Candlelight vigil recalls those killed by violence in 2017 in Milwaukee
Campaign calls for youth to be loved, not mourned
Toward the end of a long, chilly service Saturday, Muhibb Dyer II injected the heat, insight and inspiration that families gathered to remember homicide victims seemed to need.
“A candle ain’t enough,” he said, glancing backward at a table filled with more than 125 little flames, one for each person killed by violence in Milwaukee this year. “That’s just a beginning. Do some good work.”
The crowd responded enthusiastically. The survivors, pastors, elected officials and others had gathered Saturday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3022 W. Wisconsin Ave., for their annual Milwaukee Lights a Candle for Change vigil.
There were prayers, scripture, singing and dance before organizers read off the 128 names affixed on the candles.
MacArthur Weddle, director of Northcott Neighborhood House Inc., said the organization began holding the vigils 27 years ago.
Dyer, who runs the I Will Not Die Young campaign, shared the story of when his 16-year-old godson was killed 12 years ago, and the promise he made to him to help make a difference. “Why am I here? This boy sent me,” he said, holding up a memorial sweatshirt with Preston Blackman’s picture on it.
“Time doesn’t heal. Action does,” he said, urging people to take action in memory of those they lost. “There will come a day when this will make sense to you.”
Bianca Williams, 26, had a simple message. “Love on our youth,” she said. “Everyone is crying. We need to come together to raise our youth, not just mourn them.”
Though it’s of no solace to survivors of this year’s victims, fewer people were killed in Milwaukee this year than last. The official number tracked by the FBI as crimes is 118, while several others don’t meet that criteria, such as in cases where a homicide was found to be
“Time doesn’t heal. Action does. There will come a day when this will make sense to you.”
Muhibb Dyer II I Will Not Die Young campaign
justified.
The number could change because several deaths remain under investigation.
Compared with 142 homicides in 2016, that’s a nearly 17% decline and a sharper drop from the decades-high 147 homicides recorded in 2015. But even this year’s reduced death toll still exceeds counts from 2006 to 2014, when homicides ranged from a low of 71 to a high of 105.
But as Mayor Tom Barrett remarked, “We still have a long way to go,” noting that, on a percapita basis, the city’s violence still far exceeds New York City’s.
“Everyone here can reach someone,” Barrett said, “and convince them that no matter the dispute, it needn’t be resolved with a gun.”
Arrests have been made in about half the cases. The vast majority of victims, 85%, were shot, and 69% were men ages 18 to 39, according to data maintained by the Journal Sentinel.
Experts blame the exploding opioid addiction problem for part of recent years’ bumps in homicides in many areas,
SENTINEL
but dozens of people still were killed over jealousy, anger, grudges and for simply being caught in the crossfire of others’ disputes.
One of those was 6year-old Justin Evans Jr., who was about to go fishing with his stepdad July 22 when he was killed by a bullet as he ran up some porch steps to tell his mother goodbye. A 34year-old man was charged.
Other young people were killed by gunfire, such as Chrisima Murry, 14, and Emani Robinson, 16. Chrisima’s case is unsolved. Two men have been charged in Emani’s death.
About a dozen victims were over 50. Gregory “Ziggy” Zyszkiewicz was 64 when he was shot in a failed carjacking. Three people are charged in his death.