Another video of the Milwaukee Police Department officers involved in the arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown was released today, highlighting the officers’ plans to defend their inappropriate treatment of Brown

Chris Ott, Executive Director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, issued the following statement in response:

“We are outraged that the police officers involved in Milwaukee Bucks’ player Sterling Brown’s arrest were focused on planning damage control for their excessive use of force, instead of treating Mr. Brown with the dignity and professionalism that everyone—whether a Bucks player or not—deserves from the police. These officers refer to public concerns about racially biased policing with disdain, providing further proof that the culture and conduct of the Milwaukee Police Department toward people of color and their concerns need to change.

These officers must be held accountable to reinforce that police have a duty to protect and serve all people equally regardless of the color of their skin - including people of color. And to people who think that basketball players - or other athletes - shouldn't concern themselves with what happens off the court, take note that this type of policing impacts ALL people.” 

by Chris Ott, Executive Director, ACLU of Wisconsin

It can seem like all our troubles started when Donald Trump became President, and certainly, some of them did.

But the abuses of immigrants that the ACLU uncovered recently just showed an extreme version of the way that the United States has treated immigrants—or even just people who somebody else thinks is an immigrant—for much too long.

The 30,000 pages of documents obtained by the ACLU detail shocking treatment of people who reach the United States: things like the denial of care to young mothers and infants, sexual assault and threats of it, and other violence—even running over a 17-year-old boy with a patrol vehicle, then punching him over and over.

But here’s the thing: all of the documents about these incidents came from the years 2009-2014.

Unfortunately, things have gotten even worse since then. Last fall, the Trump administration began taking young children away from their asylum-seeking parents who reach the US border. More than 1,300 children have been taken from their parents since last October—and 658 during just two weeks in May.

Just think what that must feel like. It represents a new low.

That is why the ACLU is fighting for the immediate reunion of hundreds of children and parents through a class-action lawsuit.

But because these problems didn’t start with President Trump, it means they won’t end with him either—at least not without you.

It was so great to see so many people come out for the ACLU’s “Families Belong Together” rallies on Friday: across the country, and here in Wisconsin, in Milwaukee and Madison. This photo shows our organizer Jarrett English speaking to reporters and the crowd that rallied outside the US Immigration & Customs Enforcement office on Knapp Street in Milwaukee.

For those of you who have worked for the rights and dignity of immigrants for years, thank you. You have been right all along, and we need you more than ever.

And for those of you who have gotten outraged and involved more recently, we need you too. Please stay with us, and thank you.