This past Sunday and Monday were very busy and exciting in the city of Milwaukee. Of course, starting off on Sunday was Father’s Day. Sherman Park is always packed with many people and especially fathers on this day. Events for kids and others are included throughout the park. The usual free haircuts and pony rides are some of the usual events. Lots of agencies that can help you are there with tables that have various materials available. One of those agencies I found stated they could help you with second chance expungement and a pardon. The literature states Wisconsin offers expungement of conviction records. Expungement seals your court record but does not restore rights lost due to felony convictions. The court handles expungements.
Expungements are important because in Wisconsin many people with records can’t find certain jobs or live in certain places. On rental applications they will state no felons allowed. Also, many job applications have information about do you have a record. Pardons only can be given out by the governor, and they are hard to get. You must be off probation/parole for five years and cannot be on the sex offender registry. If you are uncertain if you are eligible for either one you can call the Second chance Expungement Help Desk at 414-627-0067.
On Monday of course was the celebration of Juneteenth Day. They had the usual parade that started at 14thand Atkinson and finally ended up at Locust and Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Drive. There were thousands of people there who had a great time. Good entertainment, food and items to purchase were throughout the festival. Chief of Police Norman and Sheriff Ball led the parade route and were at the opening ceremonies. My wife and I attended the celebration and had a good time. We ate turkey legs and purchased a tee shirt among other items. We went home shortly before the event was over at 4:00pm.
Sadly, shortly before 4:30pm after the event was over and clean up was occurring teenage girls got into a fight. A 17-year-old male jumped in and started to fire shots. 6 people were shot including the gunmen. This ruined a good time that occurred this day. Chief Norman stated,” no handgun, no weapon of destruction, should be in the hands of our youngsters”. One citizen, Camelia Pickett, stated “how can we celebrate when it is our own, our children are doing these shootings”. She and her family ran and took cover. 4 females and 2 males were shot ranging in age from 14 to 19. Mayor Johnson stated,” this is stupidity, arguments should not lead to guns and shots fired off, period, period”. MS Pickett added “it is supposed to be a celebration, for it to end this way it did, I’m disappointed. I will never come down to Juneteenth Day again”.
Many of us remember African World Festival from back in the day. The same thing occurred several years ago with a shooting at the lakefront and suddenly the event never came back. We cannot allow that to happen again. This is our celebration which we should be proud of and look forward to attending year after year. Parents along with the help of authorities we must figure this out.
Leave a Reply