7-mile march to Cudahy reflects reach of protests
Intermittent rainstorms and high winds forced the cancellation or shortening of multiple events Saturday connected to ongoing protests over systemic racism and treatment of Blacks by law enforcement.
The biggest postponement was an event called “Marching for Inclusivity, for All Black Lives,” which had been planned on the east side of Milwaukee.
However, Saturday afternoon a march that started in St. Francis made its way seven miles into Cudahy. The group planned a voter registration drive at the end of the march. The event continued to reflect the ability to draw crowds across southeast Wisconsin.
About 200 people on foot entered Cudahy by 4 p.m. At one point, while still in St. Francis, protesters passed a group of people in lawn chairs with “We back the blue” signs. Marchers paused and drivers with the group honked their horns before moving on.
Frank Sensabaugh — known as Frank Nitty — and Khalil Coleman promoted the event to those who’ve been following them in previous marches. As Sensabaugh livestreamed from the march, a middle school teacher asked him to come do a unit at her school in Wauwatosa.
“Everyone wants to ride with the people at this point,” Nitty said on the livestream.
Earlier in the day, a “teach-in” at Gordon Park was designed to educate people about the history of police brutality and institutionalized racism in Milwaukee.
Malik Pitchford, a 19-year-old student at DePaul University, spoke about Black Power philosophy and called for structural changes to the political and economic system. The policing system in the United States, he said, cannot be reformed and must be abolished.
“You can’t reform a system that is meant to put Black and brown people at the bottom of the barrel,” Pitchford said.
Lauryn Cross, a 20-year-old organizer originally from the Sherman Park neighborhood, criticized police unions for defending officers accused of misconduct. She called for Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah, who has fatally shot three people in his five years of service, to be fired.
Prosecutors ruled that Mensah’s use of force in two of the cases were justified. Mensah is currently on administrative duty while the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office reviews the third case.
A second wave of rain and thunder cut the event short, but speakers told listeners they’re considering holding another teach-in to continue the conversation about justice and change.
Rory Linane, Genevieve Redsten and Rick Wood of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.