• Home
  • Archive
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • May 8, 2025

The Madison Times

The Paper That's More Than Black and White

  • News
    • Local News
    • National News
    • International News
    • Sports News
    • Education News
  • Columns
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Life Lessons with Alex Gee
  • Events
  • Health
  • Finance
  • Lifestyle
  • Classifieds
  • Community
    • Middle Spread
  • Milwaukee

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Past U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Candidate for WI Governor Tony Evers, and Candidate for WI Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes Discuss Criminal Justice Reform

September 22, 2018

By Nyesha Stone

(left to right: Judge Valarie Hill, Eric Holder, Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes) The community came out to hear these three men speak. (Picture taken by Nyesha Stone)

I’m sure if you’re Black then you know at least one other Black person that’s in jail, especially if you live in the city of Milwaukee. According to City on a Hill, Inc.’s website, “Wisconsin has the highest incarceration rate for African American men in the nation, with 12.8% (or 1 in 8) of black men in state prison and local, nearly double the national average of 6.7%.” Many of those in jail are people of color who’ve received time behind bars who should’ve received an alternative option. Many know that the criminal justice system needs reform which is why a panel was put together to discuss the topic.

Wisconsin State Rep. David Crowley is the organizer of the panel, and he invited Eric Holder, the 82nd Attorney General of the United States, Tony Evers, the Democratic candidate running to replace Gov. Scott Walker and Mandela Barnes, the candidate for Lt. Governor to speak on the topic with Judge Valarie Hill.

The paneled discussion was held this past Tuesday on Sept. 18 at Coffee Makes You Black, 2803 N. Teutonia Ave.

The restaurant had a full house with many people left standing. Community members sat for over an hour to hear what these three men had to say.

When asked what criminal justice reform means to each of them, they all spoke passionately about it.

“We have to understand there’s a connection between social justice issues and crimes down the line,” said Holder about how poverty plays a role into criminal activity. According to Holder, not everyone deserves to be locked up and he also stated that we need to expand and create more rehabilitation programs for those who’ve been incarcerated.

Evers went on to say we need a governor who cares about these types of issues because we don’t currently have one. And, without the bigger people helping the community, especially when it comes to the policies, it’s hard to change the ways of society.

“We have to make sure we’re giving everyone equal opportunities,” said Evers.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Barnes knows first-hand about the struggles Black and Brown individuals face every day when it comes to the law.

Barnes says the Milwaukee community has to shift the paradigm and pay close attention to the real vision behind each candidate.

“[We need to make] conscious decisions when we exercise our right to vote,” stated Barnes.

The paneled discussion covered all topics revolving around criminal justice reform, such as education.

Education is one the main keys to stopping the school-to-prison pipeline. Evers said it starts with quality early childhood education for every Wisconsin child.

“When kids need an extra lift, they get an extra lift,” no matter how much it costs, said Evers.

Each of the men agreed that there are many issues that need to be fixed to truly reform criminal justice, and it takes everyone (individuals, community members, leaders, Congress, Washington–Madison in Wisconsin’s case) to make this reform
possible.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Popular Interests In This Article: Criminal Justice Reform, Eric Holder, Nyesha Stone, Panel Discussions, Tony Evers, Valarie Hill

Read More - Related Articles

  • Milwaukee News Company Secures Partnership with Amazon
  • Who Pays for PFAS? Governor, GOP Lawmakers Wrestle Over Cleanup Liability
  • Tony Evers to Propose $500 Million Prison Overhaul, Closing Green Bay Facility by 2029
  • Gov. Evers Signs Executive Order Creating Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention, Directs $10 Million to Support Violence Prevention Efforts Statewide
  • Wisconsin Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Governor on School Funding


Connect With Us

Become Our Fan On Facebook
Find Us On Facebook


Follow Us On Twitter
Follow Us On Twitter

Editorials

Karma Chavez
Amanda Zhang
Julianne Malveaux
Benjamin Chavis
George Curry

Journalists

Jacklin Bolduan
Brianna Rae
Aarushi Agni
Rob Franklin
Claire Miller

Topics

Brown Girl Green $
Young Gifted & Black
Universally Speaking
Ask Progress
Civil Rights

Topics

Police Shooting
Police Brutality
Black Lives Matter
NAACP
Racism

Politicians

Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
Gwen Moore
Paul Soglin
Scott Walker

Contact Us

Phone:
414-449-4860

Copyright © 2025 Courier Communications. All Rights Reserved.
We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.