Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Latino South Division High School Married Couple Took University Courses Before They Actually Graduated From High School And Enrolled At The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

In history: Latino South Division High School married couple took University courses before they actually graduated from high school and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
November 29, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - It's 1972, H. Nelson Goodson, originally from from Laredo, Texas and Cris González Goodson, from Kenosha, Wisconsin at the South Division High School Graduation celebration at the Marc Plaza Hotel, later renamed the Hilton Hotel in Milwaukee.

Goodson and González were the only known married couple attending classes at South Division High School in 1972. Both Goodson and González were two of the 50 special students taking University courses at the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute, 2nd Floor located at the 500 block of W. National Avenue before graduating from high school with the condition to also enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for credited University courses when they graduated from high school. 

On August 27, 1970, members of the Latino community including Goodson's mother, Marla O. Anderson took over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor's Office in protest against the discriminatory practice that kept Latinos/as from enrolling at UWM. In 1970, less than 15 Latino students were enrolled at UWM compared to 25,000 Anglo students. Most of the Latino students enrolled at UWM were from foreign countries. The 1970 protest led to the creation of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI) with a mission to recruit, retain, advise and help Latino students graduate from the University. The SSOI in 1996 was renamed the Roberto Hernández Center.

Anderson, the only woman along with four men, Jesus Salas, Dante Navarro, Gregorio "Goyo" Rivera and José Luis Huerta-Sánchez were arrested at the Chancellor's Office on August 27, 1970 for refusing to leave the office at closing time, according to UWM Police records.

Wisconsin became the only State in the U.S. that allowed the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to recruit Latinos/as high school students to take University courses before they graduated from high school with the promise that they would enroll at the University when they graduated from high school.

Entertainment: The Little Tina band (Tejano style) from Delevan, WI played at the Latino South Division High School Graduation celebration in 1972.

Video: RHC 40th Anniversary, includes actual news footage of the August 27, 1970 Takeover of the Chancellor's Office at Chapman Hall: https://youtu.be/FzOpOxI_GKw

Link to The HOLA Archives at UWM Library and Wisconsin Humanities in collaboration with the RHC, a podcast series that provides multiple interviews of stories of Milwaukee Latino/as who fought to make Milwaukee a more welcoming community, especially at the UW-Milwaukee from the 1970's to later years. https://uwm.edu/libraries/digital-humanities-lab/hola-podcast/


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

The Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute/Roberto Hernández Center story written by H. Nelson Goodson, which was first published on July 13, 2001 by El Conquistador Newspaper and later revised. Click on images to enlarge. https://tinyurl.com/mrykfzd2

Jezamil Arroyo-Vega Appointed Interim Commissioner For The Department Of Neighborhood Services In Milwaukee

Milwaukee Mayor Johnson appointed Arroyo-Vega as the first Latina interim Commissioner for the Department of Neighborhood Services, which the Milwaukee Common Council anonymously approved her temporary appointment.

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

November 29, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Last week Tuesday on November 21, 2023, the Milwaukee Common Council anonymously approved the appointment of Jezamil Arroyo-Vega, 43, as the first Latina to become the interim Commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) in the City of Milwaukee.

Arroyo-Vega's current salary ranges from $115K to $161K.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson temporarily appointment Arroyo-Vega as interim Commissioner of DNS pending a broad search for a permanent qualified applicant to the position, according to the Mayor's office. 

The deadline for filing an application for the DNS Commissioner position is December 15, 2023, according to the City of Milwaukee job notice that was posted on the City's website on November 13, 2023.

Arroyo-Vega had been employed at the DNS since 2018, she worked as a building construction inspector until 2020 and in 2022, she became the building construction inspection division manager earning an annual salary of $79,154, according to City employee salary records.

The DNS has a $20M annual budget and employs approximately 240 employees.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Sunday, November 26, 2023

The August 2010 Cold Homicide Case Of Juan A. Casarez, 35, Goes Unsolved

No one has been taken into custody or charged with the homicide of a 35-year-old man who was ambushed by a suspect(s) of a drive-by in the Southside.

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

November 26, 2023

Milwaukee - On Sunday, August 29, 2010, police reported Juan A. "Tony" Casarez,  35, had died from gunshot injuries at the 1300 block of W. National Ave., early Sunday. No one has been charged with his murder after 13 years.

The homicide investigation indicated, that Casarez was in a car with his sister and brother-in-law when another car parked next to them at W. National and someone from the other vehicle shot into their car. Casarez was critically struck in the neck. 

His sister and brother-in-law then drove Casarez to the hospital. Casarez died the same day he was shot at Froedtert Hospital after being taken off a life support machine, according to police.
Police suspected Casarez was the intended target.

So far, according to Casarez's acquaintances, police involved in the homicide case have not provided any update of the Casarez's murder to family members and acquaintances claim that it has become a cold case.


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Kevin A. Taylor, 31, Resentenced To Less Confinement In Prison For The 2022 Murder Of Julian M. Rodriguez, 22, In The Southside Of Milwaukee

A Milwaukee County judge was forced to resentence a 31-year-old convicted murderer to less confinement in prison to remedy a previous sentence of 20 years confinement and less extended supervision in the case.

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

November 25, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On November 9, 2p23, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jean Marie Kies resentenced Kevin A. Taylor, 31, a Hispanic to less confinement in prison, 18 years in prison and 7 years of extended supervision to correct a error in sentencing on January 13, 2023 to 20 years confinement in prison and 5 years of extended supervision, which the extended supervision was less than 25% of the confinement sentencing guidelines under state law. Under the law, the extended supervision can not be less then 25% of the length of the confinement sentence, according to Wisconsin State Statue criminal law 973.01.

