MCJ December 24, 2014 Edition

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSINPERMIT NO. 4668

D.A. Clears Cop in Dontre Hamilton Death

“Today we activate the powerof the people,” Hamilton said onthe steps of the federal courthouseon Wisconsin Avenue with familymembers, their attorneys and sup-porters a few hours afterChisholm announced his deci-sion.“We will not be deactivated

until justice is consistent.” Also present at the news con-

ference (some of whom spoke)were representatives of the Mil-waukee NAACP, ACLU of Wis-consin, Milwaukee UrbanLeague, MICAH, MilwaukeeMatters, the Sherman Park com-munity Association, the Coalitionfor Justice, the African AmericanRoundtable, and other groups.Visibly angry about Chisholm’s

decision, in which the D.A. statedin his report—released Mon-day—that Manney was “justi-fied” in firing (14 times) at hisbrother who (according to the re-port) “was attacking him (Man-ney) with a deadly weapon(baton), Hamilton believed Man-ney looked at his brother and“killed him with hate and intent.“Now he, (Manney) has the

mental problem,” Hamilton toldthe gathering. “He probably had amental problem. The system hasa mental problem.”Between chants of encourage-

ment from the crowd, many ofwhom have been protesting withthe Hamilton family since Don-tre’s death last April in Red ArrowPark—located across the streetfrom City Hall—Hamilton toldthem the family will turn its angerinto positive energy in order to“take down the beast (the currentsystem). All people…let’s standtogether!”“My family has cried too long.

As a people we’ve cried too long.We’re not going to cover-up in-justice with our tears,” Hamiltonsaid. “My family loved mybrother. This is a fight. We’regoing to endure, stay strong; wewon’t waiver.”Hamilton then urged the com-

munity as a whole to get involvedin the struggle for justice for hisbrother and others—both locallyand nationally—who have beenthe victims of police violence.“We won’t turn our backs no

more. That’s what they want. Wemust wake people up (to the fact)that injustice does exist. My fam-ily is no longer crying. Don’t wedeserve to be treated right?”The attorneys for the Hamilton

family, called on the Federal gov-ernment to investigate the shoot-ing to see Hamilton’s civil rightswere violated.In a statement he read starting

the news conference, JonathanSafran, one of the attorneys forthe Hamilton family, said theyhave been in contact with theUnited States Attorney’s Officefor the Eastern District of Wis-consin, in Milwaukee.“We have formally requested

that they (the aforementioned

U.S. Attorney’s office for Wis-consin) communicate with theUnited States Department of Jus-tice, Civil Rights Division, Crim-inal Section, to immediatelycommence a federal investigationinto this matter, with the beliefthat federal law criminal civilrights charges are warranted inthis case.”Speaking to the gathering out-

side the courthouse, James Hall,president of the MilwaukeeBranch of the NAACP, also calledfor the U.S. attorny for the EaternDistrict of Wisconsin (who isJames Santelle) and the U.S. De-partment of Justice to conduct aseparate, thorough and independ-ent review and investigation intoHamilton’s death.“As with the matters involving

Frank Jude locally and RodneyKing in Los Angeles (both weresavagely beaten by members ofpolice departments in the respec-tive cities), we know there areprecedents for federal reviewreaching a decision to chargewhere the D.A. has not issuedcharges.“We understand that each situ-

ation is different, but we imploreMr. Santelle to approach such re-view with an open mind and withfull consideration of the particularcircumstances of this case.”On late afternoon Monday, the

