The deadly shooting of an armed black man by police officers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has stirred violent protests all over the city.
Authorities are supposed to meet with community leaders and church representatives on Sunday to restore the city’s peace. The angry crowds destroyed at least two police cars, threw rocks and bricks at officers, injuring at least one and set on fire an auto-parts store and a gas station. Three protesters were arrested and taken into custody. According to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the demonstrators utilized social media to attract more people to the violent protest.
A New Death
On Saturday afternoon, two African-American men were driving through the city’s north-side when they were stopped by two police officers. The men in the car resisted, which led to a foot chase, ending with the fatal shooting of a twenty-three-year-old man who had been carrying a handgun.
Mayor Barrett stated in a news conference that the officers repeatedly urged the armed man to drop his gun, but he refused, resulting in one official firing his arm multiple times.
The armed man was shot in the chest and arm. When police retrieved the handgun, they found out it was stolen, alongside with 500 rounds of ammunition, during a burglary back in March.
During the investigation, the officer, who is one year older that the man he shot, and has six years of service with the Milwaukee Police Department (half the time as an officer) will be put on administrative duty.
Apparently, the officer was wearing a body camera during the time of the incident. The Wisconsin Department of Justice will lead the investigation by State law. There is no news concerning the second man who was chased. So far, the identities of those involved in the case have not been released.
A violent outburst
As violence ripped through the city, Mayor Barrett tried to appeal to the demonstrators’ rationality.
“If you love your son, if you love your daughter, text them, call them, pull them by the ears and get them home. Get them home right now before more damage is done,” pleaded Barrett.
He also claimed that there were many “good people” in the area who were not taking part in the violent activities. The protest was dissolved around 3:20 a.m. according to the police’s Twitter account.
“What happened tonight may not have been right and I am not justifying that but no one can deny the fact that there are problems, racial problems in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that need to be rectified […] This community of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has become the worst place to live for African-Americans in the entire country” declared Rainey.
He also stated that the African-Americans of Milwaukee are “tired” of being oppressed and that violence was simply a consequence of all the lack of education and employment, injustice, and inequities.