Safe & Sound Issues Statement Regarding George Floyd’s Death
Milwaukee, WI – As a resident focused organization, Safe & Sound recognizes that silence is complicity. We are frustrated, angry, and extremely saddened by the death of George Floyd, and unfortunately, not shocked. Injustices like this have become an all too common facet of daily life for African Americans and people of color in our country and in Milwaukee. As a community we are continuing to struggle from the effects of COVID-19, which has so far disproportionately affected communities of color, while at the same time we are now trying to process and heal from another senseless killing of an unarmed black man.
Safe & Sound staff have a firsthand view each day of how the effects of racism and disinvestment in our neighborhoods have affected black people and communities of color in Milwaukee. We understand the frustration and anger that has led to the protest and subsequent looting this weekend. Although we do not condone the actions that have caused damage to our neighborhoods – the places where we live and work, we do support the strength and unity from many different communities and races that have been on display in protests around the city this past weekend.
As an organization, it is incumbent on us to do more. We must go beyond our current and past efforts in order to address the root causes and systems that perpetuate these issues, while working within our mission to ensure the neighborhoods we serve have the resources and strength to grow and thrive moving forward.
We also recognize that we have a unique relationship and partnership with the Milwaukee Police Department, and pledge to do everything within our mission to work with them as partners to ensure a lens of equity and empathy is brought to the work of both organizations as we engage with residents in our neighborhoods. We look forward to the challenge of continuing to look for tangible and inclusive ways to foster, and as needed restore, a healthy relationship between law enforcement and communities of color in Milwaukee.
Safe & Sound’s vision is a safe neighborhood for everyone in Milwaukee, and we will continue our necessary work until that vision is realized and EVERYONE can feel safe.
More about the 2020 Racial Justice Protests
- MKE County: Supervisors Want Chokehold Ban Codified - Graham Kilmer - Sep 17th, 2020
- Suspect arrested for pointing and aiming a long gun at protesters - Milwaukee Police Department - Sep 16th, 2020
- Policing Protests Is More Than ‘Law and Order’ - Henry Redman - Sep 16th, 2020
- Protest Day 108: BLM March Goes to East Side, Shorewood - Ethan Duran - Sep 14th, 2020
- Officer Accused Of Reckless Homicide Resigns - Corri Hess - Sep 9th, 2020
- Task Force Seeks Bipartisan Policing Reform - Laurel White - Sep 8th, 2020
- Op Ed: No Equality Without Specific Solutions - John Torinus - Sep 6th, 2020
- Op Ed: Kenosha Is Charlottesville - U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore - Aug 31st, 2020
- Justice Can’t Wait: Representative Subeck Decries Republican Delays to Justice Reform Package - State Rep. Lisa Subeck - Aug 31st, 2020
- GOP Legislators Skip Special Session on Police - Laurel White - Aug 31st, 2020
Read more about 2020 Racial Justice Protests here
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