LaTonya Johnson

06/19/2026

It was great seeing everyone out at the annual Juneteenth parade and festival in Milwaukee.

Wishing you all a safe and empowering day of celebration!

06/19/2026

Yesterday, I joined Wisconsin State Representative Shelia Stubbs, Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, and the Amareon Allen Foundation Inc to hold a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda to uplift the annual gun violence prevention display honoring the children Wisconsin has lost to gun violence.

Each poster carries the name and face of a child whose future was stolen, who was loved, and whose life should matter. We owe their families the courage to act, to not look away, and to do everything we can to prevent the next tragedy.

06/18/2026

Today, the Juneteenth flag was raised over the Wisconsin State Capitol to recognize the long fight for freedom and the generations who carried that struggle forward.

Juneteenth is a celebration, but it is also a reminder that freedom must be protected and fought for. As we raise this flag, we recommit ourselves to building a Wisconsin where justice is for all.

Thank you, Governor Tony Evers and Senator Dora Drake, for hosting today’s ceremony and bringing us together to honor this day.

06/12/2026

Today marks the 59th anniversary of Loving v. Virginia, the landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down state bans on in*******al marriage.

The case affirmed that love belongs to the people, not the government. As we honor the progress this decision represents, we must continue fighting for a future where every person can live and love freely, with dignity and equal protection under the law.

06/11/2026

Every year, I put up posters in the Capitol Rotunda to remember the children Wisconsin has lost to gun violence. Watching this display grow year after year is heartbreaking, but we owe it to these kids to make sure they are remembered.

Every picture is a child whose future was taken from them. Every name belongs to a family that will carry that loss for the rest of their lives.

Too often, the people who work in this building choose to look away from these tragedies. By bringing these children’s names and faces into the Capitol, we force them to confront the cost of inaction.

Their families deserve more than sympathy. They deserve the courage to act, the commitment to treat every child’s life as worth protecting, and the urgency to do everything we can to prevent the next tragedy.

06/09/2026

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of welcoming students from Milwaukee's Marshall High School to the State Capitol for a tour and panel discussion. It is always a pleasure to spend time with these bright young people, answer their questions, and hear directly from students about the issues shaping their lives and futures.

Thank you, Mr. Frank, for bringing your students to Madison and helping them engage with state government up close!

06/08/2026

Join the WI Legislative Black Caucus for the Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Tuesday, June 16 at 12:00 p.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda.

This year’s theme, “What freedom looks like, yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” honors the generations who fought for freedom, celebrates the progress we have made, and challenges us to continue building a more just future for all.

The program will feature remarks from members of the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus and a keynote address from Camden Hargrove, Menomonie Alder and the first Black, openly trans man elected to public office in Wisconsin.

06/05/2026

Today, the Milwaukee Delegation met with the Grand Avenue Club to learn more about their work supporting adults in Greater Milwaukee who experience mental illness.

Their employment, education, and enrichment programming help people build stability and find opportunity. Thank you to the Grand Avenue Club team for welcoming us, sharing your work, and showing us the impact these services have on people’s lives.

06/04/2026

This month, Wisconsin’s Child Care Bridge Payments are set to expire, creating another funding cliff for child care providers and the families who rely on them.

Child care is already too expensive and too difficult to access, especially for families with infants, toddlers, or nontraditional work schedules. At the same time, providers are still underfunded as they try to keep classrooms open, retain workers, and keep costs manageable for parents. Because the state has failed to create a sustainable investment in child care, these problems are about to get worse.

In this month’s newsletter, I take a deeper look at what the end of Bridge Payments means for Wisconsin families, why temporary fixes are not enough, and what our state needs to do next. Read more in the newsletter below!

In June, Wisconsin’s Child Care Bridge Payments are set to expire. These grants have helped child care providers pay their staff, keep their doors open, and hold costs down for families. Their expiration will mark the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that Wisconsin will not be directly suppo...

06/03/2026

Milwaukee Pride's PrideFest kicks off tomorrow at Henry Maier Festival Park!

This weekend’s festival will include live music, drag performances, comedy, local artists, food, vendors, health and wellness resources, youth and family programming, and spaces that uplift the full diversity of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community.

Happy Pride!

PrideFest Milwaukee is Wisconsin's largest LGBTQ festival since 1987.