MILWAUKEE, WI - Police officials have confirmed political activist, Bernell Trammell, 60, died in a shooting incident Thursday, July 24th in front of his office on the 900 block of East Wright Street, near North Bremen Street. For decades, Trammell had run eXpressions Journal, a political and spiritual publication with an office at 915 E. Wright St. He was known to be outside on the sidewalk holding up signs and spoke about his beliefs to anyone that happened by and wanted to talk. According to several sources, he was not only a supporter of President Trump and wanted to see him re-elected in November but he also supported progressive Democrat State Senator Lena Taylor's election bid for Mayor which she lost to incumbent mayor Tom Barrett.
While visiting a memorial near his office on Sunday afternoon, Taylor said she had heard from many community members who had seen Trammell with signs supporting her mayoral campaign and Trump's re-election campaign simultaneously.
Taylor said prior to the incident, many people reached out to her regarding Trammell's support for re-electing Donald Trump, "They were like, 'Are you going to do something about this?' And I was like, 'I can't tell the man who to support. I'm just glad he supports me,'" Taylor said. "And literally, when I tell you he was out every day doing that — it was huge." Taylor said she would be concerned if investigators conclude that Trammell was targeted for his beliefs. "I may not support someone's opinion or their politics, but I support their right to support whoever they want and, more than anything, to say whatever they want," she said.
Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Andrew Hitt, called for federal prosecutors to investigate the "senseless" killing of Trammell. "No American should fear for their personal safety because of where they live or their political affiliation,” Hitt said in a statement issued late Friday. “This is going to be a motivating factor for us as we organize in central Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. I think it will give folks in the black community who support the president’s message more resolve and more determination than ever.”
“Because of Trammell’s well-known political activism and the possibility that his murder could be politically motivated, I respectfully request that United States Attorney Matthew Krueger open an investigation”. said Andrew Hitt.
Milwaukee's Office of Violence Prevention Unit Director, Reggie Moore, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was aware of at least one public dispute over Trammell’s Trump signs, “He’s a black elder who didn’t deserve to die the way that he did,” Moore said.
Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) addressed Trammell's death in a tweet Saturday: "Bernell Trammell was known to many in Milwaukee. My condolences to his family and friends. I hope they get answers and justice soon."
