News & Commentary

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A federal judge in Milwaukee struck down Wisconsin's voter identification law Tuesday, declaring that a requirement that voters show a state-issued photo ID at the polls imposes an unfair burden on poor and minority voters.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A federal judge struck down Wisconsin's voter identification law Tuesday, declaring that a requirement that voters show a state-issued photo ID at the polls imposes an unfair burden on poor and minority voters.

By Helen Vera, National Prison Project Fellow  

By Gordon Lafer | April 24, 2014

Standing 10-feet tall, weighing 30 tons and sporting bullet-proof windows, the Caiman military truck is a sight to see. But some have questioned whether they want to see it in Appleton.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) - Officer Thomas Molitor, chief of the Green Bay Police Department, posted a letter on facebook Friday addressing the investigation into last weekend's downtown arrest, which was caught on cellphone video. Chief Molitor is asking the public for patience while the investigation is ongoing. "As your Police Chief, I am accountable for the actions of my officers," Molitor said. "I answer to you, the citizens of Green Bay.  When the investigation is complete, I assure you that I will share the results openly." Molitor also encourages anyone who witnessed the arrest to come forward. Molitor's letter comes one week after a video of Green Bay police arresting one man outside of Stir-Ups Parlor and Saloon on Washington Street went viral. In the video, you can hear profanities being yelled at an officer. That officer then appears to push a man against a car and wrestle him to the ground. That man was arrested and ticketed for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Two other people were also cited. Local 5 spoke with Chris Ahmuty, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin,  Saturday about the arrest. Although Ahmuty could not speak about this specific case, he said "It's been the ACLU's experience that officers are particularly vulnerable to overstepping the line, when it's a situation where a crowd or observers of an arrest speak up or speak out." Ahmusty also said that using profane language in public, even when it's directed towards law enforcement, is covered under the first amendment's free speech clause.

It is time to fulfill the promise of Brown v. Board of Education and of equal opportunity for all. 

The opening reception will be held Friday, April 25, from 5 to 10 p.m. at the ACLU Milwaukee office, 207 E. Buffalo St., Suite 325. Food and drinks will be served. The exhibit will also be open Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Marshall Building.

Update:  In February, we amended our complaint to add four additional couples for a total of eight couples seeking the freedom to marry in Wisconsin or have their out-of-state marriages recognized.  We also requested a preliminary injunction but withdrew that motion when the Court suggested we instead enter into an expedited schedule for a final ruling and after district attorneys in Milwaukee and Eau Claire agreed not to prosecute two of the couples for leaving Wisconsin to marry.