Madison in the Morning

Madison in the Morning

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AG Kaul commits to protect rights of Wisconsinites, addresses racist texts

MADISON (WKOW) — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is the latest state leader to reaffirm his commitment to protect the rights of his state's citizens after Donald Trump was elected president. 

Kaul is among Democratic leaders, like Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who have addressed the people on a future under president-elect Trump. 

“I know that folks are worried about what the future holds for women's ability to make their own reproductive health care decisions about access to affordable health care more broadly, and about whether people may be targeted by the new administration based on their identity, their speech and their viewpoints,” Kaul said at Friday’s press conference. 

Kaul said there are notable federal and state level changes that are coming. He said the state legislature will be more evenly divided after Democrats picked up seats, but also talked through two different possibilities from the Trump administration. 

According to Kaul, one possibility is where President-elect Trump chooses to oppose a national abortion ban and uphold the Affordable Care Act. The other possibility is where he does neither of those things. 

Whatever policy changes are implemented, Kaul emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of his citizens here in Wisconsin, regardless of what Trump's second term looks like. 

"We have been tested in the [Department of Justice]. We are prepared to defend the rights of Wisconsinites if necessary, and let me say that if the new administration infringes upon the freedoms of Wisconsinites or attempts to use our system of justice as a tool for vengeance, we will act," Kaul said.

The DOJ is is being tested again. 

People across the country are receiving racist text messages from unknown numbers, targeting black people. These texts have been received by Wisconsinites. Kaul condemned this rhetoric. 

The texts tell people they’ve been selected to “go pick cotton.” 

“We've become aware of some of the text messages that have gone out,” Kaul said. “I know that these are not just in Wisconsin. There are other states where this has happened as well. First, anybody sending harassing or threatening text messages is completely unacceptable.”

Kaul encouraged anyone with information about the texts to contact local law enforcement. 

On Monday, the attorney general is set to begin oral arguments in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, defending the stance that the 1849 Wisconsin Law does not ban consensual abortions. 

More at WKOW 27 News


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