U.S. Attorney’s office announcedthey will review the Hamiltoncase to determine if civil rightswere violated. Responding to calls by some

city government and law enforce-ment officials for calm and rea-son, Hamilton said the peoplehave been calm. “When will westand-up and activate the powerof the people? Hamilton asked.Hamilton urged the gathering—

and the community—to push theclouds of apathy away and shinethe light on truth. “Expose truth.”After Hamilton’s remarks and

closing remarks of the family’s at-torneys, the Hamilton family pro-ceeded to march west downWisconsin Avenue chanting forjustice, chanting against the sys-tem, and chanting for the indict-ment and conviction Manney.During his news conference ex-

onerating Manney of any wrongdoing, Chisholm was asked if thefiring of 14 shots at Hamilton wasan excessive and warranted fur-ther scrutiny as a determining fac-tor for charges.Chisholm, who sought and

weighted the advice from localand nation use-of-force experts inmaking his decision reportedlyresponded that there is no stan-dard requiring officers to stop fir-ing their weapon and re-assess thesituation after x amount ofrounds.However the Hamilton’s attor-

ney noted that the autopsy reportdescribed abrasions and contu-sions on Hamilton’s head andneck.Safran said part of the report

raises questions as to the ability ofsome to resist if there is unreason-able force addressed againstthem. “And that may have beenwhat Dontre Hamilton wasdoing,” he said.Chisholm also reportedly said

his decision had nothing to dowith the initial encounter betweenHamilton, “right or wrong. That’sa decision that’s been made by thepolice department, that’s a deci-sion that may very well be thesubject of civil litigation.”In October, Milwaukee Police

Chief Edward Flynn fired Man-ney for failing to follow properprocedures in dealing with men-tally ill individuals. Hamilton hadsuffered from schizophrenia.

Information sources for partsof this article: fox6now.com andwisn.com

Hamilton’s family vows to fight on until justice is servedesponding to Milwaukee CountyDistrict Attorney John Chisholm’sdecision Monday not to criminallycharge fired Milwaukee Police Of-ficer Christopher Manney in the

death of his brother, Dontre Hamilton, NateHamilton urged the community to “activate”the power it has in the pursuit of justice.

By Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.

R

Dontre Hamilton

D.A. John Chisholm

Christopher Manney

“Today we activate the power of the people. The power of thepeople will not be deactivated until justice is consistent”

-Nate Hamilton, brother of Dontre Hamilton

Photo by Clarene Mitchell

Photo by Yvonne Kemp



The Milwaukee Community Journal December 24, 2014 Page 2

THE PULSE PHOTTHE PULSE PHOTOPOP

“My family has cried too long. As a people we’ve cried too long.We’re not going to cover-up injustice with our tears...My familyloved my brother. This is a fight. We’re going to endure, staystrong; we won’t waiver.”

--Nate Hamilton, brother of Dontre Hamilton

Photos by Yvonne Kemp

Community response to D.A. decision in Hamilton case


Why I Was Arrested StandingUp for DontreHamilton inMilwaukeeThis weekend I spent 24 hours in jail for protestingthe death of Dontre Hamilton, the unarmed man shot14 times by a Milwaukee police officer in a down-town park. I am compelled to write about my experi-ence to share why I chose to join this protest and tocorrect the narrative law enforcement leaders in Mil-waukee have used to inaccurately paint a picture ofthe protests and arrests.While my conscience continues to be deeply moved by Dontre's case and

his loved ones' grief, I came to protest because of my concerns with the largersystem -- that the American justice system produces different outcomes forpeople at every level from profiling and arrests through sentencing, parole,and killing based purely on race and class. I am not anti-police. I've beenmugged at gunpoint twice in my life, and I don't want to be a victim of crimeagain. Despite the many good officers who have helped me and my empathy for

their very difficult work, I believe the system is set up to differentially enforcelaws, and protect those who abuse their power to enforce the law.Dontre's case is one where I believe the officer should face criminal

charges. At a downtown Starbucks in Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park, a workercalled police to complain about a man sleeping in the park (another workercriticized the call publicly and disputed that he was a problem). Police officerscame twice to check on Dontre, saw nothing wrong, and left. Officer Christo-pher Manney, unaware other officers had stopped, confronted Dontre Hamil-ton and tried to pat him down. Hamilton, who had a history of mental illness, resisted and a confrontation

ensued. Officer Manney tried to subdue him with a baton and Hamilton gotthe baton and swung at him, hitting the side of his neck. Officer Manney shotHamilton 14 times including in the back to kill him. Police Chief Edward Flynn fired Officer Manney not for excessive force

but for not following protocols in dealing with an emotionally disturbed per-son. He was not dangerous, did not deserve to be confronted, and certainlyshould not have been killed. We are waiting to find out if Milwaukee's DistrictAttorney will press charges.As we all know, other District Attorneys and grand juries have not pursued

criminal charges against police officers who have killed clearly innocent orunarmed African American men. One cannot look at the cases of MichaelBrown, Eric Garner, Dontre Hamilton, John Crawford (the man shot at Wal-

