At 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, around 1,500 people gathered at Atwater Park in Shorewood for the Milwaukee North Shore Justice for George Floyd Peaceful Protest, launching into the ninth day in a row of these impassioned marches.
Each day, the ongoing protests spurred by the death of George Floyd have grown in size and have become more organized. This Milwaukee North Shore protest came together through the efforts of UW-Milwaukee undergraduate, Noah Wolfe, and several Shorewood High School students. Wolfe created the event on Facebook which received over 4,000 R.S.V.P.s.
“As a White person, Noah wanted to reach out to the Black voices so we could focus on Black voices during this march,” said 17-year-old co-host Alemitu Caldart. “It’s super important during these times to hear from Black women, Black children and Black men about their experiences. Everyone else can learn from us.”
The grassy park atop Atwater bluff was enveloped with hundreds of people waiting silently for the demonstration to start. Before heading out on the seven mile trek that looped around the Villages of Shorewood and Whitefish Bay, city officials and organizers delivered their messages to the crowd.
“We are beautiful people too,” said an MPS teacher. “Our lives matter too. These are our Black taxes too. A change is coming and it’s not going to stop until something in the law and police procedures changes.”
Protester and UW-Milwaukee Alumni, Evan Szymkowski, said he feels an overwhelming sense of obligation to be here today to support Black artists in Milwaukee.
“I’m someone who’s very concerned about personal health during this pandemic,” said Szymkowski. “But with what we’ve been seeing in the United States and in Milwaukee communities, I could not stay home. Black businesses in this community are always underappreciated. Supporting our Black artists in Milwaukee will help bring about change. I’m strongly rooted in supporting that cause.”
Democratic State Rep. David Bowen said that some of the protesters’ actions, like driving on sidewalks, might make people feel agitated, but civil disobedience is necessary to create change to reduce police violence.
“If it’s not making you uncomfortable, it’s not working,” said Rep. Bowen.
At around 1:20 p.m. a few instructions were given before the walk: Stay hydrated, and only join in on chants initiated by people with white megaphones.
And with that, the massive group headed north on Lake Drive in peaceful protest. Shorewood High School student Eric Patrick Lucas III, white megaphone in hand, led the way.
Behind him, hundreds of protestors walked and drove in solidarity, forming a line stretching for blocks.
“Hey yo I love y’all!” Lucas III shouted through the megaphone.
“Hey yo we love you too!” the protesters echoed in unison.
This was just one of several chants of the day.
“Hands up- don’t shoot,” and “Hey hey, ho ho, these racist cops have got to go,” were other powerful words heard throughout the march.
Many protesters held signs clearly expressing their distaste for the police force. Written in bold letters on cardboard boxes the signs read: “All cops are bastards,” “defund the police, fund the people” and “abolish the police.”
The concept of abolishing the police is one that has undoubtedly become more widespread in recent weeks. Calls are mounting from activists and elected officials to defund, divest or abolish police departments. Supporters of this notion propose shifting funds away from police departments and instead towards programs related to mental health, housing and education to bring about a systemic societal change.
The calls are being heard.
On Sunday, June 8, the Minneapolis City Council pledged to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department. The city in which George Floyd was murdered by police officer Derek Chauvin, plans to cut $200 million from its $1.3 billion annual budget, said City Council President Lisa Bender.
The idea of structural change is being considered by city officials in Milwaukee as well. In a recent statement made to WISN 12 News, State Rep. LaKeshia Myers explained what might emerge from divesting police departments.
“Number one: Ending police misconduct settlements utilizing taxpayer dollars, making sure we have a Fire and Police Commission that is allowed to do their job,” Rep. Myers said.
Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell R. Lucas and Deputy Daniel Rivera walked alongside protesters to ensure a peaceful demonstration. They walked slowly and casually, and at times engaged in conversation with protestors who approached them. If it weren’t for their uniforms, they would almost blend into the crowd.
“The role of law enforcement here today is to ensure that all people have the opportunity to exercise their First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly,” said Sheriff Lucas.
In regards to the signs targeting the police department, Lucas responded,
“We hear the voices of the people, but there’s over 120,000 police agencies in this country because communities have said we need police. The police are an important part of any community, ” he said. “We’re at a juncture right now where the acts of a few have made it really difficult for all in this profession, but by and large, the police are received and welcome in every community across America and do an outstanding job on a day in and day out basis.”
At every major intersection, the protesters circled up, took a knee and chanted,
“Say his name! George Floyd!” and “Say her name! Brianna Taylor!”
The group made it to Silver Spring Drive by 4:15 p.m. westbound, passing Whitefish Bay businesses including Winkies, Fox Bay Theatre and Moxie’s.
Locally-owned Yellow Wood Gear displayed signs on their windows in support of the march that read, “Hate Has No Home Here” and “Black Lives Matter.” The day before the protest, the owner of Yellow Wood Moshe Katz, posted on Facebook:
“We encourage all tenants to fill their windows with messages of support and encouragement, not boards. Boarding up our shop windows is an act of ignoring the hate it expresses. Let’s be a part of the conversation and share our support in ending systemic racism!”
Hundreds of protestors marched past storefronts without looting, however, this has not been the case for many Milwaukee protests. According to a recent statement from Matthew Krueger, U. S Attorney for the Eastern District, more than 100 businesses have been looted in the last week.
On Sunday, May 31, a large fire was set in the middle of the street near MLK Drive and Wright Street. That same night near 4th Street and Center Street, a gas station and more than 20 other businesses were looted and vandalized.
“During the last 48 hours, more than 60 arrests have been made,” said Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales.
Milwaukee North Shore protestor Evan Szymkowski, said looting is an appropriate response to the longstanding racial injustices.
“Looting is the ultimate form of protesting,” said Szymkowski. “The business owners have put all their value in the material items, so they hear it and they feel it, because that’s what they really care about.”
In contrast, this Milwaukee North Shore protest was peaceful throughout, except for one racially charged transgression that took place at about 5:00 p.m. on the sidewalk near Metro Market in Shorewood.
On Oakland Avenue, just north of Capital Drive, Stephanie Rapkin, a White, 64-year-old attorney and Shorewood resident, parked her car in the middle of the protest and started walking towards the lead organizers. After a verbal altercation, Rapkin spat in the face of teen organizer, Lucas III.
Stephanie was later charged by the Shorewood Police Department with battery to law enforcement, battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Charges were later referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
“It’s sad I got assaulted,” Lucas III told local news later in the evening. “It was something that was supposed to be peaceful and the meaning behind it was that my life mattered. And that showed me that my life don’t matter.”
After Stephanie was swiftly ushered away by protestors and encouraged to leave, the march proceeded south on Oakland Avenue, making its way back to Atwater Park.
Organizers said that showing up for protests day after day is just one of many actions people should take to eliminate police brutality and racial injustice.
“People need to continue supporting Black businesses, they need to sign petitions, they need to call political officials and legislators,” said protest organizer Alemitu Cardart. “We need to do everything we can so that the politicians who are going to be in office, are going to do everything they can to dismantle the white supremacist system and to honor Black lives.”
Want to help protestors and local Black-owned Businesses? Visit Milwaukeemag.com for a list of places to donate and stay up to date on upcoming protests by following the Milwaukee Protests Facebook Page.
Photo: Molly Nelson
“In a time of lies, telling the truth is a revolutionary act .” George Orwell. America was founded on racism and has been a racist nation. The truth is being told around the world. Outrage and rebellion are catalysts of change. Silencing the truth by suppressing protests or threatening military intervention as this white supremacist president has done is a step towards fascism. Rebel against racism. Write on, molly !