Photo credit: Evan Casey
Approximately 4,100 people flocked to see former President Barack Obama speak at North Division High School Friday afternoon.
9-year-old Zaire Okon waited in line with his mother and hundreds of other Milwaukee citizens on a frigid fall day Friday. Even though he can’t vote in the Nov. 6th election, he still stood patiently near the back of a crowded North Division High School on the North side. Who was Zaire in line to see speak? One of his favorite people—former President Barack Obama.
“He’s very helpful and he helps a lot of people, basically everyone,” said Okon. “I’m very excited because Barack Obama is a really good person. I’m going to call my friends and tell them I saw Barack Obama.”
Former President Obama was in town to support Democratic candidate for Governor Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, among other democratic candidates running in Wisconsin. He was met with loud cheers and applause, as he spoke for nearly 30 minutes at North Division High School.
Photo credit: Evan Casey
Zaire Okon said he was excited to see one of his favorite people speak for the first time.
“Making this country better has never been easy, it’s always been a fight,” said Obama.
Obama spoke about multiple topics, including healthcare, voter rights, college affordability, immigrant rights and politicians breaking promises while in office. There were over 4,100 people present at the event.
“When words stop meaning anything, when people can just make up anything, democracy doesn’t work,” he said. “Until we start getting a little bit better about calling a lie a lie, the only check we have on this behavior is you and your vote.”
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He also spoke about connecting the country, blasting conservatives for not doing more to combat gerrymandering in Wisconsin.
Photo credit: Evan Casey
The campaign visit was in support of Democratic candidate for Governor Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, among other democrat candidates in Wisconsin.
“We can have disagreements, but there has to be a certain code, a certain rule about how to treat each other in the common sphere,” he said. “The biggest threat to our democracy is indifference.”
Obama has largely remained silent over the past two years after he left office, so Mayor Tom Barrett was excited that he chose to come to Milwaukee. Voter turnout has remained an issue in the city, especially since African-American voter turnout dropped 19 percent during the 2016 presidential election, according to a 2017 study.
“He’s an Energizer bunny, and I think people will listen to him talk and think, ‘I wish he was still president,’” said Barrett. “I think he understands the significance of these races. He wants to see Wisconsin do well.”
Sen. Baldwin spoke largely about the importance of healthcare, and the success she believes The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is. She also spoke about being the target of conservative special interests and attack advertisements at the rally. “I don’t work for them… I work for you,” said Sen. Baldwin.
The rally comes just 11 days before the November election. Gov. Scott Walker will be participating in the last gubernatorial debate against Tony Evers Friday night. U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee, and Democratic congressional candidates Randy Bryce and Dan Kohl were also present at the rally.
As for Zaire, he said he will be telling all his friends about the time he saw Obama speak. His mother, Christina Jackson, was equally excited. She said Zaire was born only a month after Obama was elected President in 2008. “It’s come full circle. He’s an Obama baby,” she said.
To learn more about the Nov. 6th election you can visit vote.org.