Mart in Dayton), Tamir Rice (the 12 year old shot on a Cleveland play-ground), and many other recent cases and think that there is not a larger prob-lem with police assuming African American men and boys are inherentlydangerous. None of these men should be dead, and none of their familiesshould be grieving.These deaths point at the deeper, more profound problems in our criminal

justice system. Fifteen years ago I read Randall Kennedy's Race, Crime andthe Law and David Cole's No Equal Justice. They argued with vast evidencethat at every level of the criminal justice system from profiling and arreststhrough sentencing and parole, there were substantial racial disparities. If anAfrican American and a white person do or are alleged to do the same thing,they have extremely different consequences.More recently, Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow and Bryan Steven-

son's Just Mercy indict our present system of justice as inherently biased, andpoint to the terrible personal and community consequences of that injustice.Forty years ago, around 350,000 people were in prisons. Today, 2.3 millionare, mostly for non-violent offenses. Crime did not rise seven-fold in fortyyears, and is in fact at record lows. More than 500,000 prisoners are serving time for drug crimes, and over

75% of them are African American despite the fact that they make up only13% of drug users. A 1999 New York Times Magazine article interviewedpolice about why they were doing pretext drug stops in South Central LosAngeles instead of UCLA. The police agreed they would arrest people formore drug offenses at UCLA. If drug laws were enforced equally in whitecommunities as communities of color, the laws would change.Once someone has a record, it becomes a vicious cycle that prevents them

from securing jobs, blocks them from receiving public benefits, and locksthem up for long periods for minor offenses. And we keep reading about individuals released from death row who were

innocent and ended up there only because of the system's bias against peopleof color and the poor. We waste billions of tax dollars on prisons that producedesperation and crime, rather than saving money by spending smarter on al-

ternatives that actually produce safety. The system is expensive, ineffective,and unjust.I personally understand how my white privilege has kept me out of jail. I

remember when I was 16 years old and smoking marijuana on a suburbanMilwaukee beach with some friends when a police officer discovered us. Weobviously reeked of marijuana, looked like stoners, and were stoned, but helistened to our excuses and let us walk away. Another time I talked my wayout of a traffic stop while carrying drugs. I was always given the benefit ofthe doubt. Not long after that, I went to inpatient drug treatment filled with judgment

about dealers and addicts from the "inner city." Through my treatment andsubsequent addiction recovery, I learned they were like me in many ways andhow lucky I was to be white, middle class, and living in the suburbs. If I livedin the inner city, I'd have a criminal record and not be where I am today.I have heard too many stories from friends and colleagues of color who

have been stopped, harassed, and even innocently arrested by police. I do nothear these stories from my wealthy, white, professional friends who use drugsor have violated other laws. And when it comes to property crimes and violentcrimes, while I certainly hate those crimes, I believe every person should haveeffective legal counsel and that people of color should receive the same pun-ishment or clemency a white person receives. Such fairness is truly the Amer-ican way.My convictions about the need to reform our criminal justice system, not a

hatred of police or support for crime, led me to join the protest. Here is whatactually happened:I saw a Facebook post that there would be a rally in support of Dontre

Hamilton on Friday at 4 PM. I decided to attend to show my support. I didnot know we would march, and when we began walking down State Streetand 6th Street, I was pleasantly surprised to find that police had blocked thestreets along our route for our safety.We then walked up Fond du Lac Avenue, and our group was split in two

