We have a PAC, we have a van, we have loudspeakers, and we have a diverse crew of inventive and engaged street activists. We are The Playground Legends and we're harvesting signatures for the Recall Darling campaign. A few weeks ago, we got out the vote in Wards 147 and 150, predominantly African American neighborhoods made up of small homes, apartment complexes and a great public park. Our efforts were highly successful even if Kloppenburg ends up losing. You can read about it here.
Last Saturday, we wanted to expand our efforts into Ward 260, an area marked by heavy industrialization and an infamous 1970s social housing project called the Woodlands. It has a fascinating history telling a classic Milwaukee story of segregation, exploitation, poverty, poor city planning, crime and isolation. Walter, who grew up in the area, piloted the Voter Van towards the projects, and we all expected to have a long day of conversations and cajoling, door knocking and talking, sign making and signature taking.
What we didn't expect was to be turned away by a white man with a gun.