Here & Now

Juneteenth Flag Flies at Capitol, First Time in Wis. History

Frederica Freyberg:

At this hour, the Juneteenth flag is flying over the east entrance to the Wisconsin State Capitol, just below the U.S. and Wisconsin flags. Today is Juneteenth, a day that marks 155 years since the last enslaved people in the United States learned that they were free. It’s the first time in Wisconsin history the Juneteenth flag has flown at the Capitol. On this Juneteenth day, and in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and demonstrations, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes today announced a package of police reform legislation. They call for bipartisan cooperation saying the governor should not have to call a special session when “people across our state are demanding we take action.”