Former Milwaukeean and gang diversion program director offers advice toprevent another deadly encounter between community and the policeOstensibly, people go to war be-

cause all other avenues of protest orattempts at redress have been triedand exhausted. Black people inAmerica have been crying andsinging and marching to protest po-lice brutality in this county since be-fore 1619. The bloody history oftreatment of freedmen in the custodyof law enforcement is obese with sto-ries and episodes from the annals ofJim Crow induced violence to theMissouri neighborhood of Big MikeBrown. Everyone knows there isnothing new about this and it’s notunique to Fergusson. I must say in the same breath that

we also know that the vast majorityof American police officers are hon-est, hard -working professionals that

strive to get it right in a frequentlydifficult, and almost always danger-ous, job. As a former twenty year veteran-

director of the gang diversion pro-gram in Milwaukee and coordinatorof a restorative justice program atMarquette University law school, Iam close this population and this sub-ject is part of my life experience.I know many officers black and

white that are just sickened by whathappened on that cold November dayin Cleveland to young Tamir Rice orthe choking death of Eric Garner inNYC. I’ve been in conversationswith cops who will tell you that theincident in Cleveland, for example,was one of the worst examples of po-lice work they’ve ever seen. Somuch could have been done differ-ently to avoid killing that 12 year-old

child, playing with a toy gun all byhimself in a deserted park.Sure, it was the trigger-happy, pan-

icked rookie that jumped out of thecar with guns-a-blazing, but it wasalso the veteran driver who drove upso close to the kid that the deadly re-sult was almost inevitable.I’m not an expert on forensic sci-

ence, but the incident in Red ArrowPark in Milwaukee suggests a greatdeal of emotion, even rage on the partof the officer. When is it ever neces-sary, or justified to shoot any humanbeing 14 times? Perhaps, that’s whatit should be called; the rage in RedArrow Park. What a horrific and un-forgiving way to “serve and protect”.Even in the case with Mike Brown

and officer, Darren Wilson, someonewith a clearer thinking process and acooler head could have avoided thedeadly consequences of emptying aclip, center mass, in the body of anallegedly belligerent, albeit un-armed, teen-ager. We were told thatMike Brown was belligerent. Wenever heard his side of the story. But even if Big Mike did all they

said he did his death was still quiteavoidable. Officer Wilson was liter-ally in the driver’s seat and held allthe advantages. First, he was in hissquad car-a protected and mobile en-vironment-he had a bullet-proof veston, he had radio communication withback-up officers and he possessed anarray of weapons at his disposal.Why didn’t he just role up his win-dow, or pull forward a little bit? Somany options. Was it his training, hisego or the culture of fear of big blackmen that is so engrained in the psy-che of so many people in this society.Why is it always a white officer anda Black person? Is that merely a co-incidence?But, that’s where it happens.

That’s where the rubber meets theroad. At that point of contact, whenthe officer stops a youth…the atti-tudes, the words, the actions of bothparties…. determine what happensnext! The officer invariably is loaded

with his/her fears, training, percep-tions and expectations and likewisefor the would-be detainee. He alsohas his fears and a latent distrust oflaw enforcement…very often hedoesn’t see a human being he sees ablue uniform with a gun.I work with a group of men and

boys in an outdoor camping adven-ture called the Father & Son Retreatand one of the things we teach theboys at camp is how to act whenstopped by police. It’s a survivalskill!Pull your car over immediately.

Turn off the engine and turn on yourinterior lights. No sudden move-ments and whatever you do, don’treach down between your legs orunder the seat UNDER ANY CIR-CUMSTANCES. Put your hands at10 after ten on the steering wheel andwait for the officer to approach you.

