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5 Things To Do This June 2020 In Milwaukee

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Historic Photo Collection / Milwaukee Public Library
Father James Groppi and members of the NAACP Youth Council march in support of Vel Phillips’ open housing bill. Learning more about this movement is just one thing you can do this June. ";

Every month, Adam Carr from the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service joins us to talk about some of the community events that generally happen in Milwaukee. But this month, like seemingly every month lately, is different.

Milwaukeeans have been marching and protesting in neighborhoods throughout the city, calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality, among other social reforms. We’re also still in the middle of a global pandemic, which has many people stuck in their homes. 

So this month, we’re highlighting some local resources to give people a better insight into these protests. We’re looking to our community’s past and its future as we all try to understand and survive this historic moment we’re a part of. 

1. Read community response

"You really can't do enough listening right now, especially for folks who are in the thick of what's being discussed right now, which is ideas of racism and police brutality," says Carr.

Over 60 community organizations and individuals signed on to a list of specific demands to make a change in Milwaukee's public safety. It was published by Milwaukee Neighborhood New Service as a part of its Community Voices program. 

2. Follow protests from home through livestreams

Because of the coronavirus, disabilities, or other factors, not everyone can be in the streets protesting. But some people have been livestreaming the protests so you can see what's happening from inside these groups. 

Vaun Mayes, Frank NittyReggie Moore and Matt Wild all have been livestreaming on Facebook and you can go back and look at all of their videos from the past week. 

3. Learn about "The Long March to Freedom"

For 200 consecutive days from 1967 to 1968, protesters marched from Milwaukee's north side to the south side in support of open housing legislation. 

For the 50th anniversary, the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service put together interviews from different people who were involved in the protests, along with information about the movement and the backlash it faced from white community members. The project is named The Long March to Freedom.

4. Get tested for COVID-19

If you have been out at a march or protest, it's especially important to remember that we are still in a pandemic and using new testing sites is crucial for your health. 

The Milwaukee Health Department has testing sites at Custer Stadium and UMOS. Testing is available:

  • Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Testing is free and no appointment is necessary.
5. Check out the photo gallery of graduates

The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service put together a gallery of 23 people who graduated from all different levels of education this spring.

Carr was one of the photographers for this project and he says, "[The gallery] was a reminder of what [the protests] are all about. These are young people who are graduating from grade school, middle school, high school, and college who are inheriting this world."

Joy is a WUWM host and producer for Lake Effect.
From 2020 to 2021, Jack was WUWM's digital intern and then digital producer.
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