Police pattern of racism, homophobia, exposed by murders in Milwaukee

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2 SOCIALIST ACTION SEPTEMBER 1991 ment two months before, shock became rage against police insensitivity. Protests against police neglect of growing violence in minority communities, as well as the gay and lesbian communities, began almost overnight.

The largest demonstration to date was on Aug. 5, when more than 1000 men and women of assorted hues gathered to honor the victims. Victims' family and friends repeatedly denounced the police actions in this crime.

Victim Richard Cuerrero's sister said she and her family had searched for him for three-and-ahalf years. "The police just let it aside," she said. "They didn't give a shit. (Richard) was just another minority person missing."

Tim Grier of Queer Nation Milwaukee wondered how police couldn't make the connection that young Black gay men were turning up missing one after another. "They just didn't care enough," he said.

Activists have called for an independent investigation of the police department's relations with the Black, gay, and lesbian communities. Scott Gunkel of the Lambda Rights Network, a local gay organization, told the Closing date:

August 26, 199.

Suzanne Forsyth, Malik Miah, Kwame M.A. Somburu, Sylvia Jeffrey L. Dahmer rally that the investigation should focus on "how deep this prejudice runs" inside the police department.

Mayor John Norquist set up a commission headed by Marquette University President Albert DiUlio to investigate police-community relations, but Black and gay leaders both questioned its make-up and purpose.

The Rev. Leo Champion of ST. PAUL, Minn.—Citizens Alert, a small right-wing organization, recently led a petition drive to repeal this city's gay and lesbian rights ordinance. Citizens Alert collected 5462 signatures, which are enough to place the ordinance up for a referendun vote this November.

In the July 18 Pioneer Press, Citizens Alert activist Larry Putnam assured the voters that his organization "doesn't hate homosexuals and we are not gay bashers in any sense of the word." But members like himself, he said, "also think gay rights is wrong." Putnam said that, in some cases, landlords and employers-such as religious organizations and the Boy Scouts of America-should be allowed to discriminate against gay people.

The majority of St. Paul's citizens, however, have nothing in common with Citizens Alert's repressive aims. At one time or Fellowship Missionary Baptist church announced the creation of a "black-ribbon commission" the following day. A gay newspaper, the Wisconsin Light, called for a similar commission within the gay and lesbian community as well.

The three officers involved in the Sinthsoomphone incident were suspended with pay pending an internal investigation. On another, most of us have come into conflict with employers and landlords over the questions of wages and rental prices. Our wages are never enough and our rent is always too high. We have absolutely nothing to gain by allying ourselves with employers

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It is in this context that Baker's shuttle

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drive to repeal gay rights ordinance AcTioN