Demonstrators take over Milwaukee streets on day eight of protests
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Friday, June 5, is the eighth night that protesters have taken over Milwaukee streets calling for justice.
But the day started off a little different than the others.
The march kicked off with a pep talk and a reminder of the importance of the movement.
But one difference was that organizers shared rules of the march.
“No littering, we know we’re not looting," one said.
Their message has always been to walk, ride and drive in peace through the city.
They also asked for children 18 and under to leave by nine p.m. to keep them safe.
“I just think it’s a beautiful thing to see all these different colors, races – Black, White, Hispanic, Asian coming together and standing up for what’s right, and what they believe in," Mike Rilley, a white male protester, said.
These marches were sparked by the death of George Floyd, but at one point, the crowd sang ‘happy birthday’ to Breonna Taylor, who would have turned 27 years old Friday.
Taylor was shot in her Louisville home in March by police serving a no-knock search warrant.
“It’s not just about us older in age, but it’s also about them," Dee Neal, a black mother who brought her two young daughters to the protest, said. "I don’t want my children growing up feeling fearful, being scared to walk down the street because of a police officer or because of someone that doesn’t look like them.”
Back in Milwaukee regardless of color, and after eight days, one of the organizers says this moment is not "business as usual."
“I would love to see those who are accountable for legislation to come down and say how can we draft legislation, how can we do things to make things a little bit better and beneficial for the people," organizer Khalil Coleman said.
CBS 58 learned that Ald. Russell Stamper, II plans to introduce an “I can’t breathe” resolution at the June 16th council meeting.
It would urges the Fire and Police Commission and police to create a policy against excessive force, especially if a person in custody says they can’t breathe.