Taylor pleaded guilty on September 26, 2022 to felony murder-armed robbery and 2nd-degree recklessly endangering safety in a plead agreement, which multiple charges were dropped, but read into the record when sentenced.

Taylor was charged on November 10, 2023 with the December 8, 2022 fatal shooting death of Julian M. Rodriguez, 22, in the parking lot of the Family Dollar at the 3000 block of S. 13 Street in an apparent drug deal gone bad. Taylor was captured in a camera surveillance video in the parking lot firing the fatal shots killing Rodriguez. Taylor wanted to steal marijuana from Rodriguez.

According to the criminal complaint, Taylor was taken into custody several hours of the murder after a brief chase by police who attempted to stop him for a traffic violation.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Monday, November 20, 2023

Pedro Colón Becomes The First Hispanic Judge In The Wisconsin Court Of Appeals

Colón sworn in as the first Latino Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge.

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

November 20, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, November 20, 2023, Milwaukee County Judge Pedro Colón, 55, was sworn in as the first Hispanic to serve in the Wisconsin Court of Appeals by Justice Ann Walsh Bradley at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Video link: https://youtu.be/c5CcPukObiE

In June 2023, Colón was appointed to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D). Colón replaced outgoing Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Timothy G. Dugan, 69, who retired on November 18.

Colón (D-Milw) as a former State Representative from the Southside of Milwaukee is credited for helping to pass Instate Tuition for undocumented students in Wisconsin, and supported Immigration Reform.

Colón grew up on the Southside of Milwaukee. He is a graduate of St. Matthew's School and Thomas More High School. Colón received his B.A. in Political Science from Marquette University in 1990 and his Juris Doctorate in 1994 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he worked on the Law Review.

Colón made history in 1998 as the first Latino elected to the Wisconsin State Legislature. Colón previously served as a Democrat in the State Assembly from 1999 to 2010. He is originally from Ponce, Puerto Rico. 

Judge Colón has served on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court since 2010 when he was first appointed judge by former Governor Jim Doyle (D) and was a Presiding Judge of the Civil Division.

Colón was a former Commissioner and past Chairman of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District Commission. He is also a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials where he serves on the Board of Directors. He was named one of the Top 40 under 40 by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 1998 and in April 2005 received the Spirit of Marquette Award for Achievement Before 40 from Marquette University, according to Colón's blog.

Entertainment on Monday was provided by Mariachi Monarcas de Milwaukee and food was provided by Lazo's Taco Shack.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

H. Nelson Goodson From HNNUSA Has Published More Than 15.5K News Articles In The Last 39 Years For Various News Sources, Which Influenced Change

Goodson's investigative news reports in the last 39 years have influenced social and political change in Milwaukee including the State of Wisconsin. Goodson is also credited for exposing the corrupt and lying Latino MAGA (Trump's, Make America Great Again) cult movement in Wisconsin, especially in Milwaukee  County, which failed to gain support from the Latino community that contributed to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump's (R/MAGA) defeat in Wisconsin by Joe Biden (D) in November 2020 who won Wisconsin and became the 46th President in 2021. Link: https://tinyurl.com/3fxskwue

Goodson was the first investigative reporter to expose the widespread corruption at the Waukesha County family court judicial system and the Walworth County corruption and false criminal police report filed by City of Delavan Police Detective Trevor G. Hinman and the $88M dollar federal Civil Rights lawsuit filed against them by multiple defendants. Article link: https://tinyurl.com/2hsk32jv

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
November 20, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin- Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) is proud to announce that H. Nelson Goodson has published more than 15,523 articles in the last 39 years in various blogs in the U.S. including thousands of articles in multiple Milwaukee Spanish/English language local newspapers.

Goodson began his reporting and journalist career in 1983 as a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee undergraduate writer for the Satélite UW-Milwaukee Student Newspaper, an affiliate of La Colectiva Student Organization, which he later became the Managing Editor. The Satélite Newspaper later became a community based independent credible publishing news source in the Southside of Milwaukee.

Goodson was also the Managing Editor of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal who later became the Publisher under the late Victor Welch, an African-American who owned the bilingual weekly newspaper, which continues to be published today by his family.

Goodson was also a co-publisher and former editor at El Conquistador Weekly Newspaper, which continues to publish today in Milwaukee. 

Currently, Goodson will continue to be an independent and alternative news investigative reporter/journalist in the Milwaukee and Wisconsin Hispanic/Latino community.

Goodson is a renowned investigative reporter/journalist for more than 39 years, also an administrative journalist for Hispanic News Network U.S.A. and a Civil Rights and Immigrant Rights advocate in the State of Wisconsin.

The Badger Blogger 2008, Patrick wrote: Mr. H. Nelson Goodson, "You have covered things that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper won't and you cover it in a way they fear." Posted on Badger Blogger on August 17th, 2007.

In history:

On August 1994, H. Nelson Goodson, former Satélite Newspaper Editor including investigative reporter (1983-1987) and the Publisher and Editor for the Milwaukee Spanish Journal celebrated in 1994 the 15th Anniversary of the Spanish Journal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In provided photo in article: H. Nelson Goodson, Steed Welch, Rhonda Welch, Victor Huyke, Reed Welch and Ricardo Gracia, former Satélite Newspaper Editor. The late Victor Welch was the founder and owner of the Spanish Journal (SJ) including family owned.

Francisco Giron was also a co-founder of the SJ and El Conquistador Latino Newspaper.

