#investinus wisconsin

Dear Governor Evers, Speaker Vos and Leader Fitzgerald,

As Jacob Blake fights for his life after Kenosha police shot him in the back seven times in front of his children, Wisconsin residents and grassroots organizations from across the country are calling on state leaders to act. We have joined together with Wisconsin activists to demand state lawmakers ensure justice is served for the officers that shot Jacob Blake, and that leaders step up to keep our neighborhoods safe.

We are calling on leaders at the local and state level to significantly pass police reform legislation and fund community-led approaches to address violence statewide to ensure that we are protecting marginalized communities and build healthier neighborhoods. Rather than investing in the crime control approach that has failed to reduce violence in communities across the state and continues to incite police violence and brutality, we strongly urge the Wisconsin legislature to take immediate action to stop the violence and #InvestInUs.

Community members and leaders across Wisconsin, and across the country, are watching as lawmakers are called to the state capital for a special session to vote on a package of public safety bills. We demand lawmakers prioritize banning chokeholds and no knock entrance while increasing the proposed funding of community violence intervention and prevention programs that save lives, as opposed to further funding dysfunctional police departments that are failing to reduce violence. Now is the time for lawmakers to take a stand for Black communities.

Homicides in Milwaukee have reached their highest point in the last 30 years, and with the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the root causes of violence are exacerbated in communities historically impacted by gun violence. To date, 83% of the homicide victims in Milwaukee are Black or Brown, and no action has been taken by leaders beyond increased police budgets. Milwaukee has already allocated 47% of its budget to policing, but less than one percent to community-led violence prevention programs that have proven successful in Milwaukee and across the country.

Community-led violence prevention programs are needed now more than ever. As athletes from all sports, we demand immediate action in light of the intensified crises of unemployment, poor educational opportunity, housing insecurity, and other root factors that fuel the ongoing violence. Making robust investments in violence intervention programs is an important step in mitigating gun violence during the coronavirus pandemic, especially as gun sales continue to rise and emergency health services remain strained.

To strengthen the state’s violence prevention in communities most at-risk, we request that leadership push forward legislation to include the following:

● Immediately pass legislation that bans chokeholds, no-knock warrants and other excessive use of force policies to hold police officers accountable for acts of violence.

● $25 million for a Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund. This fund would allow local communities in areas hardest hit by violence to strengthen and replicate effective models for lifesaving violence intervention initiatives. Funds should be awarded in a manner consistent with the purposes of implementing initiatives, through strategies such as hospital-based violence intervention, evidence-based intervention programs and programs that focus on addressing individuals most at-risk of violence.

● The state of Wisconsin commissions a comprehensive plan to end violence that takes a public health approach to addressing the root causes, prioritizing protection of marginalized groups, adequately supporting survivors of violence in all its forms, and adopting sustainable solutions to reduce violence across the state.

It is critical that lawmakers act now. Our communities are being disproportionately hurt by a global pandemic, an economic shock that’s left many without work, and a legacy of gun and police violence that is killing us. We no longer have the luxury of waiting as bullets fly and families fight to survive pandemics of violence, racism, and coronavirus.

The first step Wisconsin must take is to invest programs that prevent homicides and address all forms of violence impacting marginalized groups.

Sincerely,

Bella Alarie, WNBA

Kayla Alexander, WNBA

Laila Ali, Former World Champion Boxer

Doug Baldwin, Former NFL Player

Scout Bassett, Paralympian

Michael Bennett, Former NFL Player

Lindsey Napela Berg, Olympian

Alysha Clark, WNBA

Tasha Cloud, WNBA

Demario Davis, NFL

Elena Delle Donne, WNBA 

Cam Jordan, NFL

Gwen Jorgensen, Olympian

Karima Christmas-Kelly, WNBA

Eric Kendricks, NFL

Kyle Korver, NBA

Jules Heningburg, PLL

Laurie Hill, Volleyball

Simone Manuel, Olympian

Devin McCourty, NFL

Hilary Knight, Hockey 

Chris Mosier, Olympic Duathlete

Tayyiba Haneef-Park, Olympian

Nzingha Prescod, Fencing

Lori Okimura, Angel City Sports

Megan Rapinoe, USWNT

April Ross, Olympian

Satou Sabally, WNBA

Karlie Samuelson, WNBA

Katie Lou Samuelson, WNBA

Danielle Scott, Olympian

Breanna Stewart, WNBA

Carolyn Swords, WNBA

Penny Taylor, WNBA

Diana Taurasi, WNBA 

Jasmine Thomas, WNBA

Shaq Thompson, NFL

Kourtney Vaughn, Track and Field 

Courtney Vandersloot, WNBA

Meika K. Wagner, Volleyball (Coach)

Isis Washington, Fencing

Sami Whitcomb, WNBA

Elizabeth Williams, WNBA

The letter was coordinated by Athletes for Impact, a network of athletes of all identities, across all sports who participate in intersectional movements for justice, with support from The Players Coalition.