Don’t cuss, don’t get loud, tell thetruth and answer questions as courte-ously as possible. If there is a gun inthe car or anything illegal or ques-tionable PRE- EMPT! Let the officerknow what he/she is dealing with be-fore they stumble up on something.We can think our way out of this

mess. It’s only a matter of time be-fore it happens again. My fear is thatthe youth are going to start shootingback or shoot first. We need policeofficers and good policing in ourneighborhoods and communities.Some of our neighborhoods are dan-gerous places, endemic with the cul-ture of violence and an insaneproliferation of guns.Many people say, “why don’t you

riot and protest when a black personkills another black person”. Well,when a black person shoots and killssomeone, or chokes someone to

death, we fully expect that person tobe arrested, indicted and held ac-countable for his/her actions. Whena police officer is rogue or makes anegregious mistake we, likewise, ex-pect justice to prevail. We know that police have a

tremendous responsibility. We alsoknow they have a great deal of powerand authority. This power and almostabsolute authority has got to be ac-companied by and tempered with aprofound understanding of the ex-traordinary responsibility…and re-straint. ..it represents.Rioting is the voice of the voice-

less, burning and looting are the ac-tions of those who have lost hope andno longer care.I am a black man, a resident of

Fitchburg, recently transitioned fromMilwaukee.

THETHEMILWAUKEEMILWAUKEECOMMUNITYCOMMUNITYJOURNALJOURNALPublished twice weekly,Wednesday & Friday3612 North Martin LutherKing Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212Phone: 414-265-5300 (Advertising and Administration) • 414-265-6647 (Editorial) • Website: communityjournal.net • Email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Opinion and comments expressed on the Perspectives page do not nec-essarily reflect the views of the publisher or management of the MCJ. Let-ters and “other perspectives” are accepted but may be edited for contentand length.

MCJ STAFF:Patricia O’Flynn -PattilloPublisher, CEORobert J. ThomasAssoc. PublisherTodd Thomas, Vice Pres.Mikel Holt, Assoc. PublisherThomas E. Mitchell, Jr., EditorTeretha Martin, Technical Consultant/Webmaster BillingDept./Publisher’s Admin. Assist.

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By Ron Johnson

“We know that police have a tremendous responsibility. We alsoknow they have a great deal of power and authority. This power andalmost absolute authority has got to be accompanied by and tem-

pered with a profound understanding of the extraordinary responsibil-ity…and restraint. ..it represents.”

Ron Johnson

FIRST PERSONFIRST PERSONBy Paul Schmitz,

courtesy of his blog post on Huffingtonpost.com

(continued on page 5)

After the news conference by the Hamilton family re-sponding to the D.A.’s decision in the Dontre Hamiltoncase, protestors, led by the family, walk west down Wis-consin Avenue. (Photo by Clarene Mitchell)


When the songof the angels isstilled,When the starin the sky is

gone,When the kingsand princes arehome,When the shep-

herds are backwith their flock,The work ofChristmas be-gins:

To find the lost,To heal thebroken,To feed thehungry,To release theprisoner,To rebuild thenations,To bring peaceamong brothers,To make musicin the heart.

--HowardThurman

In Loving Memory

Quality Service...a tenured tradition

sincere concern at your time of need.

Offering pre-need, at need andafter-care services to families inMilwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and

other communities throughout our state.

Johnson, Genevieve M.Age 89 yrs. December 12, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Fri-day, December 26 at 11AM. Visitation Friday 10AM until time of serv-ices at:Northwest Funeral ChapelO'Bee, Ford & Frazier6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020

Brown, RooseveltAge 64 yrs. December 17, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Satur-day, December 27 at 12 Noon at Wisconsin Memorial Park "Chapel ofChimes" 13235 W. Capitol Dr. Visitation Saturday 11AM at the "Chapelof Chimes" until time of services. The family is served by:

Northwest Funeral ChapelO'Bee, Ford & Frazier6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020

Banks, ErnestineAge 64 yrs. December 17, 2014. Beloved wife of David Banks. Lovingmother of Bernard(Rachel)Banks. Further survived by 1 grandchild anda host other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services will be heldon Tuesday, December 30 at 11AM at St. Mark AME Church 1616 W.Atkinson Ave. Visitation Tuesday 10AM at the CHURCH until time ofservices. The family is served by:


Colter, Willie MaeAge 81 yrs. December 18, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Mon-day, December 29 at 1PM. Visitation Monday 12 Noon until time ofservices at:


Surveyor, Tracolli M.Age 17 yrs. December 10, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Thurs-day 11AM. Visitation Thursday 10AM until time of services at:Northwest Funeral Chapel