Goodson, Giron, Huyke, Cecil Negron, the late, Henry R. Sifuentes, Carlos Arsiniega and Thomas Longoria on July 4, 1998 co-founded El Conquistador Latino Newspaper in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Goodson was the Editor of El Conquistador Newspaper (Conquistador Communications LLC) from March 2005 to February 2008.

Goodson on October 2, 2008 established the Hispanic News Network U.S.A. website in Milwaukee on the Internet link https://bit.ly/3iuk7mY

HNNUSA alone has more than 23.7M views by its readership and popularity, with an additional combined news sources affiliated with Goodson and HNNUSA, which total more than an estimated 100M views by its readership in the U.S. and worldwide.

On February 2010, Spanish radio program producers H. Nelson Goodson, Zonia López, Patricia De La Torre, and Mario Moreno Fuentes debuted the Nfoque Latino Radio Spanish Program on La Nueva WJTI 1460 AM Radio Station in Milwaukee. (Goodson was a Nfoque radio producer, news reporter and host from February 2010 to March 2012) https://bit.ly/2FFjDw0

Friday, November 17, 2023

Wisconsin Fugitive Christian Correa, 21, Arrested By Atlanta Police And U.S. Marshals Service In Georgia

Correa was taken into custody on Thursday on a fugitive from justice warrant.

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

November 17, 2023

Atlanta, Georgia - On Thursday, Atlanta police and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Christian Abdon Correa, 21, from Wisconsin for a fugitive from justice warrant for the October 27 stabbing of his 17-year-old girlfriend in Franklin, Wisconsin. Correa was criminally charged for attempted 1st-degree intentional homicide with habitual criminality repeater and use of dangerous weapon; strangulation and suffocation with habitual criminality repeater; and child abuse with repeated acts to cause great bodily harm and habitual criminality repeater and use of dangerous weapon in the brutal stabbing incident.

If convicted in Wisconsin, Correa is facing up to 60-years in prison for intentional attempted homicide, and 5-years for use of a dangerous weapon: and an additional 60-years for child abuse to cause great bodily harm, and 5-years for use of a dangerous weapon; and up to 6--years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines for strangulation and suffocation. 

According to the criminal complaint, Correa stabbed his girlfriend after she broke up with him and took a knife away from her, after she tried to defend herself. Correa began to choke and beat his girlfriend when he learned that she would no longer be dating him and when she took out a knife from her pocket, Correa was able to take it away from her and he began to stab her multiple times in the face. She suffered a fractured skull, broken nose and stab wounds to the face.

Correa is facing extradition to Wisconsin from Georgia.


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t


Monday, November 13, 2023

Texas Court Of Appeals Affirmed Ricardo "Richie" Rangel Jr. Winner Of The November 2022 Laredo City Council District 2 Election

Ranger Jr. was declared the winner of the November  2022 Laredo City Council District 2 Election by the 4th Court of Appeals in Texas.

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

November 13, 2023

Laredo, Texas - On Monday, the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio affirmed that Ricardo "Richie" Rangel Jr. as the elected Council member of the City of Laredo Council District 2. The Court of Appeals found agreed with Rangel Jr. that widespread election fraud was committed by the Daisy Campos Rodriguez campaign in District 2.

Campos Rodriguez was declared the winner on November 8, 2022 by 6 votes and a recount resulted with an additional 5 votes totalling 11 votes more than Rangel Jr., but Rangel Jr. filed a lawsuit in November 2022 claiming that the Campos Rodriguez campaign had committed widespread election fraud that involved family members, friends, multiple Laredo Police Department officers and a supervisor.

According to Rangel Jr.'s lawsuit against Daisy Campos Rodriguez filed on November 29, 2022 in Webb County, Rangel Jr. alleged that the following 18 individuals related to Campos Rodriguez used an address claiming that they all reside at 3003 Pecos Plaza, which they do not, according to Rangel Jr.'s lawsuit. Apparently, the address and property is owned by Rodriguez's uncle, Jorge Arturo Campos.

The 18 individuals include:

1. Kate Samalie Meza

2. Karla Jocelyne Pereyra

3. Alejandro Rojas 

4. Jorge Alberto Aguilar

5. Keidy Vianey Alfaro

6. Edgar Garcia

7. Juan Ramon Rios

8. Jorge Armando Rosales

9. Ashley Nicole Rios

10. Jorge Alberto Campos

11. Jennifer Giselle Adame

12. Edgar Raul Campos

13. Leslie Aguilar Campos

14.Lilian Campos

15. Jessely Fuentes

16. Becky Denise Jimenez

17. Dayra Anarely Ramos

18. Juan Rios

Also, named in Rangel Jr.'s lawsuit that allegedly committed voter fraud are the following Laredo Police Officers and supervisor.

1. Juan Guadalupe Villa

2. Sgt. Vicente Rodriguez 

3. Raul Rios

4. Bryan Vicharelli

Rangel Jr. sought as a remedy for the Webb County Court judge to order an election machine count, for Rodriguez to pay court fees and attorney fees for Rangel Jr., for votes cast by the individuals named in the lawsuit to be voided, criminal charges to be sought for those found to have committed voter fraud and for the Court judge to order a new election for the Laredo City Council District 2 seat.

The Rangel Jr. lawsuit also claimed that due to the alleged voter fraud committed by the Campos Rodriguez's family members, relatives and friends, Rangel Jr. should be declared the actual winner of the November 8, 2022 General Election for the Laredo City Council District 2 seat.

