Supporters of embattled alderman demand federal investigation to see if his civil rights were violated

by Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.
Milwaukee's Black leadership representing government, the faith-based community, and grass-roots groups expressed outrage regarding the treatment of Alderman Michael McGee, Jr., which they charge is a politically motivated witch hunt.

Against a backdrop of concerned community residents of all ages and occupations at Coffee Makes U Black coffeehouse, Milwaukee Ald. Ashanti Hamilton and Milwaukee County Supervisor James White were among several prominent leaders to join a coalition of central city residents who criticized the state and federal judicial process, law enforcement and the White media for its treatment of the alderman who is facing state and federal charges.

The coalition charged that McGee’s treatment is radically different from the way other political figures on the local and state level--most of them White-were treated for their non-violent crimes while in office.

The speakers pointed to the fact that these other politicians charged were granted reasonable bail and allowed to attend their pre-trial hearings unshackled and wearing their civilian clothes.

In all of his preliminary court appearances so far, McGee--who is charged with public corruption, extortion, bribery, solicitation to commit a felony/substantial battery--has appeared wearing an orange Milwaukee County Jail jumpsuit with his wrists and ankles shackled as if he committed a murder.

Even court security during his hearings has been increased.

And unlike other political figures charged with a crime, McGee and his attorneys have had to deal with unprecedented high bail amounts, which has meant continued incarceration. He was recently moved to the Dodge County Jail by federal law enforcement.

Last week, McGee was denied release on $10,000 bail by a federal judge who overturned a magistrate judge’s decision to grant the alderman his release from jail pending trial.

The denial of release was based on evidence revealed by federal prosecutors who accuse McGee of trying to intimidate witnesses and influence the testimonies of potential witnesses while behind bars.

McGee supporters plan to petition the U.S. government for redress and to investigate the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the southeast Wisconsin district, the FBI, U.S. Marshall Service and other law enforcement agencies to make sure McGee's civil rights have not been violated.

Reverend Mose Fuller of St. Timothy Church, who has worked with McGee on the gun buy-back initiative, challenged the community-especially the faith community-to take notice and a stand against what Fuller called the "overt racism" in the treatment of the alderman.

Fuller said the double-standard treatment of McGee is dividing people in the community.

"McGee is a good man, a wonderful brother and servant," Fuller said. "It is wicked to deprive the sixth (aldermanic) district and the community of his representation and work ethic."

Alderman Hamilton said the community must stand in defense of McGee, noting that what is happening to the embattled alderman can happen to him and other Black political figures. "An injury to one is an injury to all," Hamilton said.

Supervisor White gave a brief chronological history of unjust media scrutiny and investigations of Black officials who challenged the status quo and community-based organizations that provided opportunities for the poor to pull themselves out of poverty.

Yet individuals like Attorney Mark Shostrich--who provided kickbacks in the OIC scandal that brought down former state Senator Gary George and former OIC president Carl Gee and that community-based organization--and former officials with the Milwaukee Public Museum who misappropriated public dollars get, off scott-free or whose trials are barely reported by the media.

White said what is being done to McGee, Jr. is revenge for his advocacy for justice, as well as for the past activities of his father, former Alderman Mike McGee, Sr. who also exposed injustice and racism in the system and championed the needs of Black Milwaukeeans.

White also believes the McGee case is nothing more than local government’s effort to deflect attention away from the plague of violent crime and the federal trial of Frank Jude, Jr. who was severely beaten by a group of off-duty Milwaukee Police officers several years ago.

A pro-McGee rally will be held Saturday, July 21 at 2 p.m. at Mercy Memorial Baptist Church, 2477 North 36th Street. Abdullah Muhammad, a Nation of Islam leader overseeing the Nation of Islam’s prison reform ministry will be the keynote speaker.

Muhammad’s Mosque No. 3 is sponsoring the event. Reverend William Muhammad, who also spoke at Tuesday’s rally, is the head of the Milwaukee mosque.