From Ferguson to Milwaukee (and beyond): Broken Hearts, Broken Trust, Broken System
Statement from Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs - August 21, 2014
From Ferguson to Milwaukee and across the U.S., the devaluation of Black life is widespread and at epidemic levels.
Whether it is white police officers in Ferguson or Black men on 15th & Atkinson in Milwaukee, the senseless and violent end for too many young Black souls continues on. The outrage, anger, hurt and pain that is felt with any senseless loss of life is present regardless of the race or the occupation of the offender. However, it is particularly troubling – and polarizing – when those entrusted to protect and serve the public are the ones who have taken a life.
The August 9th murder of 18-year-old African-American Mike Brown at the hands of Darren Wilson, a white City of Ferguson police officer, has sparked nights of protests and unrest in Ferguson and across the nation. Many eyewitnesses said Brown had his hands raised in submission at the time some of the fatal six bullets were fired. Brown’s name is now added to the unfortunate and long list of African Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of a police officer. Several Milwaukee families know all too well the broken heart, broken trust, and broken system the Brown family is now coming to grips with. Heartbroken because no parent ever expects to bury their child, broken trust because officers are supposed to protect and serve and be allies in efforts to keep the peace, and broken “system” because of how these cases are too often handled, with the ultimate adjudication in favor of the officer (with rarely any charge or penalty) and without the justice sought by the family and the community.
The question becomes what can be done to prevent from setting this city on fire, to fix that which is obviously broken. While the eradication of poverty, and dismantling of systemic racism and all of its vestiges will likely take generations, there are countless things we can do today to fight to improve community-police relations, demonstrate the tremendous value of all human life, and to ensure a sense of justice right now.
Whether it is pushing for the continued diversification of the Milwaukee police force, supporting the police officer body camera legislation I have introduced, continuing to hold the Fire and Police Commission accountable, limiting local police access to military grade weaponry, voting to help determine who gets elected as District Attorney and who selects the leadership in the local police department, and who truly makes our laws, or even things as simple as allowing your voice to be heard by participating in local rallies for Justice, there are so many possibilities for pushing for change.
All concerned Milwaukee residents are invited to rally for justice at two events that members of the community have collaboratively planned. The first rally will be at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Friday, August 22) at Red Arrow Park (N. Water St. and E. Kilbourn), and second rally will be at 4 p.m. on Monday (August 25) outside the Federal Building at 517 E. Wisconsin Ave.
We must do all we can from our individual vantage points communally, legislatively, in our homes, on our blocks and at the polls to change the climate and work diligently so no other families have to deal with the broken heart Mike Brown’s family is dealing with right now. In turn, we must work to mend the broken trust between the community and those who are given the responsibility to protect and serve, and to fix our justice system to ensure that it makes clear that Black life is valuable.
Mending hearts, rebuilding trust and changing the justice system is not easy but it’s what we must do from Ferguson to Milwaukee, and beyond.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Ald. Milele Coggs
Perhaps Mrs Coggs should divert some attention from issuing press releases and come up with solutions to the black on black crime plaguing her district..
When I was reading the release yesterday I was thinking the same thing. She’s part of the broken system that she’s refering to and is trying to hop on the band wagon to seem like she is for the people.
This alderperson rarely responds to consituents concerns, doesn’t reply to emails or phone calls……maybe I should move to Brewer’s Hill or closer to North Ave….seems like those are the only parts of her district she reacts to.
There are so many factual errors and fantasies in her writings. Where does one begin?
#1 Mike Brown was not murdered. He was killed, and that killing was ruled justifiable by the local district attorney and again by the Feds. She regurgitates talking points that were either recanted or proven to be wrong by the evidence. Mike Brown was charging at a cop with his head down when he was fatally shot. I encourage Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs to look up the definition of Murder in the dictionary. Words mean things, and it is sad when people do not know the meaning of words they use. Even worse, when they purposely try to deceive their readers.
#2 The Broken System. For the last 8 years our Justice System has been controlled by a black President and 2 black Attorney Generals in a row. It is sad that people like this alderwoman spreads the mantra that black people are targeted due to the color of their skin. Teach your children to respect authority and obey police commands, and they won’t be shot by police. Teach them it is ok to draw a weapon on a cop and it ends badly. Sylville Smith would still be alive today if he had not drawn a weapon on a black cop. This broken system is giving light sentences for minorities that allow them back on the street in record time.
#3 The spark. She is adding to the volatility of this situation with her inflammatory rhetoric. BLM is destroying the black communities quicker than the Welfare system destroyed the black family unit. That took 30 years, whereas BLM will destroy the black communities within 3 years. Investments in minority communities is falling off rapidly. Private enterprises are not willing to risk investing their hard earned capital into a property that can be quickly burned down. Community leaders and local government leaders should be turning away from the failed progressive policies that have destroyed their communities. She should be telling people in her community to respect police and reminding them that the police risk their own lives daily for their communities, communities that are taught to hate them.