On February 1, 2023, Webb County Judge Susan Reed found that 11 people who know Campos Rodriguez voted illegally by claiming addresses in District 2 that they admitted in court weren't their actual addresses. 4 Laredo Police officers, 1 U.S. Border Patrol agent, 2 real estate agents and City employees, according to the lawsuit.

Rangel was declared the winner of the City Council seat in District 2 by Judge Reed in the lawsuit.

Campos Rodriguez appealed Judge Reed's decision in the 4th Court of Appeals.

The Rangel Jr. case was later heard by the 4th Court of Appeals in San Antonio, Texas, which decided and announced on Monday that Rangel Jr. was the official winner because voter fraud was committed by the Campos Rodriguez campaign.

Article of voter fraud lawsuit filed by Rangel Jr. at link (includes lawsuit): https://tinyurl.com/882zehr4



Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Sunday, November 12, 2023

HACM Board And Secretary Willie Hines Should Be Replaced, City's Housing Authority Tenants And Common Ground Org Say

Common Ground Org and organized tenants from multiple developments at the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) want the HACM Board and Hines, its executive director replaced immediately.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. 
November 12, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Jennifer O'Hear, the Common Ground lead organizer in a press release says, "Hines and the HACM Board must go" and calls for new leadership after a damaging report was released on April 10, 2023 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and later published in an article by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and also reported by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNUSA), the only Latino news source in Milwaukee that continues to follow HACM's continuing saga of providing substandard services and housing to its tenants attributed to "a staggering level of incompetence at HACM".

Hines executive staff should also be replaced, the Common Ground Org says.

According to O'Hear, Willie Hines, Secretary-Executive Director of HACM annual salary is $240,000 and has been at the HACM helm 24 years of his 25 years with HACM, a non-profit organization created by the City of Milwaukee to provide affordable Section 8 housing for low income residents in Milwaukee. Hines was appointed Secretary-Executive Director of HACM in March of 2022.

The HUD report cited:

• "intentional misreporting"

• "complete breakdown of internal controls"

• "staff not sufficiently trained"

• "no oversight"

• "at risk for serious fraud, waste, and abuse"

• "inconsistencies"

• "[f]ailure to monitor and document"

• "serious concern"

• "grossly inaccurate"

• "violation of the Privacy Act"

• "lack of understanding"

• "increases operational risk"

• "cumbersome and inefficient"

• "misleading and untrue"

• "not in compliance"

• "violated its own policy"

• "troubling errors and discrepancies"

Full reports at following links:

HUD Report (PDF) of HACM: https://tinyurl.com/ub4a2m6k

Letter to Hines from HUD (PDF): https://tinyurl.com/27d8cds4


On October 11, 2024, the Milwaukee Common Council anonymously approved a City ordinance for the Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS) to have authority to inspect all of the HACM buildings and development for any City code violations and to charge fees and fine HACM for repeated violations and inspections. The DNS under the approved ordinance will allow for the Common Council to get annual reports by the DNS inspection results.

According to the DNS, it won't be able to inspect the HACM developments until the beginning of 2024, after additional City building inspectors are hired and trained to handle the overload of inspections in the City.

On Sunday, November 12, 2023, Common Ground will hold a Gall Assembly at Mount Mary University, Bergestrom Hall, Alumnae Dining Room, 2927 N. 92 Street from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday, November 10, 2023

Jury Finds Former Cop Michael A. Mattioli Not Guilty For The Chokehold Reckless Homicide Of Joel Acevedo In Milwaukee's Southside

Mattioli was found not guilty for the 2020 cold blooded chokehold reckless homicide of Acevedo.

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

November 10, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, a Milwaukee County jury found Michael A. Mattioli, 36, a former Milwaukee police officer not guilty for the April 2020 brutal chokehold 1st-degree reckless homicide of Joel Acevedo, 25. Mattioli was facing up to 60 years in prison, if convicted. 

According to the criminal complaint, Acevedo died days after suffering from brain injuries caused by battery resulting in blunt force trauma to the head when he was severely beaten Mattioli at a house party hosted by him in the Southside of Milwaukee.

Mattioli also held Acevedo in a chokehold for at least 11 minutes and 20 seconds, according to Attorney B'Ivory LeMarr, Acevedo's family lawyer who on April 14, 2023 filed a $15M civil lawsuit in Milwaukee County on behalf of the Acevedo family against former officer Mattioli, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales at the time (today, no longer chief) and Milwaukee Police Officer Robert Roach claiming that the Milwaukee Police Department allowed the use of a chokehold by officers.

Since Acevedo's murder, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission banned the use of chokeholds by police officers while subduing individuals when detaining.


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Thursday, November 9, 2023

The Untold Story: La Colectiva Student Org And Latin Student Union At UW-Milwaukee Blocked Attempts To Eliminate SSOI/RHC

The Roberto Hernández Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee formerly the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute officially reached its 53rd year of providing student recruitment and advising services to Latino undergraduates at the University.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.
Contributors: H. Nelson Goodson and Robert Miranda 

November 9, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On November 1, 2023, the Roberto Hernández Center (RHC) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) formerly the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI) reached its 53rd year of providing student recruitment and advising services to Latino student undergraduates at the urban University. The SSOI was established and began to operate on November 1, 1970 after a successful struggle by the Latino community seeking equal access to higher education. 

On August 27, 1970, members of the Latino community held a sit-in protest during a "Takeover" of the Chancellor's Office at Chapman Hall in a defiant act to seek equal access to higher education at a time when the UW-Milwaukee administration practiced an unwritten discriminatory policy that kept Latinos from enrolling at the University.

