and Biden were elected and won control with the majority of the Latino vote. Today, they expect the eligible Latino vote to accept their mere 5-year visa proposal without a path to citizenship, that's if the Senate parliamentarian doesn't oppose it and the Senate Dems can get a 51-50 vote that would include U.S. Vice President Pamela Harris's (D) vote.

Let's not forget, in 2008 former U.S. President Barack H. Obama was elected to the White House and the Democrats had already won the majority of Congress by committing to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, which they failed to do so, after they lost the majority and Obama later signed an Executive Order that created DACA to protect undocumented children from being deported.

Donald Trump (R/MAGA) when elected as U.S. President attempted to eliminate DACA.

Latinos and undocumented taxpaying immigrants should continue to fight for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, despite the unsuccessful attempts in the last 16 years and should not follow or accept the deception by Democrats in the U.S. Senate and Biden to accept a mere 5-year visa without a path to citizenship. 

There is no guarantee that the next U.S. president elect and the majority in Congress (which ever majority of political party takes control) will abide by the 5-year visa and attempt to end it by enacting federal legislation.

La Lucha continúa para una reforma de Inmigración Comprensiva, the fight for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill continues. ¡Viva nuestra gente, Unidos Venceros!

For example (stats):

The Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy (ITEP) reported that,

• Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to state and local taxes, collectively paying an estimated $11.74 billion a year. Contributions range from just over $550,000 in Montana with an estimated undocumented population of 1,000 to more than $3.1 billion in California, home to more than 3 million undocumented immigrants.

• Undocumented immigrants nationwide pay on average an estimated 8 percent of their incomes in state and local taxes (this is their effective state and local tax rate). To put this in perspective, the top 1 percent of taxpayers pay an average nationwide effective tax rate of just 5.4 percent.

• Granting legal status to all undocumented immigrants in the United States as part of a comprehensive immigration reform and allowing them to work legally would increase their state and local tax contributions by an estimated $2.18 billion a year. Their nationwide effective state and local tax rate would increase to 8.6 percent. (ITEP updated (2017) data of undocumented taxpayers in the U.S. link: https://bit.ly/39lbxBG)

• In Wisconsin, undocumented immigrants paid $21,7 million in personal income, $6.1 million in property taxes and $66.5 million in sale taxes in 2010 totaling at least $94.4M, according to the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy study.

• Undocumented workers in Texas pay $11.6B annually in taxes, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

• Undocumented immigrants paid $35B within 10 years to the Medicare Trust Fund even when they don't qualify for benefits. (HNNUSA/Hispanic News Network U.S.A.)

• The Social Security Administration reported that in the Earning Suspense File has $1.3T in taxes in earn wages, which most of it was collected from undocumented immigrants.  (The Atlantic)

• In 2014, Stephen Goss, the Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration told Vice News that in the last decade, an estimated 11M undocumented immigrants reside in the U.S. and about 7M are unauthorized workers and 3.1M of those worked with fake or expired Social Security numbers and paid automatic payroll taxes to the federal government. In 2010, a $13B annual net contribution was made to the Social Security Trust Fund.

• In the last ten years (prior to 2017), unauthorized workers have paid an estimated $100B into the trust fund and most of the unauthorized workers will never benefit from their tax contributions later in life, according to Goss.  (HNNUSA/Hispanic News Network U.S.A.)

• Only 3.5% of undocumented immigrants make up a small segment of the total population in the U.S. and make up 5% of the labor force in the country (Pew Research Center)

• In 2015, Hispanics purchasing power reached $1.5T, an increase of 50% since 2010. Hispanic women control a majority of house spending. Women spend $3.3B in foot wear, according to the Nielsen report.