Civil Rights Groups Slam Milwaukee Sheriff With Militia Ties

By Sam Kestenbaum May 25, 2017

Major civil rights groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the National Urban League, expressed “deep concern” to President Trump about the possible Homeland Security appointment of a controversial Milwaukee sheriff with ties to a militia group.

“(Sheriff David Clarke) record as Milwaukee County Sheriff and his history of incendiary and hateful statements make him unfit to serve in this role, as does his connection with antigovernment extremist groups,” the Thursday letter read.

Clarke, who claimed he will be appointed as an assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security, is perhaps best known for his controversial comments on Black Lives Matter. He also has ties to two “anti-government” groups — one of them a large organization of militiamen called the Oath Keepers, according to the ADL.

Appearing at the “alt-right” inspired Deploraball in January, Clarke said that “the only reason I’ll be reaching across the aisle is to grab one of them by the throat.”

Email Sam Kestenbaum at kestenbaum@forward.com

Sam Kestenbaum is a contributing editor and former staff writer for the Forward. Before this, he worked for The New York Times and newsrooms in Sana, Ramallah and Beijing. Contact him at kestenbaum@forward.com and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum and on Instagram at @skestenbaum.

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