Here's the untold story of two separated Latino Student movements as told by H. Nelson Goodson and Robert Miranda, both graduates from the University that helped reinforced and keep intact the Latino community's original goal to have the SSOI/RHC continue to provide recruitment and advising services to incoming Latino students and undergraduates at UWM.

According to Goodson, here's an untold story in Wisconsin's higher education history: In recognition of all the members of La Colectiva Student Organization at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1985, who united in one common goal to keep the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI) now renamed the Roberto Hernández Center (RHC) intact to continue with its mission when then Dean William F. Halloran from Letters & Sciences and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee  administration attempted to merge the SSOI with the multi-cultural center in order to weaken it and eventually phase it out.

The SSOI was instrumental in recruiting and advising undergraduate Latinos at UWM and under the Roberto Hernández Center continues to do so today.

Felipe Rodriguez, a former SSOI advisor and interim director of the SSOI who retired in 2015 was instrumental in 1985 as a whistle blower who received word that Dean Halloran and the UWM administration wanted to weaken and eventually phase out the SSOI.

The SSOI was established on November 1, 1970 at UWM after a Latino community Chancellor's Office Takeover at Chapman Hall on August 27, 1970. In 1970, there were less than 14 Latino students enrolled at UWM compared to 25,000 White students. Most of those Latino students were from foreign countries except for a few who were from Wisconsin.

In 1970, an unwritten discriminatory policy was practiced to keep Latinos from enrolling at UWM and the Milwaukee Public School District system in the City also failed miserably to prepare Latino students for college bound courses, until our united Latino community raised up to fight for equal access to higher education.

In brief: Felipe Rodriguez in 1985 called H. Nelson Goodson, Student President of at La Colectiva Student Organization and told him that Dean Halloran and the UWM administration were planning to merge the SSOI with the multi-cultural center, which eventually would weaken it and phase it out. Goodson managed to get Yolanda Hernández, Josephine Marie Rivas, Anthony Garza, Havidán Rodriguez, Miguel Ferriera, Nydia Flores, Alicia Herrera, Isidro González, Ruben Burgos and Javier Ortiz also members of La Colectiva to meet with then Acting Vice-Chancellor John H. Schoeder in regards to the proposed merger of the SSOI.

Goodson told Schoeder, if Dean Halloran and the UWM administration continued with their proposal to merge the SSOI with the multi-cultural center in order to weaken it and eventually phase it out, Goodson and members of La Colectiva would organize the Latino community to protest at the Chancellor's Office at Chapman Hall again like our community did in 1970.

Rodriguez from SSOI afterwards called Goodson and confirmed that the Dean Halloran and UWM administration proposed plan to merge SSOI with multi-cultural center in 1985 had been canceled.

Fredy Canales, originally from Peru who was a graduate student at UWM working on his second Master's Degree told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA), that he remembers La Colectiva's student movement to block the elimination of the SSOI in 1985, "I knew about the movement that Goodson (also, members of La Colectiva) were part of and in 1985-1986 during my MS degree studies, myself and Anselmo Villarreal (UWM graduate students) were supporting and participating with Felipe Rodriguez against the proposed plan to merge SSOI with the multi-cultural center, which was canceled in 1985." 

Also, Goodson was the first Hispanic and UWM graduate to write the well known article "Venceremos, The 1970 Struggle For Education" in July 13, 2001 of the UWM Chancellor's Office Takeover at Chapman Hall and published by El Conquistador Newspaper 31 years after the Takeover happened at UWM.

Goodson recalled that the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) was scheduled to hold a conference in Milwaukee and many local Latinos had signed up to be volunteers at the 3-day conference in downtown Milwaukee.

The NCLR conference organizers were surprised to noticed a large number of Latinos highly educated compared to other states they have held conferences and they wanted to learn how so many Latinos in Milwaukee were highly educated.

Victor Huyke, the Publisher of El Conquistador Newspaper who attended one of the volunteer organizing meetings decided to let Goodson, who was the Managing Editor of El Conquistador write an article about the history of the SSOI. Huyke knew that Goodson had been contemplating in writing the history of the SSOI, since no one had taken time for the last 31 years in writing the historic protests and creation of the SSOI, was later renamed the Roberto Hernández Center.

On July 5, 2001, Goodson went to the RHC at UWM, which was located at Bolton Hall just across from Chapman Hall, the Chancellor's Office.

In the mid 1980's, Goodson while taking courses at UWM had noticed that when the SSOI had events at the Student Union, it always displayed historic photos of the August 27, 1970 Takeover of the Chancellor's Office by the Latino community.

In 1996, the SSOI was renamed the Roberto Hernández Center.

Goodson wanted to get copies of the photos so he could include some of them on the upcoming Conquistador article.

When Goodson went to the RHC on July 5, 2001, most of the offices and advisors were gone for the Summer, but Carmen Cepeda, the RHC secretary was the only one present and holding the RHC office open.

Goodson asked Cepeda that he was at RHC to get an update of the Institute and to see, if he could get copies of the historic photos of the 1970 Takeover. Cepeda told Goodson that she didn't know where the photos were stored and that William Velez, the Interim Director of the RHC was on vacation. When Goodson asked Cepeda for an update of the RHC, she responded that she didn't know the latest developments or what future the RHC had expected to have.

Goodson left the RHC and went to talk to the Dean from Letters & Sciences, but his secretary told Goodson he wasn't in and when asked about any update of the RHC, the Dean's secretary responded that she didn't know and referred Goodson to the Chancellor's Office for any information about RHC.

Goodson had heard previously that a committee had been formed by the Chancellor's Office to plan and discuss the future of the RHC.

