Protests are happening around the country following the May 25 death of George Floyd, a black man who died when a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck. In Milwaukee, protests have been occurring since last Friday over Floyd's death and other cases of police brutality. Here you'll find updates on protests happening in the Milwaukee area.
Check out all of WUWM's protest coverage here:
>>Tuesday, June 2
>>Monday, June 1
>>Sunday, May 31
>>Saturday, May 30
>>Friday, May 29
10:12 p.m.: Milwaukee Protest Proceeds Peacefully
Protesters are headed west on North Avenue from the east side, stopping along the way and creating a circle around speakers with a bullhorn who lead chants of “shut it down” and “Black Lives Matter” along with personal testimony.
Black Lives Matter chant in the middle of Holton Street, one of many dividing lines in Milwaukee between a majority black neighborhood and a majority white one pic.twitter.com/y05taAscs9
— Jeramey Jannene (@compujeramey) June 4, 2020
Protesters have been marching since 2 p.m. At this moment, the Milwaukee Police Department has had minimal presence. This afternoon MPD blocked streets near downtown, rerouting protesters. Earlier this evening the National Guard was spotted arriving at MPD headquarters downtown.
-Angelina Mosher Salazar
9:28 p.m.: Protests Continue In Madison
About 1,000 people are peacefully gathering on the Capitol Square in Madison, listening to speeches. There are occasional chants of "Black Lives Matter."
-Chuck Quirmbach
8:44 p.m.: Protesters Make Their Way Along Lakefront
Hundreds of protesters marched along Milwaukee's lakefront Wednesday evening. The group stopped in Veterans Park, and some protesters split off. Then the group continued north and paused again near Bradford Beach.
Protesters gather in circle across from Bradford Beach. pic.twitter.com/mEfttY49H1
— BillGlauber (@BillGlauber) June 4, 2020
So far Wednesday's protests in Milwaukee have been peaceful without major police confrontations.
-Emily Files
8:28 p.m.: MPD Releases Video Condemning George Floyd Killing
The Milwaukee Police Department released a video Wednesday showing several officers’ reactions to the death of George Floyd. Floyd was a black man killed by Minneapolis police on May 25, when an officer kneeled on the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes while he was face down during an arrest.
As millions of people continue to protest against the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. We asked Chief Morales and our members how they felt when they watched the video of the arrest. https://t.co/mW9Uqc1b7B
— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) June 4, 2020
Milwaukee police officers in the video expressed frustration at the Minneapolis officers’ actions. One Milwaukee officer said he was disheartened and angered. Another called the officer who knelt on Floyd a coward, and said he didn’t represent what a cop stands for.
Chief Alfonso Morales was the last to appear in the video, saying he was outraged by the video of Floyd’s death. “Let’s work together and unite Milwaukee," Morales said. "And make it a safer place to live, work and raise a family.”
The Milwaukee Police Department has been criticized by some for its use of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters Tuesday night.
-Teran Powell
7:25 p.m.: Marches Converge And Continue Downtown; No City Curfew
According to social media posts, two groups of protesters merged and are continuing to march downtown.
March appears to have tripled in size since it began pic.twitter.com/8WpeGSOlvg
— Graham Kilmer (@grahamkilmer) June 4, 2020
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced that he would not issue a curfew tonight.
-Emily Files
5:27 p.m.: Multiple Protests Continue In Milwaukee
A group of protesters that started in Humboldt Park around 3 p.m. had to rethink their route when police apparently lifted bridges connecting to downtown.
The march has moved to 6th and National as police are the ones blocking off Third Ward bridges. pic.twitter.com/AnQCJouHBa
— Jeramey Jannene (@compujeramey) June 3, 2020
Meanwhile, a separate group protested on the east side of Milwaukee.
A group of protesters occupies the intersection of Oakland and North on Milwaukee's east side. https://t.co/jbszvLBSJQ pic.twitter.com/HskvVQHXXE
— TMJ4 News (@tmj4) June 3, 2020
-Emily Files
3:30 p.m.: Afternoon Marches Draw Large Crowds
Hundreds of people turned out Wednesday afternoon for a protest at the Islamic Society on Milwaukee's south side. Demonstrators are speaking out against police brutality and the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 at the hands of Minneapolis police.
The event began at 2 p.m. Many people carried signs that read "I Can't Breathe" and "Black Lives Matter." Protesters planned to march from the Islamic Center south to the airport and then back to the center.
Another large protest formed at Humboldt Park in Bay View.
The Humboldt Park march is on the move, headed north to Downtown. Several hundred strong. #MilwaukeeProtest pic.twitter.com/kXDWdECV6I
— Jeramey Jannene (@compujeramey) June 3, 2020
That group planned to march downtown and to the lakefront.
-Marti Mikkelson
1:31 p.m.: At Least Two Milwaukee Protests Planned For Wednesday Afternoon
Protesters speaking out against police brutality will gather for the sixth consecutive day in Milwaukee. At least two marches are planned. One begins at 2 p.m. at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. The other begins at 2 p.m. at Humboldt Park.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has not announced a curfew today. Yesterday, tension between police and protesters reached a high point when police used tear gas and rubber bullets to drive back protesters near downtown. According to the Milwaukee Police Department, someone threw a Molotov cocktail at officers, but it did not ignite.
The MPD says it arrested approximately 27 people Tuesday, and that three stores were burglarized and one store was damaged.
-Emily Files
