Ukulele Players Pursuing Community and Harmony

Wisconsin State Journal - 12/01/2019 Copy Reduced to 43% from original to fit letter page Page : A01

WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019 | A1

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ALL TOGETHER NOW | GOOD DAY UKULELE MULTI-STATE LAWSUITS AGs are ﬁghting the feds Kaul joins in attack on executive policies

RILEY VETTERKIND [email protected] Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul may have positioned himself as markedly diff erent from his Republican predecessor, but the two are strikingly similar in at least one re- spect: Suing the federal government. Both attorneys general assumed AMBER ARNOLD PHOTOS, STATE JOURNAL offi ce with a Kaul Lillian Tong and Kathy Liska, right, both of Madison, sing and play along at a Madison Area Ukulele Initiative monthly singalong at Lakeside Street president of the Coff ee House. Ringleader Andrew Wilke has led groups at various venues around Madison but said the hall-like space inside Lakeside has the best opposing party acoustics around. occupying the White House. And after their fi rst 10 months in offi ce, both attorneys general Ukulele players pursuing joined a similar number of Schimel multi-state lawsuits against the administration in power. So far in his term, Kaul has community and harmony joined seven lawsuits against the Trump administration, Teacher, students while former Republican Attor- Web extra ney General Brad Schimel had joined at least six suits against travel path to ‘greater Video from one of the Madi- the Obama administration by son Area Ukulele Initiative’s the same time in his fi rst term goodness, gratitude’ monthly singalongs at Lake- in 2015. side Street Coff ee House. HOWARD HARDEE “If there is a law or policy Visit: go.madison.com/ukulele [email protected] that’s harmful to the state, and Andrew Wilke searched for we think there’s a strong basis the right key, singing under his strumming in unison. for a challenge, that’s when we breath while his long, slender The recent gathering at Lake- get involved,” Kaul said. fi ngers formed ukulele chords side Street Coff ee House was Kaul and Schimel aren’t alone with the precision of well-exer- joyful from the beginning. Many in their activism against the cised muscle memory. participants were smiling as they federal government. They join a Then he jumped into the eve- followed the lyrics and chords growing cadre of state attorneys ning’s fi rst song — Billy Joel’s changes on their tablets, prob- general across the nation who in “You Might Be Right” — and ably due in part to the silliness recent decades have joined forces Andrew Wilke, founder of Good Day Ukulele, leads players through a about 100 ukulele players fol- song in MAUI’s large repertoire. lowed his lead, singing and Please see UKULELE, Page A9 Please see LAWSUITS, Page A8

The Rev. Mwangi Vasser hopes Pardoned but not restored to become a military Wisconsin forgiveness feeling as being “free from that pardon slowly started to creep chaplain. But dark cloud” that had been hang- back over him as some offi cials in despite receiving isn’t good enough for ing over his shoulders for the past Georgia refused to accept that his a pardon from 22 years. rights have been restored. Wisconsin Gov. some other states He walked out of the state “It almost feels as if it defeats Tony Evers, Capitol building with his signed having a pardon if I can’t move EMILY HAMER the state of pardon in hand and raised his forward, and I’m still considered Georgia has not [email protected] arms triumphantly into the air, a felon,” Vasser said. “Here in the recognized When the Rev. Mwangi Vasser smiling up at the bright blue Oc- state of Georgia, other states, I’m his restored received a “full and uncondi- tober sky. still considered a felon.” rights. tional” pardon from Wiscon- But over the past month or A pardon is an offi cial grant EMILY HAMER, sin Gov. Tony Evers nearly two so, the cloud of discouragement STATE JOURNAL months ago, he described the Vasser felt before receiving his Please see PARDONS, Page A10 ARCHIVES

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A10 | SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2019 FROM PAGE ONE WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL

“‘Yeah, we cannot pro- Pardons ceed,’” Vasser recalled her From A1 saying. “And I said, ‘Why not? of forgiveness that restores What’s wrong?’ certain rights, including “And she said, ‘You are the ability to own a gun, a convicted felon,’” Vasser vote, serve on a jury, hold recounted. public office and hold cer- “I said, ‘No ma’am. I was tain professional licenses. a convicted felon. I received It doesn’t erase a conviction a pardon from the governor from someone’s record, but in the state of Wisconsin,’” applicants often say having Vasser said. “As I began to forgiveness from the gov- show her the pardon she ernor makes them more at- had no interest in looking tractive to employers. at it. She looked at me like, In Vasser’s signed pardon, ‘Yeah, whatever. You won’t Evers specifies that Vasser is work here.’” “fully and unconditionally” In Wisconsin, Doyle said, pardoned, meaning “all the law enforcement agencies rights and privileges which can consider the nature of may have been forfeited by the crimes applicants com- him as a result of said of- mitted, even for offenses fense” have been restored. that have been pardoned. But Georgia officials told But he said it’s wrong for Vasser the wording needs them to issue a blanket de- to be more specific. nial to pardoned applicants A Nov. 25 letter from because of their conviction. Evers to Vasser — specifying Doyle said when he some of his rights that were EMILY HAMER, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES granted pardons, his under- restored — has put Vasser The Rev. Mwangi Vasser leaves the state Capitol after receiving his pardon in October. Vasser was pardoned for attempting to standing was that the indi- on the path to getting the sell drugs when he was 19. Now 41, he has since earned five college degrees, committed no new crimes and wants to become viduals should be treated as issue resolved. a military chaplain. if there was no conviction But Vasser said he fears on their record. those who live in other really care about owning a “first success story” of the Pardon program lissa Baldauff said the gov- Vasser is finding some po- states and get Wisconsin gun, but he wants to work as new program. ernor’s office plans to assess lice departments have rules pardons could face similar a police officer to mentally The letter reiterates that Anyone interested in receiv- the obstacles pardoned in- that prevent people from hurdles. He also isn’t sure if prepare before trying to be- Vasser’s pardon is “full and ing help from the Pardoned dividuals confront and see working in law enforce- he’ll be able to work in law come a military chaplain. unconditional,” and speci- Citizens Assistance Program “whether there is more this ment if they have ever been enforcement, as three states He can’t become a military fies that it “grants, among can contact Akhtar or Wall: office can do.” She said it is convicted of a felony, even so far have told him they chaplain right away because all other rights and privi- impossible to anticipate ev- if the charge was sealed, ex- Masood Akhtar, won’t hire felons — even he has to “hit the gym” and leges, the right to receive, [email protected] ery hurdle that might come punged or pardoned. those who were pardoned. cut two inches off his waist possess or transport a fire- up for those pardoned. He checked with police Ed Wall, efwall1@gmail. to be eligible for the mili- arm, the right to vote, and com While it appears there departments in Arizona Teenage mistake tary. He needs the right to the right to hold or run for are ways to ensure firearm and Texas, two other states Vasser, 41, was convicted possess a gun for both jobs. political state office.” rights are restored, less where he is interested in liv- of possession of cocaine “My purpose of going to Even with the letter, the heard of” another state re- clear is whether Vasser will ing, with no luck. Two ad- with intent to deliver af- the local gun store was to FBI has told Vasser his pa- fusing to accept a Wiscon- be able to work in law en- ditional agencies in Georgia ter he was found with $80 just to see if my paperwork perwork might not get pro- sin pardon. He said he al- forcement. also rejected him because of worth of the drug in his car cleared to save me the em- cessed until January. But it ways thought that those he the felony. when he was 19. It was his barrassment of going to the should help his situation. pardoned were supposed to A bigger hurdle Wall said Vasser would first and only crime. police academy interview” Vasser said he was grate- be forgiven nationally. Law enforcement agen- have better luck if he moved “It was wrong to have,” only to get rejected, Vasser ful to Evers and his staff, “It seems very strange to cies