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Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
As Milwaukee leaders come to her support, MPS aide may not have to leave US immediately
As members of the Milwaukee Common Council stood in the council chambers for 14 minutes on June 3 — one for each year Yessenia Ruano has lived in the United States — news broke that her imminent departure from the country could be delayed as her visa application for trafficking victims is processed. The news was the latest twist in Ruano's public effort to fight her deportation. The Milwaukee Public Schools teaching aide was ordered on May 30 by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement to return to her home country of El Salvador. Before her self-deportation order was delayed, her flight was scheduled for the evening of June 3. Ruano, who has a pending visa application for human trafficking victims, previously said that if ICE ordered it, she'd leave the country with her daughters, who are both U.S citizens. The 14 council members who stood together flanking a photo of Ruano asked that she be able to stay in the country while her T-Visa is being processed. "It's about due process,' said council President José G. Pérez, who organized the action along with Alds. JoCasta Zamarripa and Marina Dimitrijevic. Pérez said he hoped the unanimous show of solidarity would demonstrate to Milwaukee's immigrant community that the council doesn't believe Ruano's treatment is fair. Zamarripa called Ruano the "kind of person that makes Milwaukee a better place." "She is one of millions of people who are suffering at the hands of a broken immigration system and whose American dream is now turning into a nightmare," Zamarripa said. Dimitrijevic said Ruano's case is one of many nationwide, and she hopes the council's action would point to the larger issue. "This city was built on the backs of immigrants, and that's why we stood in solidarity today, and we're not going to back down," Dimitrijevic said. The council action came one day after U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement expressing 'deep concern' over Ruano's deportation order despite her pending visa application. Calling Ruano a 'pillar in our Milwaukee community,' Moore wrote that deporting her 'will not make our country safer.' Ruano had a plane ticket out of the Chicago O'Hare airport for the evening of June 3. She was packing suitcases in the morning when she learned she may have at least a bit more time in the U.S. Ruano and her attorney, Marc Christopher, requested a 'stay,' or a pause, on her deportation after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on May 30 said she had to self-deport and return to her home country of El Salvador. The request for a stay has been received and is being considered by ICE, Ruano said. Her understanding is that she can remain in the U.S. while the request is being processed. But it was not clear how long it would take to be processed. A big caveat is that ICE is not prevented from carrying out the deportation while the request is being processed, Christopher said. Also, it was not immediately clear how much longer Ruano could stay in the U.S. if the request for a stay were granted. 'Ms. Ruano and her legal advocates remain hopeful that ICE will take into account the humanitarian gravity of her case,' Christopher said in a statement. ICE officers had said they would not wait for Ruano's open application for a trafficking victims' visa to be processed by a different immigration agency. Processing times for those visas can be two years or more. 'All we ask is that she be allowed to stay – at least until her T visa is decided – so she is not sent back into the very danger she fled,' Christopher said. Alison Dirr of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MPS aide Yessenia Ruano learns she may get more time in US
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fred Reed a civil rights leader with thundering voice he used to lift others
Pamela Sargent cherishes two distinctive attributes of Fred Reed: his steadfast courage during civil rights marches and the deep, resonant timbre of his voice that could stir the soul. Reed was a leader of the Milwaukee Commandos, a security unit of young Black men formed by the NAACP Youth Council to protect protestors and quell violence during the Milwaukee Fair Housing Marches in the late 1960s. His remarkable life included signing background vocals for musical groups such as Ike and Tina Turner and serving as an usher at the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr's funeral. Reed died March 17. He was 87. Services will be held at 10 a.m. April 12 at New Testament Church-Milwaukee, 10201 W. Bradley Road. Sargent was one of the hundreds of young people who protested to demand equal rights. She recalled marching across the 16th Street Viaduct at the age of 10, facing an angry white mob armed with bricks, sticks, and marbles, their voices filled with hate. 'I always felt safe knowing Fred Reed was protecting me. He was like my big brother and more like a father figure to me,' said Sargent, 70. The Commandos were men ages 18 to 30 who formed a protective barrier around the protestors during 200 nights of marches in 1967 and 1968. Reed later recounted the subtle art of de-escalation these young men practiced, skillfully navigating tense situations with a calm and composed approach. For the group, violence was avoided and force was only used for self protection. Before the nightly marches began, Reed and Sargent would often take the stage and lead a "Freedom Fighter" song, to inspire hope and unity among the group. Each note served as a call to action against the injustice surrounding them. U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, who first met first met Reed when she was a sophomore at North Division High School, would sneak out of her house to join the marches while her mother attended Bible study. She recalled when he lead the marchers in signing 'Oh Freedom!': 'Oh, freedom, Oh, freedomOh freedom over meAnd before I'd be a slaveI'd be buried in my graveAnd go home to my Lord and be free No more weepin', (don't you know), no more weepin'No more weepin' over meAnd before I'd be a slaveI'd be buried in my graveAnd go home to my Lord and be freeOh freedom' Although she was caught sneaking back into her house, Moore said her mother understood the significance of the struggle and did not punish her. 'She just wanted me to be safe, but we knew we had the Commandos protecting us,' Moore said. Reed was not just a Commando with a voice that resonated like thunder; he was a passionate historian dedicated to safeguarding the marchers' legacy. He chronicled their stories, ensuring that the courage and determination of these youthful guardians would never be forgotten. I first met Reed in 2017 while working on the project '50-Year Ache" where I examined the progress — and struggles — Milwaukee faced since the 1967 marches, with a focus on housing, education, race, and employment. Reed connected me with many members of the group. Over that time, I learned about his passion for preserving their legacy and passing down that history. Reed was more than just a source in my research; he was a vital connection to the past, bridging the gap between the present and the struggles those who came before faced. Through Reed's stories and insights, I gained a deeper understanding of their sacrifices and triumphs. I collaborated with Reed on the Emmy-winning, 'Crossing the Bridge: A Black Nouveau Special,' which documented Milwaukee's civil rights struggle and the marches advocating for open housing. In the special, Reed recalled August 28, 1967, when about 200 marchers crossed the 16th Street Viaduct heading toward Milwaukee's south side. 50-year ache: How far has Milwaukee come since the 1967 Civil Rights marches? 'When we got to the bridge, it felt endless. The further you walked across that bridge, knowing what awaited us, the more tense it became,' Reed said. 'When we reached the end of that bridge, a reception was waiting for us.' This "reception" consisted of thousands of angry white individuals, some armed with sticks and bricks, forcing the group to turn around. Father James Groppi, a former Catholic priest and renowned civil rights activist, helped lead the marchers. He regrouped them as they prepared to face a more hostile crowd the following night. The event gained national attention and led to Milwaukee being labeled the 'Selma of the North.' Groppi's widow, Margaret Rozga, said she couldn't stop crying when she learned of Reed's passing. While most people remember Reed for his time with the Commandos, Rozga recalls her friend for his compassion towards others and his willingness to step back from the spotlight so that others could shine. When the Milwaukee NAACP celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, Rozga said Reed called her and asked if she could give him and his wife a ride to the event. During the program, the emcee asked Rozga to stand. Reed had organized a special honor for Rozga to celebrate her decades of contributions to the Civil Rights movement. Rozga, 79, joined the Milwaukee NAACP Youth Council in the 1960s. In the summer of 1965, she volunteered with a group of Milwaukee residents on a Southern Christian Leadership Conference summer voter registration project in rural Alabama. She was also involved in the open housing marches before marrying Groppi. She first met Reed at St. Boniface Church, where he was about to lead a march in 1967. She recalled how he he stood out in the crowd due to his height, leadership, decisiveness, and kindness. 'He was and will forever be a great leader and friend,' she said. The Rev. Joseph Baring said after he returned home from serving in Vietnam in 1966, he wanted to be involved in the marches so he talked with Reed about what it took to become a Commando. Soon he went through the initiation process to join the highly strategic organization that employed various military principles of rank and commitment to protect marchers. Baring served as the group's secretary, while Reed served as a command sergeant major. Baring emphasized that Reed was the crucial link among all the Commandos for many years, ensuring their contributions and legacies were never overlooked. Whenever a Commando fell ill or faced difficulties, Reed was one of the first to reach out to help them. Furthermore, Reed often notified me when any Commandos passed away. He would always tell me what their role was as a Commando along with why they were important to the history of the civil rights struggle. Baring said of the original 125 members of the Milwaukee Commandos, only 8 remain alive today. While the Commandos played a vital role in Reed's life story, he was much more than a guardian to the marchers. His rich tenor voice resonated with listeners, allowing him to travel extensively across the United States. During his journeys, he collaborated with some of the most celebrated musical acts of the era, providing background vocals for iconic groups, including the legendary Ike and Tina Turner. But his true passion was singing for the Lord. Baring, 79, also said Reed played a key role in securing 10 state historical markers to commemorate Milwaukee's Fair and Open Housing Marches of 1967-68. The last time the two men spoke was over Zoom, just about a week before Reed's passing. 'I'm going to miss my friend. He was truly one of a kind,' he said. Baring said the Commandos received national recognition from many prominent Black stars and politicians. The group had meetings with influential leaders in the civil rights movement, including Muhammad Ali, Dick Gregory, and Martin Luther King Jr. After King was assassinated, Reed and members of the Commandos went to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta to honor the slain civil rights leader. Reed served as an usher at King's funeral. Reed's wife, Andrea, said that while many will remember her husband for his extensive work in civil rights, he was also a loving husband who believed in God and enjoyed giving back to young people and those who faced incarceration. During their 25 years of marriage, Andrea noted that her husband was dedicated to improving the lives of those who had been discriminated against, as well as the lives of young people. Opinion: Milwaukee can't afford to lose federal health dollars. Lives will be lost. Reed helped establish the first Milwaukee Voter Registration Drive, assisted the state of Wisconsin in setting up the first ADA guidelines for all individuals, and was involved in helping youth in the Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA), Milwaukee Chapter of Black Innovation in Technology. The mentoring program trains local high school students on the fundamentals of coding and life skills. Reed was the vice president of management support services until this year. 'He regularly visited high schools to talk about the history and struggles we experienced. He believed this was important. It became a part of his mission,' Andrea Reed said. "He also was instrumental in encouraging youth to turn their passions into purpose through education and training." Reach James E. Causey at jcausey@ follow him on X@jecausey. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Reed protected protestors at Milwaukee fair housing marches | Opinion
