For Immediate Release
February 13, 2019
Contact: Courtney Beyer, courtneyb@wisdems.org
Republican Assembly leaders refused to let Legislative Black Caucus formally honor Colin Kaepernick
MADISON — For the second year in a row, Wisconsin Republicans are under fire for shutting down resolutions from the Legislature’s Black Caucus honoring Black History Month. Yesterday, Assembly Republican leadership blocked a vote on a resolution that formally honored many Black leaders, including former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who was born in Milwaukee and lived in Fond du Lac for several years. They instead introduced and voted through their own resolution that did not include Kaepernick.
Republicans’ vindictive erasure of a prominent Black leader hasn’t gone unnoticed:
HuffPost: GOP Lawmakers Jettison Colin Kaepernick From Black History Month Resolution: Wisconsin’s all-white GOP Assembly members on Tuesdayremoved former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick from a resolution honoring African-Americans during Black History Month.
The Root: All-White Wisconsin GOP Decide Colin Kaepernick Is ‘Too Controversial’ to be Included in Black Caucus’ Resolution to Honor Black History Month: A group of white Wisconsin Republicans have decided that former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was too controversial to be included in a resolution to recognize Black History Month so they took him off of a list of influential black leaders.
ThinkProgress: Wisconsin GOP blocks Black History Month bill because it honors Milwaukee native Colin Kaepernick: To commemorate Black History Month this year, State Rep. David Crowley, a Democrat representing parts of Milwaukee in the Wisconsin state assembly, authored an extremely uncontroversial resolution simply meant to honor the state’s notable black Americans. It was passed through the state Assembly – but not before Republicans decided to raise a hissy fit.
Washington Post: Wisconsin GOP lawmakers force removal of Colin Kaepernick’s name from a Black History Month resolution: Wisconsin Republican lawmakers, deeming Colin Kaepernick too controversial to honor during Black History Month, blocked a proposed resolution until his name was removed from it on Tuesday.
TIME: The Wisconsin GOP Found Colin Kaepernick Too Controversial for a Black History Month List: Wisconsin Republicans erased any mention of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick from a resolution recognizing Black History Month on Tuesday, saying he’s too controversial to be included in a list of influential black leaders.
Fox News: Colin Kaepernick’s name on list to honor black leaders in Wisconsin sparks debate in state legislature: Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is too controversial to be considered on a list of influential black leaders, Republican Wisconsin lawmakers determined as legislators attempted to pass a resolution recognizing Black History Month.
