'There's no way to stop us': Milwaukee protesters begin march to Washington, D.C.

Day one of a long march that hopes to end in Washington, D.C., started across the street from Buy Right Auto Parts and Country Pump Bar in Caledonia on Tuesday. 

“We’ve been marching, like, 20 miles a day for a while now, so why don’t we have a destination that lets us know that we did something?” activist Frank Sensabaugh said. “That prepared us.” 

Sensabaugh, also known as Frank Nitty, organized the march to coincide with the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech. The group hopes to arrive in the nation’s capital by Aug. 28. 

The march hopes to bring awareness to racial inequity and police brutality.  

“Would (elected officials) change legislation because of this march? I doubt it,” Sensabaugh said. “But will they see and hear us from this march? They definitely will.” 

A group of about 20 people gathered at Haas Park in Oak Creek and drove to the intersection of Ole Davidson Road and West Johnson Avenue in Caledonia to begin the nearly 750-mile march. 

There were about five cars filled with food and supplies that drove ahead of the group at a low speed. Each marcher took their own precautions to make sure they were hydrated and comfortable to make the long walk. 

Sensabaugh bought new shoes specifically for the march.  

“There’s no way to stop us,” Sensabaugh said. “We’re not going back at all. This march is going to happen, the whole 750 miles. For me, it’s like a roller coaster. Once you buckle up and get on, there’s no way out until the end.” 

Included in the group of marchers is Sensabaugh’s 20-year-old son, Sebastian Taylor, who flew in from Las Vegas where he lives.  

Before being one of the faces of protest in Milwaukee, Taylor said, his dad helped homeless people and those registering to vote. 

Since the marches, Taylor said he has heard from people about what his dad has meant to people. 

“People come up to me and tell me how much they appreciate my dad and how much he’s helped him,” Taylor said, adding he helped his dad register people to vote before the April election. “I feel like it’s always good to give back if you have it.” 

The farthest Sandy Solomon has ever walked or ran in a single attempt was a 5K race. 

Solomon said she decided to join the march because her friend Antonio Gonzalez was killed by a Wauwatosa police officer in 2015. 

“We need a change, we need equality, it’s long overdue,” Solomon said. “We’re going to Washington for the 57th anniversary for Martin Luther King’s speech. It’s going to be a celebration but at the same time we need to get some business done.” 

Activist Tory Lowe said he has been marching from Milwaukee to Chicago every year for the last five years to protest police brutality. 

A few weeks ago Sensabaugh approached Lowe and asked him if he was interested in walking to Washington, D.C. Lowe’s response was “are you serious?” 

He was serious and Lowe said he was going to go with him.  

“The success is making it to the end,” Lowe said. “If we don’t complete the effort, then that will be a disappointment. ... If we make it there, that inspires people to take it one step further.” 

Lowe said in order to create lasting change in Milwaukee, new leaders will have to be elected.  

“If you’ve been in leadership the last 10 to 15 years, this is a reflection of your leadership,” Lowe said. “Milwaukee has some of the worst statistics for African Americans in the country. And that’s a reflection of the leadership and how they’re directing the community.” 

Before they began marching, the protesters pulled into a parking lot near the 32nd Division Memorial Highway marker to help a homeless man. 

The man, who said his name was “Skipping Sparrow,” was playing a harp and wearing tattered brown pants, a black hoodie and worn socks.

The man was surprised and "a little intimidated" by the group that approached him seemingly out of nowhere.

Sensabaugh asked him if they could give him some food. The man said he was vegan. 

“We’ve got some vegan beef jerky,” said Sensabaugh, a vegetarian. “I haven’t tried it, but do you want some?” 

The man was surprised and said yes.  

The group gave him a couple of packs of vegan beef jerky and he opened up and took a few bites. 

“What shoe size do you wear?” Sensabaugh asked.  

 The man grabbed a sandal nearby and held it up. 

“It changes every day,” he said.  

The marchers offered to find him a pair of shoes, but he turned them down. 

“Get me some socks,” Sensabaugh said to the group and one person went into a car and brought a new pack of white socks.  

Sensabaugh opened the pack and gave him several pairs of socks and the man thanked them. Sensabaugh told them about the march but the man said he couldn’t go with him. 

“Good luck,” he said.