Here & Now

What a 'New Day' Look Like in Milwaukee

Frederica Freyberg:

One of Milwaukee’s leading community and election organizers did not endorse Cavalier Johnson in his run for mayor. Why not? We asked Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities and she joins us from Milwaukee. Nice to see you again.

Angela Lang:

Thanks for having me.

Frederica Freyberg:

Why didn’t BLOC endorse in the mayor’s race?

Angela Lang:

Yeah. This was not a decision that we made lightly but given a lot of the conversations that we heard on doors, specifically about how both candidates talked about policing was a challenge for us and that wasn’t something that we could get over. And so in the primary, we released a statement staying out of the primary, but we’re very clear that we wanted to leave the door open in case people wanted to engage in a discussion of how we feel safety should be in our communities. And unfortunately, we didn’t hear anything from either campaign. So we had to move forward. There’s not much we could do. We want to move forward now that Mayor Johnson is elected. Through his historic win, we look forward to the future just as much as he did. So we look forward to working with him and best believe Monday morning we will be sending an email to the office to request a formal meeting so we can start to work together to make a Milwaukee where everyone can thrive.

Frederica Freyberg:

What is your reaction to the first elected Black mayor in your city?

Angela Lang:

You know, a lot of people have said it’s about time. And I share that sentiment. It’s long overdue and very curious and very anxious and excited to see how Mayor Johnson also works with people like the chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board, Marcelia Nicholson, and our County Executive David Crowley, who are also young Black folks as well. Lucky to see all their leadership and really excited to see how they work together to bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to all of Milwaukee. So I’m excited and I think that kind of shatters a ceiling a little bit and that’s the standard moving forward. We need to make sure we continue to have representation.

Frederica Freyberg:

A lot of the campaign focused on violent crime in Milwaukee. When you meet with the mayor, what would you like to tell him about what you would like to see around that?

Angela Lang:

The first thing that we are hearing from our community and our team and those that have been directly impacted by policing and crime and violence is that people want to see investments into their communities. They don’t want to see more and more resources taken from their communities, given to law enforcement. People want to have access to safe and affordable housing. People want to have access to reliable transportation, a living wage job. I believe if we’re investing in those areas and investing into thriving communities and beautiful parks and greenspace and things like that, then that is what will make our neighborhoods safe and making sure that we have the resources to invest in our communities.

Frederica Freyberg:

Do you expect that you will be able to have accord on those issues with the mayor?

Angela Lang:

I hope so. You know, we hope that we all understand that crime is a challenge in our city, but we have opportunities. It’s a new day. There’s new representation. And there’s now an opportunity for us to do things differently, to actually dream. And so we look forward to dreaming with Mayor Johnson with his historic win of how we can make sure everyone kind of understands and feels represented now, too.

Frederica Freyberg:

Now, Mayor Johnson wants to reconnect with the legislative leadership. What do you think of that priority?

Angela Lang:

Absolutely. I think that is something that is super important. We understand how the legislature treats Milwaukee. So many times there’s a lot of anti-Milwaukee sentiment that comes out of the capitol. So I wish him well on that endeavor. I think it’s a big task given our political landscape at the moment but it’s something that needs to happen. It needs to be done. I’m glad he’s making it one of his top priorities.

Frederica Freyberg:

People are talking a lot about it being a new day in Milwaukee, including yourself. What would a new day look like for you and your organization?

Angela Lang:

A new day for us feels that our community is being listened to, that our communities are being invested in and not over-policed, that we are meeting people that have gone through challenges through a place of love and community restoration and wrapping our arms around folks that may have had challenges instead of throwing them into the carceral system and really kind of providing that hope and that light at the end of the tunnel for so many community members that have been left behind.

Frederica Freyberg:

What is it like right now in Milwaukee?

Angela Lang:

It’s challenging. I’ve often said that Milwaukee is a beautiful place that inspires me and breaks my heart. And you see where there’s a lack of investment in some of our communities. But you see the resilience and the beauty of the people here. And so we are going to continue to fight for our communities because we know that we deserve to be in a thriving, healthy and safe community.

Frederica Freyberg:

So lastly, what’s your reaction to the confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson as supreme court justice?

Angela Lang:

An emotional reaction. Very, very excited. Also another first long overdue. I actually just released an op-ed this morning reflecting on it with the Wisconsin Examiner and specifically how she was treated as a Black woman and to watch that hearing and see how she was treated was terrible. But to finally know we’ve made history and we’re moving this country one step further is very exciting and lots of good feelings and emotions around her official confirmation now.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. Angela Lang, thanks very much for joining us.

Angela Lang:

Thank you.