Goodson went to the Chancellor's Office and was able to talk to Vice-Chancellor Leslie Schultz  who told Goodson that UWM had information to be released to the Latino community on what would transpired concerning the future of the RHC. Schultz open her desk drawer and took out two draft pages of the proposed plan for the RHC. Goodson asked for a copy, once Goodson received the 2-page draft about the future plan of the RHC, he included the information in the article that was published on July 13 - 19, 2001. Once the information that Schultz provided to Goodson was published, UWM had no choice, but to implement the plan.

Associate Professor Joseph A. Rodriguez at UWM wrote an article about the SSOI and RHC history and revised on December 2005, which mentioned briefly, the Dean Halloran's proposal to strip SSOI's advising component in 1985, but it didn't include the proposed merger and that members of La Colectiva were instrumental and managed to stop Halloran's discriminatory plan to change the SSOI, which would gradually phase it out.

Here's the Rodriguez  retirement article that recognized members from La Colectiva Student Organization at UWM that continued the fight to keep the SSOI in one piece to continue with its goal to recruit and advise Latino student undergraduates at UWM.

WI: Felipe Rodriguez Jr. Retires From UW-Milwaukee After 39 Years Of Academic Service https://tinyurl.com/2h9vyjxb

According to Miranda, here's the second untold story in Wisconsin's higher education history: The Latin Student Union (LSU) was instrumental in blocking attempts to eliminate SSOI. The continuing saga of Latino presence at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee did not end with the heroic actions of activists in the 1970's, but continued well into the early 2000s as Latino student activists organized to defend, protect the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI) and ultimately established the Roberto Hernández Center (RHC).

In recognition of all the members of the Latin Student Union created on campus in 1992, (Bernardino Alvarez, John Torres, Marshall Vega, Carlos Arseniga, Miguel Soto, Bobbi Lepiles, Selahattin Kurter, Stella Miranda, Patricia Torres, Rafael Acevedo, Alberto Maldonado and many more) who not only fought to defend the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI), now renamed the Roberto Hernández Center (RHC), but also created the Latino Studies Program and hired the first director of the RHC after defeating then Dean William F. Halloran from Letters & Sciences and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee administration attempt to merge the SSOI with other programs and ultimately have it phased out. 

The SSOI was instrumental in recruiting and advising undergraduate Latinos at UWM and under the Roberto Hernández Center continues to do so today.

Felipe Rodriguez, a former LSU advisor and director of the SSOI who retired in 2015 alerted Miranda with Dr. Suleyman Kurter that  Dean Halloran and the UWM administration were planning on eliminating the SSOI.

Dr. Suleyman Kurter, an advisor to the Latin Student Union took strong stand with Miranda, founder and first president of the LSU to fight back against the administration. The actions that followed (such as as the Blue Ribbon Committee) from 1992 to 1998 eventually cost Dr. Kurter a high position at the university but to this day does not regret his support for the LSU. 

We recognize Dr. Kurter for his strong and unyielding resolve to help the students in 1995 ultimately force the University to agree to create the Robert Hernández Center. 

Felipe Rodriquez in cooperation with Dr. Suleyman Kurter kept student leaders informed of the decisions the administration was making regarding LSU demands to rename and recreate the SSOI into the RHC. Under Chancellor Nancy Zempher and Dean Grosslan of the College of Letters and Science, an agreement was made with the Latino Student Union to establish the RHC by 2003. 

In 1993, Miranda became the first Latino student body president at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Under his leadership he pushed the university administration to established the RHC and to create a Latino Studies Program. It was under Miranda's leadership as Student Association president the U-pass program was established in 1994. 

The program gave UWM students buss passes paid from tuition fees to use MCTS service in order to be able to ride a bus to get to university and back home. The program is still in use today.  

Miranda as Student Associate president was able summon then Chancellor John Schoeder to attend meetings with the students and community leaders Ernesto Chacon, Abel Ottis and others to inform Dean Halloran and the UWM administration hands off of SSOI and their proposal to merge the SSOI and ultimately phase out SSOI will not happen, but that SSOI will be enhanced by RENAMING AND RECREATING the SSOI into the Roberto Hernández Center. To let the Chancellor know LSU was serious, student leaders took over a class room to give show of force to the administration LSU was for real.  

Associate Professor Joseph A. Rodriguez at UWM was commissioned to write a brief history of SSOI BUT FAILS TO GO IN MORE DETAIL ON THE contemporary student actions to create RHC.  A more detailed report is needed to give historical facts and details to show the continuing efforts to fight to maintain Latino presence at the University.

According to Miranda, Dean Halloran was outed by LSU for allegedly scheming more than $17.5M from the Black student and Latino student funded programs and illegally redirecting those student program funds to other areas in a 10-year period. Halloran was forced to retire as Dean after he was exposed, but no criminal charges were ever filed against Halloran.

Video: RHC 40th Anniversary, includes actual news footage of the August 27, 1970 Takeover of the Chancellor's Office at Chapman Hall: https://youtu.be/FzOpOxI_GKw

Joseph A. Rodriguez, Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Department of History Director, Urban Studies Program revised article titled "Latinos at UWM: A History of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute and the Roberto Hernández Center" on December 2005. https://tinyurl.com/4dkjx6yj

Update:

WI: H. Nelson Goodson spoke about his student experience at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee between 1984 to 1988, which included his effort along with other La Colectiva Student Organization members to stop the UWM administration and Letter & Sciences Dean William F. Halloran from phasing out the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI) in 1985, which was later renamed the Roberto Hernández Center by merging it with the multi-cultural department.