in Georgia, Texas and back to Wisconsin, but Vasser said. “I’m remorseful said. and the letter felt like “the me,” Doyle said after hear- Arizona have told Vasser Vasser doesn’t want to up- of ... attempting to contrib- Vasser tried to challenge missing piece to the puzzle.” ing of Vasser’s experience. they will not hire him be- root his life. ute to the community in a the denial of his request to “Even though I am frus- Walter Dickey, a cause of his felony record. He fears his record might negative way. I can’t express buy a firearm, but the FBI trated, I am enjoying this UW-Madison emeritus In mid-November, Vasser impact his shot at join- (enough) how apologetic I told him in a letter that journey because I am learn- criminal law professor and drove two hours for a job ing the military, too, even am about it.” “Georgia will not accept an- ing for others,” Vasser said. former administrator of interview with the Atlanta though he was supposed to He served four months other state’s pardon unless “I’m gathering the experi- the state Division of Cor- Police Department. He filled have been forgiven. in prison, and ever since, it specifically states that the ence of what’s to come for rections, said he also has out an application packet “I have a pardon from Vasser said, he has tried to intent is to restore the right those … who will receive a “never encountered un- and waited in line to be in- the governor that I’ve been better himself. to possess a firearm.” pardon in the near future.” willingness to recognize terviewed in a room with fighting and fighting to get He earned five college the restorative quality of about 100 people. (for) over 10 years. For you degrees: two associate de- A ‘success story’ Different rules a pardon.” He said that He made it to the front of to look at me and pretty grees, a bachelor’s in bib- Vasser has gotten help It’s unclear whether would contradict the pur- the line, where four officers much tell me that I’m still lical studies, a master’s in in Madison from Masood Vasser’s case is an excep- pose of the pardon, which were conducting brief in- a felon, that was very dis- theology and a doctorate in Akhtar and Ed Wall, who tion or indicative of a wider is to “restore the pardoned terviews with candidates. turbing,” Vasser said of his theology and divinity. have started problem. person and lift the stigma of Partway through, the offi- experience at the Atlanta He has been a counselor, a program to Every state has different the conviction.” cer doing Vasser’s interview police station. “It’s very a minister and a certified help people rules for how gubernato- Evers spokeswoman Me- stopped. heartbreaking.” nursing assistant for hos- who have rial pardons are issued and pice care. He now lives with been re- what rights are restored. his wife in Georgia, where cently par- Some states only grant par- he owns and operates a bar- doned when tial pardons, others require bershop. issues such conditions to be met before as Vasser’s He asked for the par- Akhtar rights are restored. Some don so he could pursue his arise. involve sealing records dream of being a chaplain Called the along with the pardon, and in the military. He said he Pardoned others have a separate pro- wants to bring God’s teach- Citizens cess for getting gun rights ings to “every corner,” even Assistance back, according to the Res- to those who don’t have Program, toration of Rights Project. the opportunity to go to a the goal is to Also depending on the church building. provide help state, pardons may be Vasser said he has “been with things granted frequently or rarely, blessed” to accomplish as such as job Wall if ever. One constant is that much as he has with a felony applications governors can only forgive on his record and wants to and resumes to providing state-level crimes that oc- move past his teenage mis- interest-free loans and re- curred in their state. take. solving unexpected legal Wall said it is up to each challenges. state to determine how it Gun application Wall, former secretary will interpret pardons is- denied in Georgia of the Wisconsin Depart- sued in Wisconsin. ment of Corrections, and “Your pardon is always go- But when Vasser got home Akhtar, founder and presi- ing to be most powerful in the to Georgia after receiving dent of We Are Many United state it was granted,” he said. his pardon, his application Against Hate, advocated on Former Wisconsin Gov. to purchase a firearm was Vasser’s behalf to get a new Jim Doyle, who granted denied after the felony came letter from Evers’ office, more than 300 pardons up on his background check. which they received Tues- during his eight years in Vasser said he doesn’t day. 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