JD Vance, the GOP vice presidential candidate, made an emphatic assertion of his support for police forces and a critique of immigration practices during his recent stop in Milwaukee. In tandem with his visit to the Milwaukee police union’s office, Vance managed to keep the spotlight on the Republican’s pro-law enforcement agenda, countering claims by Democrats suggesting the party’s presidential nominee, former President Trump, does not support law enforcement.
Vance used the visit to the police union hall on 63rd Street and Bluemound as a backdrop. He engaged a selection of law enforcement officials in an intimate discussion. This was followed by a brief but poignant address in which Vance stressed the necessity for the country’s politicians to rally behind the police force, erroneously attributing a large proportion of crime to undocumented immigrants.
During an interaction with the press, Vance responded to a question concerning his previous statements made in 2021, in which he pointed out problems stemming from a surge in immigration from countries like Italy, Germany, and Ireland in the past century. He was queried about his opinion on mass deportations during that time, which he clarified in light of his previous comments.
To quote Vance, ‘In addition to what I said earlier, I pointed out there were numerous benefits that came with that surge of immigrants. Take the example of the movie ‘Gangs of New York’. That’s the kind of scenario I’m highlighting. When we witness the formation of huge ethnic enclaves in our nation, it occasionally escalates into higher crime rates.’ As Vance made his entrance at the Milwaukee Police Association hall that Friday, he was greeted with resounding cheers from his fervent supporters.
The Senator from Ohio addressed the outcome of a recent ABC/Ipsos poll, which showed his Democratic counterpart, vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, in a more favorable light than him. Disregarding the significance of polls, Vance moved on to criticize Walz, ‘Here we have someone who condoned the destructive protests that engulfed Minneapolis in the summer of 2020.’
He alluded to the aftermath of the 2020 turbulence that followed the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota’s largest city, Minneapolis. Minnesota’s Governor Walz had admitted to underestimating the magnitude and intensity of the protests initially but eventually chose to deploy the Minnesota National Guard to aid local law enforcement.
Moreover, an earlier news conference in Milwaukee organized by the Harris/Walz campaign was also noteworthy. Here, former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn presented an audio clip from June 2020. In this snippet, Trump is heard applauding Governor Walz for his handling of the Minnesota protests.
Dunn, a survivor of the unfortunate January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters, used this opportunity to criticize Trump’s tardy response. Dunn noted how Trump, who was situated just sixteen blocks away from the scene, took around three hours before addressing his following and calling off the mob, let alone provide assistance.
The Service Employees Union, Wisconsin Working Families Party and Power to the Polls Wisconsin organized a rally on Friday morning. Among the speakers, Pastor Mose Fuller of Saint Timothy Baptist Church stood out as he questioned the motives behind the Milwaukee Police Association’s welcome of Trump’s running mate, especially considering the events of January 6.
Fuller pointed out the irony, stating, ‘The same crowd didn’t show any support for the police on that day in January; conversely, they acted violent. The puzzling part is when law enforcement proceeds to extend their hospitality to him.’ He further observed how these paradoxical instances are shaping up to produce an unusual electoral atmosphere.
Despite the many controversies, the Milwaukee Police Association declared its endorsement of the Trump-Vance ticket on the same day. They voiced their belief in the Republican party’s ability to deliver solutions to the complex issues faced by the city’s police force.