Goodson on November 27, 2023 had an interview with Ann M. Hanlon, Head of Digital Collections and Initiatives and Digital Humanity Services at the UW-Milwaukee.

Goodson's oral history will be included in the HOLA Archives, a podcast series that takes a deep dive into the stories of Milwaukee Latinos/as who fought to make Milwaukee a more welcoming community.

Link to The HOLA Archives at UWM Library and Wisconsin Humanities in collaboration with the RHC, a podcast series that provides multiple interviews of stories of Milwaukee Latino/as who fought to make Milwaukee a more welcoming community, especially at the UW-Milwaukee from the 1970's to later years. https://uwm.edu/libraries/digital-humanities-lab/hola-podcast/

Source: Interview and video courtesy of H. Nelson Goodson https://youtu.be/DxEU0QXWJz0

Letter by H. Nelson Goodson sent to Joseph A. Rodriguez, Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Department of History Director on March 30, 2004 with additional names of students involved with La Colectiva and Satélite at UWM in the mid 1980's to late 1980's that supported SSOI. Click to enlarge.


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Jury Trial Begins, Former MPD Officer Michael Mattioli Facing 60 Years In Prison, If Convicted For The 2020 Chokehold Reckless Homicide Of Joel Acevedo, 25, In The Southside Of Milwaukee

After 3 1/2 years of delays, the reckless homicide of Acevedo began on Tuesday against former Milwaukee Police Officer Mattioli who is facing up to 60 years in prison, if convicted of the brutal cold-blooded chokehold murder of Acevedo in 2020.

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

November 7, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, Michael A. Mattioli, 36, went on trial once again in Milwaukee County for the April 2020 1st-degree reckless homicide of Joel Acevedo, 25, after more than 3 years and 6 months of delays. If convicted, Mattioli is facing up to 60 years in prison for the alleged cold-blooded chokehold murder of Acevedo.

According to the criminal complaint, Acevedo died days after suffering from brain injuries caused by battery resulting in blunt force trauma to the head when he was severely beaten Mattioli at a house party hosted by him in the Southside of Milwaukee.

Mattioli also held Acevedo in a chokehold for at least 11 minutes and 20 seconds, according to Attorney B'Ivory LeMarr, Acevedo's family lawyer who on April 14, 2023 filed a $15M civil lawsuit in Milwaukee County on behalf of the Acevedo family against former officer Mattioli, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales at the time (today, no longer chief) and Milwaukee Police Officer Robert Roach claiming that the Milwaukee Police Department allowed the use of a chokehold by officers.

Since Acevedo's murder, the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission banned the use of chokeholds by police officers while subduing individuals when detaining.


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

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Sunday, November 5, 2023

Milwaukee Southside López Bakery & Restaurant To Close When Building Is Sold, Owners Announced On Social Media

The owners of the López Bakery & Restaurant at W. Historic Mitchell Street will permanently close their business once the building they are located in is sold.

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

November 5, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Saturday, both Cindy and Jorge López, the owners of López Bakery & Restaurant at the 1100 block of W. Historic Mitchell Street announced on their López Bakery & Restaurant Facebook (FB) page that they have decided to permanently close the bakery once their building where the corner popular bakery business has been located for the last 50 years is sold.

According to the City of Milwaukee tax assessment, the building at the 1100 block of W. Historic Mitchell Street is valued at $269,100, the corner building was built in 1929.

The López's decision to close the bakery business was contributed by their "financial situation and navigating challenging economic times."

"Since Covid, we were hit with a series of challenges and family health issues which made it incredibly difficult to maintain daily operations especially after we were forced to limit our services during the pandemic," the López's wrote in the López Bakery & Restaurant Facebook post.

On January 24, the López Bakery & Restaurant announced a brief closing of their business as a result of a basement flood, also one of the ovens had broken down, a death in the family and a family medical matter. A community food brunch " Pay As You May" invite fundraiser was organized by Steve Ozbolt of Emerald City Catering & Events at S. 13 St. was held to help the López's during their financial burden, all the proceeds, more than $15,000 raised was donated to the López's. The Carmen High School students volunteered to help in the food brunch fundraiser as well, according to the López's.

In addition, a GoFundMe page by López Bakery raised $8,571 of a goal of $15,000.

The López Bakery & Restaurant were able to reopened around February 4, 2023 just before the food brunch fundraiser took place.

In July 2021, the López Bakery & Restaurant was recognized by the Milwaukee Bucks for making green tamales after the Bucks won the Eastern Conference Championship in early July and were in the NBA finals for 2021.

Jóse López in 1973 first opened the López Bakery in the Southside of Milwaukee and it was later located at the 600 block of W. National Ave., then it eventually moved to the 1100 block of W. Historic Mitchell Street, where a restaurant was added. The López's later opened another location at the 1600 block of W. Lincoln Street, but it eventually closed.

In 2012, Cindy López and Jorge López, a fourth generation baker took over the López Bakery & Restaurant after purchasing it for $70,000 at the time from his father Jóse López, after he retired, City tax assessment records show. Jóse ran the bakery and Restaurant until 2011 with his wife, Amparo López. Amparo, 78, originally from Coahuila, Mexico passed away on May 15, 2023. Amparo is survived by her husband of 60 years Jóse and her three children, Jorge, Jóse Jr. and Diana, according to the local obituary.

Jóse and Amparo López immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 1967, where Jóse's father and grandfather were mexican bakers by trade.

The following is the complete post on the López Bakery & Restaurant FB page.

