Author: Correspondent

The ACLU of Wisconsin criticized Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales on June 10 for the Milwaukee Police Department’s failure to fulfill its legal obligation to implement community policing measures, as well as for overly aggressive policing tactics in the recent protests. The organization demanded immediate action be taken to comply with court-ordered reform measures and halt the use of force against demonstrators. In comments submitted to the Fire and Police Commission in advance of the FPC’s review of the Chief’s performance, the ACLU stated that the MPD has fallen short of meeting the requirements of the 2018 Settlement Agreement...

Head of the Milwaukee County Human Rights Commission (MCHRC) released a statement on June 9 condemning recent actions by police, and the behavior of local law enforcement in the violent repression of protestors. Dr. Robert Smith called upon Milwaukee County officials to go beyond the symbolic language of the recently passed Racial Equity Ordinance, and to utilize every resource at their disposal. He challenged them to take actions so that the wellbeing, the safety, dignity, and the human rights of all of citizens could be fully realized. As the entity charged with, among other roles, “… advising the appropriate...

The ACLU of Wisconsin issued the following statement on June 1, pertaining to the use of excessive force by law enforcement officers against citizens participating in protests following the murders of George Floyd in Minnesota and Joel Acevedo in Milwaukee. ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Chris Ott said: “This past weekend, state and local law enforcement deployed violent and militant tactics against demonstrators, most of whom were peacefully exercising their First Amendment right to protest. Protesters already grieving the murders of Floyd and Acevedo, and the systematic murder of people of color at the hands of police, should not...