On a regular basis, we report on the number of people killed and wounded each weekend in Chicago. So far this year, a total of 2,604 people have been shot in The Windy City, 440 killed. Of that total, only 6 people or 0.2 percent died as a result of police fire.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin isn’t up that level, but endured a “very, very violent 24 hours” this weekend, according to Milwaukee Police Assistant Chief Bill Jessup. Five people were died in shooting-related homicides during a nine-hour stretch between Friday night and Saturday morning. And then, the police tried to do their jobs.
On Saturday, the Journal-Sentinel reports, City police officials said two officers stopped two suspects in a car about 3:30 p.m. The suspects then took off on foot. During the pursuit, a six-year veteran of the department shot and killed a 23-year-old Milwaukee resident, who was carrying a semiautomatic handgun, police said.
Police said the suspect had a “lengthy arrest record,” though the specific crimes were not detailed. The suspect was carrying a handgun taken in a March burglary in Waukesha. The owner reported that 500 rounds of ammunition also were stolen.
The shooting occurred about one block northwest of the scene of a Friday evening homicide, and about four blocks west of a Saturday morning double homicide.
But no one was protesting that. As long as residents are shooting each other, nobody seems to mind very much.
Instead, several hours after the police-involved shooting, After an hours-long confrontation with officers, police reported at 10:15 p.m. that a gas station at N. Sherman Blvd. and W. Burleigh St. was set on fire. Police said firefighters could not for a time get close to the blaze because of gunshots.
Later, fires were started at businesses — including a BMO Harris Bank branch, a beauty supply company and O’Reilly Auto Parts stores
Assistant Police Chief James Harpole said at least 200 people had gathered at the disturbances earlier. He said there were multiple gunshots over the course of the evening. And a brick was thrown at a police officer.
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— George Brown (@georgebrownmem) August 14, 2016
When the gas station was set ablaze, there were three people in the building and all got out safely, he said.
The news conference ended with Aldermen Russell W. Stamper II and Khalif Rainey delivering strongly worded statements about the disturbance springing from the frustrations of black Milwaukeeans and the problems they face.
Rainey, who represents the area where the man was shot by the officer and the disturbance occurred, was particularly pointed. He said Sherman Park had become “a powder keg” this summer, and ended his remarks by implying that downtown could be the site of disturbances if the issues facing African-Americans here not addressed.
“This entire community has sat back and witnessed how Milwaukee, Wis., has become the worst place to live for African-Americans in the entire country,” Rainey said. “Now this is a warning cry. Where do we go from here? Where do we go as a community from here?
“Do we continue – continue with the inequities, the injustice, the unemployment, the under-education, that creates these byproducts that we see this evening? … The black people of Milwaukee are tired. They’re tired of living under this oppression. This is their existence. This is their life. This is the life of their children.
Sir, there is way to fix this. Stop voting for the liberal progressive policies and leaders who ensure your economic enslavement.
“Now what has happened tonight may have not been right; I’m not justifying that. But no one can deny the fact that there’s problems, racial problems, here in Milwaukee, Wis., that have to be closely, not examined, but rectified. Rectify this immediately. Because if you don’t, this vision of downtown, all of that, you’re one day away. You’re one day away.”
Well, some may find this response flippant, considering the tragedy that occurred, but here are some very simple suggestions which may help correct the “racial problems:”
1. Stop committing crimes
2. Stop shooting each other
3. Stop fleeing when police order you to stop and you’re carrying a gun
Source: Allen West
