Wisconsin
A Wisconsin Activist Just Got Accused Of Cosplaying A Person of Color
Rachel Dolezal and Oli London are simply a few examples from the regarding quantity of white individuals who have just lately cosplayed folks of colour for clout. The newest seems to be Kay LeClaire, a frontrunner of a Wisconsin-based queer Indigenous artists collective who has been accused of faking their heritage.
The self-proclaimed Native American activist — who additionally identifies as “two-spirit,” a time period for possessing each a masculine and a female spirit — has performed a outstanding position in Wisconsin’s Indigenous group. LeClaire just lately spearheaded a petition for a white-owned bar, The Winnebago, to vary its Indigenous-derived title. Up to now, they’ve claimed to be of Métis, Oneida, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee heritage, in keeping with a report Tuesday by Madison365. Their purported ethnicity has additionally helped them safe monetary positive factors, the outlet mentioned.
LeClaire was first accused of faking their Indigenous id by an nameless person on a message board who raised questions on their claims. Amongst them have been allegations that LeClaire’s dad and mom have been of German and Swedish descent, in addition to ideas that LeClaire used their Ojibwe title in an inconsistent approach.
Since then, LeClaire has reportedly apologized. “Transferring ahead, my efforts can be in the direction of lowering hurt by following the instructions supplied by Native group members and community-specified proxies,” they wrote in an e mail to Madison365. “Any culturally associated gadgets I maintain are being redistributed again in group, both to the unique makers and gift-givers when attainable or elsewhere as decided by group members.”
No matter lies LeClaire could have fabricated about their id, this incident factors to the extra widespread downside of “Pretendians,” a time period describing those that falsely declare to be of Indigenous descent. It’s a phenomenon that’s been particularly prevalent in educational areas all through the U.S. and Canada just lately, in keeping with The New York Occasions.
Native American communities are significantly weak to cultural appropriation. After the mass homicide of Indigenous folks all through the continent severed communities from their cultures, many have sought to protect what’s left by declining to measure tribal membership by look or blood quantum, which is usually thought-about a colonial assemble based mostly on eugenics. As a substitute, tribal membership is usually decided by lineage and different elements which can be simpler to falsely declare.
Maybe the best-known instance of an accused Pretendian was Sacheen Littlefeather, an iconic determine of the Native American motion who known as out Hollywood for its mistreatment of Indigenous folks on the 1973 Oscars. After her loss of life final yr, Littlefeather’s sisters advised the San Francisco Chronicle that neither certainly one of their dad and mom was really Native American and that Littlefeather had lied. However advocates have additionally refuted these claims, since proving Indigenous lineage could be sophisticated.
The underside line is that Pretendians are deeply harmful to those that even have ties to Native communities however don’t look stereotypically Indigenous. They undermine individuals who really need a platform, they usually finally damage the legitimacy of all Indigenous actions. Members of the Native American group have been silenced since this nation’s inception, they usually nonetheless are — however this time, by individuals who declare to be them.
FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. – A Wisconsin state trooper arrested a Florida man for operating while intoxicated on I-41 earlier this week. If convicted, it would be the man’s fifth offense.
What they’re saying:
The Wisconsin State Patrol spotted a speeding driver on I-41 in Fond du Lac County late Thursday night, March 27.
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A trooper pulled the vehicle over and noted the driver, a 56-year-old man from Orlando, showed signs of impairment. The trooper also noticed open intoxicants in the man’s vehicle.
What’s next:
The driver was placed under arrest, and a search warrant was obtained for an evidentiary blood draw. The test results are still pending.
The Source: The Wisconsin State Patrol released information for this report.
MILWUAKEE — Less than three days before polls open on Election Day, voters across Wisconsin are weighing the impact of Elon Musk’s recent involvement in the state Supreme Court race — and whether his money is motivating or meddling.
Billionaire Elon Musk, a vocal supporter of Judge Brad Schimel, plans to award $1 million each to two individuals at a rally scheduled for Sunday in Green Bay. The payments are intended for those who signed an online petition opposing what he calls “activist judges” and will speak at the rally.
He is also offering $100 to any Wisconsinite who signs the petition.
Chuck Kornowski of West Allis said he and several family members signed Musk’s petition earlier this month.
“My wife and I both filled it out, including my son, my sister, and my brother-in-law,” he said. “It’s awesome.”
Kornowski is now waiting for his $100 check in the mail — part of Musk’s broader campaign offering money to people who sign the online petition. Kornowski said the effort is energizing voters.
“It gets people motivated,” he added. “It is a good idea, I really feel it is.”
TMJ4 News
On Saturday, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals denied an emergency request by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to block Musk from awarding $1 million each to two voters at the rally Sunday night.
Kaul filed the lawsuit Friday, arguing that Musk’s actions violate Wisconsin election law, which makes it a felony to offer voters anything of value in exchange for voting.
After a county judge declined to hear the case on Saturday, Kaul appealed to the state Court of Appeals, which also rejected his request.
Musk and groups he funds have now poured more than $20 million into the race, which has become the most expensive judicial election in U.S. history. According to WisPolitics, total spending has topped $90 million.
Jerrell Patterson of Milwaukee said he sees the campaign as a creative way to energize new voters.
“Get into the minds of younger people and get them to come to rallies, sign petitions, and become greater Americans — I’m definitely on board with that,” Patterson said.
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Not all voters feel comfortable with the billionaire’s role in the race.
“Getting people out there to vote, certainly,” said Meredith, a Milwaukee voter. “But I don’t know how I feel about a billionaire bribing people to sign petitions and paying his way into an election.”
Musk and former President Donald Trump are supporting conservative candidate Judge Brad Schimel of Waukesha County. Democrats, including George Soros, are backing Dane County Judge Susan Crawford.
“I don’t control what Elon Musk does, and I don’t control what George Soros or J.B. Pritzker do for Susan Crawford,” Schimel said at a rally Friday, pointing to the out-of-state billionaires backing his opponent.
Petition or not, many voters said this election feels more consequential than usual.
“It’s a very high-stakes election,” Meredith added. “Not just for Wisconsin, but for the country as a whole.”
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Control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court hangs in the balance, as a pending retirement means the court’s current 4-3 liberal majority is up for grabs.
Schimel said he would not be attending the Green Bay event with Musk. Attendance is limited to those who signed the petition.
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BELOIT, Wis. (WIFR) – Flames are seen coming out of multiple windows on the top floor of an apartment building in Beloit.
Around 1:45 p.m. March 29, officials were called to 1926 Cleora Dr. in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Local departments including Harlem-Roscoe and North Park fire were called to assist.
This story is ongoing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Copyright 2025 WIFR. All rights reserved.
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