People protest and block traffic in Milwaukee, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016.Police said one person was shot at a Milwaukee protest on Sunday evening and officers used an armored vehicle to retrieve the injured victim during a second night of unrest over the police shooting of a black man, but there was no repeat of widespread destruction of property.
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The damage was not as extensive as the protests from the previous night.
Police said they began trying to disperse crowds after shots were fired and some protesters threw objects. “From incidents in the park, from a murder in the gas station, from a shooting by the gas station owner at children – this entire community has sat back and witnessed how Milwaukee, Wisconsin has become the worst place to live for African-Americans in the entire country”.
Derek Williams, 22, died in a police vehicle in July 2011.
“Our police officers are doing everything they can to restore order”, he said. One person was injured by gunfire.
Flynn said that while police came under fire Sunday night, “none of our officers returned fire”.
Earlier on Sunday, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker activated the National Guard to assist with potential riots if necessary.
Shots have been fired during new protests in the U.S. city of Milwaukee, police say, as demonstrators took to the streets for a second night.
“They jumped out of cars with rifles and billy clubs”, Winston said.
Mark Hale, 52, who works third-shift at the Hilton hotel downtown, said he was driving home and stopped by on his own to pick up trash.
“I’m looking at a silent movie that doesn’t necessarily tell me everything that will come out in a thorough investigation”, Flynn said. “I figured if I started picking up trash, other people might do the same”. Protesters also broke the windows of an unoccupied squad vehicle and torched another, police said.
Hale said he has four grown children, three of whom are in training or studying to be in law enforcement.
According to Deacon Johnny Winston, who led the group, some of the officers, including some standing on the roof of the station, had their hands on their guns as the crowd approached, the Times reports.
Earlier, police chief Edward Flynn said the man whose death sparked Saturday night’s rioting was shot after he turned towards an officer, who was also black, with a gun in his hand.
Mayor Barrett said the officer – a 24-year-old black male with six years of service with the MPD, three years as an officer – was wearing a body camera which was operating at the time of the shooting.
Flynn confirmed that the officer is African-American. Smith was hit in the chest and arm, Flynn said. Fearing for his safety, he was now staying with relatives out of town. “That still photo demonstrates without question that [Smith] had a gun in his hand, and I want our community to know that”, said Barrett.
A BP gas station was also set on fire, but police said the blaze could not initially be extinguished due to gunshots being fired by protesters. Police said one person was. Police said three people were arrested, and one officer was hurt by a brick thrown into a squad auto. Mr Flynn said they would not be deployed unless the chief made a decision to do so. He said that 125 members of the Guard are on their way to the city “as we speak”. He called the area where the shooting occurred “a powder keg”.
His death and that footage brought national attention to the Milwaukee police department.
Outrage over police violence toward minority groups has given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement and touched off a national debate over the race issue and policing in the United States.
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Darlene Rose, 31, said she understands the anger that fueled the violence, but that it doesn’t help.
