The police killing of another Black man has sparked protests and riots in Milwaukee. The incident began on the evening of Aug. 13 after police stopped a car with two Black males inside.
According to reports by Associated Press, police believed that one of the men was exhibiting “suspicious activity.” The police allegedly believed the man was carrying a stolen gun. At some point, a 24-year-old police officer shot and killed the 23-year-old Black man. The police have yet to reveal if the man aimed a gun, but the officer involved was reportedly wearing a body camera during the shooting.
Shortly after the police shooting, dozens of residents took to the streets of Milwaukee to march in protest. The crowd continued to grow during the night as frustration reached a boiling point. Some individuals began smashing police car windows and one police car was set on fire. A BP gas station, a BMO Harris bank, an O’Reilly Auto Parts store, and a beauty supply store were all burned. A few other stores were looted and vandalized.
The uprising in Milwaukee has been viewed as an overreaction. However, the lack of hope and overall desperation in Milwaukee created a circumstance where an uprising was bound to occur. According to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, Wisconsin’s Black unemployment rate is four times higher than white unemployment rate. Moreover, the state leads the nation with a 19.9 percent unemployment rate for Blacks. Joblessness, bad education, and ongoing poverty are always bad comnbinations.
The police shooting adds to a deadly summer where Blacks killed by police have sparked protests acorss America. Philando Castile and Alton Sterling have become national examples of how police brutality and murder are issues that must be confronted by in a serious manner. Here are some reactions from social media:
According to our constitution cops are neither judges or juries so people should be pissed whenever they kill anyone. #milwaukee
— BlackInformant (@BlackInformant) August 14, 2016
I love it when politicians talk about injustice. Aren’t they the ones who are supposed to do something about it? #Milwaukee — NoHumorHere (@FromNoWhere97) August 14, 2016
quit praying for #Milwaukee quit praying for #Wisconsin we don’t want your prayers. we want equality
— soap™ (@sanfagcisco) August 14, 2016
One thing you’ll notice if you spend any time in #Milwaukee is racial segregation. Probably the most segregated city I’ve ever seen. — The Singing Owl (@OwlWithAGuitar) August 14, 2016
