“I think people are just angry and are acting out. And it’s not with words. And it’s not in the way that maybe we’re used to seeing protest express itself -- or the way that we want to see protest express itself -- but I think it is a form of protest.”
On Saturday, August 13th, a Milwaukee police officer shot and killed 23-year old Sylville Smith near the intersection of West Auer Avenue and North 44th Street. The police department reported that Smith had a gun and refused to drop it. Details are still unfolding. What we do understand is that in the Sherman Park neighborhood where this took place, tensions had been mounting for weeks. Sylville’s death sparked peaceful protests, as well as violent unrest. Footage of buildings set aflame brought national attention to the Milwaukee and its struggles.
Precious Lives host Eric Von lives in Sherman Park. And producer Aisha Turner had been reporting on a related story for about a week before the major headlines began to unfold. Eric and Aisha sat down with executive producer Brad Lichtenstein to share their thoughts about what led to the the unrest and what they think is going to be necessary for the community to move forward.
To learn more about the efforts mentioned in this episode please visit:
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee
Photos:
Precious Lives producer Aisha Turner reporting in Sherman Park during a tough weekend for Milwaukee.
A prayer circle forms outside the BP gas station, one day after it was set ablaze along with several other Sherman Park neighborhood buildings.
Credits: Michelle Maternowski / WUWM
