Demonstrations are scheduled for Friday in Milwaukee to protest deaths caused by police officers. One rally demands justice for Joel Acevedo, another one protests the death of George Floyd.
Acevedo is the man who died after a fight at the home of a Milwaukee police officer. The officer has been charged in connection with the death.
Floyd was arrested on a forgery complaint in Minneapolis earlier this week and died in police custody. A video shows Floyd, who is black, lying handcuffed face down on the cement while a white police officer presses his knee on Floyd’s neck to restrain him. Floyd screams “I can’t breathe” and a crowd of people gathered around begs the officer to stop kneeling on him.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett called the incident horrific at a news briefing on Thursday.
“America witnessed a murder, and it underscores the very serious challenges we face in combating racism in our country. And I would simply ask residents throughout this community who are outraged, as I was to see that video, to remain calm,” Barrett says.
"It's extremely important that you do not respond to violence with violence." - David Crowley
The incident in Minneapolis has sparked massive unrest since it happened Monday. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley cautioned people who attend Friday's demonstration in Milwaukee not to let things escalate.
“When you think about the emotions that come with this, they are valid, and they need to be expressed. But it’s extremely important that you do not respond to violence with violence,” Crowley says.
Crowley recalled the summer of 2016 when he lived in the Sherman Park neighborhood, and unrest broke out over the fatal shooting of a black suspect by a Milwaukee police officer.
