Fourteen people were arrested Sunday and three police cars were damaged, according to officials. Six arrests were made after some “heated confrontations” but there was no destruction of property or rioting, Flynn said.
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A vehicle burns as a crowd of more than 100 people gathers following the fatal shooting of a man in Milwaukee, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016.
The ACLU also noted that Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn has cited the video as backing up the police account of the shooting – but the public hasn’t been allowed to see it.
Police in riot gear assemble in an alley after disturbances following the police shooting of a man in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US on Monday August 15, 2016.
Officials promised strict enforcement of a 10 p.m. curfew for teens Monday night and closed Sherman Park at 6 p.m.
“There is a curfew that will be more strictly enforced tonight for teenagers”, Mayor Tom Barrett told a news conference. City officials recently implemented a 10 p.m. curfew for all minors following a police shooting Saturday, which resulted in weekend-long protests and riots.
At least three people were arrested in an uprising that Barrett said was driven by social media messages instructing people to congregate in the area. Barrett said he hoped the officer’s body-camera video could be released soon.
The turbulent weekend prompted Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to declare a state of emergency on Sunday. Flynn and Barrett have repeatedly stated that Smith refused to drop a loaded firearm he brandished at an officer. The department deleted the post after many people commented with threatening information, such as his home address and other messages.
The chief’s statement raised questions about whether authorities could have taken steps to curb the violence, perhaps by sharing details of the shooting earlier, including the officer’s race or footage from his body camera. “Once you put on the uniform, you’re blue, and blue sees black as bad”.
Barrett added Monday night’s peaceful gatherings were “very encouraging” but remained cautious that “things could happen” later in the evening while Flynn credited community leaders and pastors for leading the charge for peace.
City politician Khalif Rainey – who represents the Sherman Park neighbourhood – issued a plea for peace on Monday, calling Milwaukee residents to “put down the bricks and put away the guns”.
Milwaukee has become the latest American city to be gripped by violence in response to police killings of black men in places such as Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014 and Baltimore a year ago.
“The community stepped up last night”, Flynn said. Locally, we are aware of some general threats against our officers. State law that requires police shootings to be investigated by an independent state agency gives the state control over such evidence.
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Police said Smith’s auto was stopped because he was acting suspiciously, raising skepticism within largely African-American neighborhoods where people report racial discrimination from police.