It is with great sadness, that we announce the permanent closing of  Lopez Bakery.  The bakery will remain open until the building is sold.  This has not been an easy decision and one we have struggled with for some time.  After careful consideration of our financial situation and navigating challenging economic times, we felt this was best for not only our business but our family.  Since Covid, we were hit with a series of challenges and family health issues which made it incredibly difficult to maintain daily operations especially after we were forced to limit our services during the pandemic. During these challenging times, we were blessed with the support of the community to help our small business stay afloat. However, in spite of our greatest efforts, we felt this was the best decision. 

The Lopez family is proud of what we have accomplished in the last 50 years.  It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as a minority, small business in the Hispanic community, local farmers markets and all of Southeastern Wisconsin.  We ask that you please continue to support other small businesses and shop local as much as possible.   

We would like to send a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful employees over the years who were like family.  And of course, thank you to all our loyal customers for the many years of patronage. 

Again, it will be business as usual until the building is sold.  

We love you all and are eternally grateful for the 50 years! 

Jorge and Cindy Lopez

Update: The López Bakery will permanently close on January 14, 2024.


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Friday, November 3, 2023

53-year-old Woman Victim Of Battery Assault At El Rey Supermarket On Chávez Drive In Milwaukee Says It Was Unprovoked

Victim of battery assault says the attack by a young woman was unprovoked.

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

November 3, 2023

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On November 3, 2023 at around 2:15 p.m., Ana Maria Guzmán Moreno, 53, was a victim of an unprovoked battery assault when entering the El Rey Supermarket located at the 900 block of South César E Chavez Drive in Milwaukee. According to Guzmán Moreno, she was physically attacked by a young woman when she entered the El Rey food store in the Southside of Milwaukee. The victim looked at a girl talking or arguing with a store male security and the moment she passed, the unknown girl turned and slapped Guzmán Moreno without any provocation.

Two Milwaukee police officers arrived at the scene after an hour and a half to investigate the reported battery assault. No one was arrested, but police know who the suspect is, due to prior encounters with her.

The Marshall Public Safety security guard at El Rey told the 53-year-old victim that the young woman allegedly suffers from a mental disability and shows signs of schizophrenia. Also, that the young woman with White completion has had previous problems at Pete's Fruit Market as well and the she is known by name by multiple employees at the fruit market, which police also know who the suspect is due to previous contact with her.

According to another individual at El Rey, the young woman made some racially charged remarks to Guzmán Moreno.

Guzmán Moreno when asked about those remarks, she didn't want to repeat them while being video recorded by Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA). Full video interview with Guzmán Moreno: https://youtu.be/NBnZzuOpyfA

It is not clear, if police officers investigating the battery incident requested store video surveillance that could have captured the moment Guzmán Moreno was assaulted by the young woman who apparently is bilingual and speaks both English and Spanish.


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Thursday, November 2, 2023

Wisconsin Defendants From Walworth And Waukesha Counties Named In A Updated Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Filing Facing $88M In Liability


Delevan Police Detective Trevor G. Hinman is one of the primary defendants named in federal Civil Rights lawsuit for filing a false criminal police report in order to defraud the U.S. government (Department of State) from its sovereign duty to legally and solely engage in an extradition process with Canada seeking to extradite several alleged Walworth County wanted individuals in connection with the January 2023 run away case of a then 15-year-old boy who voluntarily crossed into Canada seeking refugee status to escape from his known abusive father and be with his mother who also had previously applied for refugee status in Canada.

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

November 2, 2023

Hawaii - On Thursday, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) confirmed that Kathryn Alamea-Xian, who identified as a member of the LBGTQI and is one of the primary Plaintiffs in the 23CV00211 JAO WRP, Xian et al v. Jasmer et al federal case with the United States District Court of the District of Hawaii, has re-filed an amended Civil Rights lawsuit version and upped the sought liability in damages to $88,000,000 against multiple defendants from Walworth and Waukesha Counties including one of the primary defendants, Delavan Police Department Detective Trevor G. Hinman who according to the Civil Rights lawsuit, he filed several false criminal police reports in an attempt to help extradite several wanted individuals from Canada without the U.S. Department of State involvement, which would be deemed illegal. It is not legally binding for Walworth County to solely engage with a foreign country to extradite anyone, especially U.S. Citizens without the U.S. Department of State initiating the extradition process.

Detective Hinman is still employed at the Delavan Police Department and has not been criminally charged by the Walworth County District Attorney's Office for filing several false criminal police reports charging two wanted Walworth County suspects, Kathryn Alamea-Xian and Julie Valadez for kidnap minor to sexually assault and claimed they had been arrested in the report, which Alamea-Xian and Julie were not in Wisconsin when Julie's 15-year-old son ran away and fled to Canada to escape his abusive father, Ricardo Valadez, a former pastor in Waukesha County.

In brief:

The U.S. District Court for the State of Hawaii previously stated that it did not recommend the Plaintiffs to drop their claim against Det. Hinman of the Delavan Police Department who allegedly fabricated felony criminal charges by citing "Kidnapped Minor to Sexually Assault" in his police supplemental filing report dated January 10, 2023 against both Alamea-Xian, 50, and Julie Valadez, 39. The federal court further gave Plaintiffs time to amend their pleading to sue the Wisconsin State Defendant's in their personal capacities. Alamea-Xian stated that the amended pleading will be submitted and will leave out the former Federal parties as it has become clear that Det. Hinman and Wisconsin Attorney Kurt Schuster et al, have misrepresented them in this unconstitutional criminal investigation. 


Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA)

HNNUSA: Donations accepted/se aceptan donaciones: https://tinyurl.com/3y8ej92t

Excerpts from Civil Rights complaint: