a conversation with Angela Walker, candidate for Milwaukee County Sheriff, continued from Part 1.
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TF: On politics in general…
AW: “When people find out I’m on the ballot, they’re like “You??” We need to encourage people to run for office. Look at me – I’m a woman, I’m black, I’m a socialist – if you have an idea, and want to make a change, you can run for office. Look at Chicago – they’ve got activists running for office. Why not here?
If people see that I’m black and a woman, maybe that’ll inspire them to run for office – “She stood up to a bully.”
And even if you don’t run for office – Stand Up – Show Up – Speak Up – Let Them See You – Make Them Acknowledge You. We are each built differently – do what works for you, but DO SOMETHING.
We deserve a living wage, and a right to unionize – it doesn’t matter what you do for a living.
I want people to be inspired by this campaign – “she wasn’t scared to do it – I CAN DO IT.”
We need to be fighting voter ID, voter suppression…I’m a firm believer in direct action, have always been. Liberation Theology – it’s everything – I grew up in MPS and…people who kick MPS…I take that personally.
If you don’t take anything else away from this conversation, remember this: You ARE powerful…don’t let them take that from you. If the workers stop, the county stops.
It does NOT need to be just Democrat or Republican – there IS more – you have a choice – just VOTE. Vote because it is a tactic…there was a time when people who looked like me couldn’t vote…so please, vote.
TF: if you have a dream project that would make a difference in Milwaukee – not related to the campaign for sheriff, what would it be?
AW: …it would be amazing to see a…Freedom School…that acts as an umbrella for bringing in the arts, for conversations about sustainability/conservation/land stewardship. There’d be instruction in urban gardening, a black history component (you need to know where we come from, and what we’ve accomplished), and a political component as well…the arts are essential to education – you cannot separate them!
I believe in self-determination; I believe in community-building.
I want all our communities, county-end-to-county-end, to feel valued and cared for.
I want all people to have access to good transit (and I’m walking the talk – I sold my car and bought a bike).
My fantasy is that we all can be part of strong communities that are able to unify to tackle the bigger problems.
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Regardless of whether or not Angela Walker becomes the next Milwaukee County Sheriff, it seems her campaign has already been a success. It’s brought many issues into the election/campaign conversation. It’s challenged the idea of what a sheriff is supposed to be. It’s gotten people to think, and like Angela is hoping, it’s moving people to the “direct action” she’s fond of, which drives the change we need to see in our community.