O'Bee, Ford & Frazier6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020

Jeske, Gerald D.Age 75 yrs. December 13, 2014. A Memorial Service will be held onWednesday, December 17 at 11AM. The family will gather Wednesday10AM until time of services at:Northwest Funeral ChapelO'Bee, Ford & Frazier6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020

Prewitt, BeverlyAge 65 yrs. December 13, 2014. A Memorial Services will be held onFriday, December 19 at 11AM at the Milwaukee Citadell CommunityCenter 4129 W. Villard Ave. The family is served by:Northwest Funeral ChapelO'Bee, Ford & Frazier6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020

Henning, Christopher C.Age 44 yrs. December 12, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Mon-day, December 22 at 11AM at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church2315 N. 38th St. Visitation Monday 9AM at the CHURCH until time ofservices. The family is served by:Northwest Funeral ChapelO'Bee, Ford & Frazier6630 W. Hampton Ave. (414)462-6020

Brown, Jeffrey L.Age 54 yrs. December 20, 2014. Funeral services will be held on Satur-day, December 27 at 3PM. Visitation Saturday 2PM until time of serv-ices at:


J.C. Frazier, Funeral Director

Milwaukee6630 W. Hampton Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53218

Telephone: (414) 462-6020Fax: (414) 462-9937

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heading toward the Northbound and Southbound ramps. They were supposedto split us up into those who knew they may be arrested and those who didnot want to be arrested. They did not tell us that, and just split our group intwo. I walked with a group that saw the Northbound ramp to I-43 was barri-caded by sheriff's vehicles. We did not block the ramp, it was already blocked.We walked up to the police barricade in two rows with arms linked (there

are photos of us on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel website), and chanted:"How many shots? 14 shots," "Don't arrest me, arrest the police," and "What'shis name? Dontre Hamilton." There were two police officers in between the barricade and us and numer-

ous police cars pulling up behind us. After a series of chants, the officer ap-proached us and called for us to disperse. I was grateful when our leader -the man with the megaphone - told us to disperse. We moved to the grassshoulder of the ramp and began walking back to Fond du Lac Avenue. I thensaw a police officer on his radio call out to the police behind us, "We got anorder to arrest everyone," and the police jumped into action. I submitted im-mediately and peacefully to arrest.After we received our arm restraints we were seated on the side of the ramp.

Police officers and sheriff's deputies were quite professional, courteous, andeven funny. One said, "I understand what you are doing. You just can't go onthe freeway." One said to us, "You should go protest at the Sheriff's house.I'll give you their address." Another shared: "If I wasn't doing this (policing),I'd be doing what you are doing." There was little tension. It was hearteningthat while we were protesting excessive force by a police officer, good officersrespected us as we were - peaceful protesters who want fair and good polic-ing.We were arrested shortly before 5 PM, and 16 men and 10 women were

taken together in a gender separated wagon to the County Jail. There, we re-moved our coats, shoes, and all items in our pockets and were told we wouldbe booked and released in a few hours. We did not know how many otherswere arrested at this point from the other group that split off from us (or fromthe freeway blockers which I did not know about yet). Upon arrival, we had medical exams and my blood pressure was elevated

but I felt calm. We continued to receive information that made us believethings were being processed, and I kept thinking we'd be out that night.Around 10 or 11 PM, I was placed in a 60 square foot holding cell with

seven other men that contained a toilet (I made everyone laugh when I toldmy fellow inmates this was a "no-shitting cell"). We were still waiting to bebooked. The young men in my cell were diverse by age, race, and profession- three of us were older professionals. I actually treasure some of the deepconversations we had about politics, economics, social movements, the crim-inal justice system, and even feminism. I was inspired by some of their ideasabout how the community could work with police to improve safety.

At around 2 A.M., tired and realizing no one was being processed, we sang"We Shall Overcome," as loud as we could and began chanting "DontreHamilton" to lift spirits among the other 60-70 people locked up in our wing.An officer came after about 15-20 minutes and asked us politely to stop, againexpressing empathy for our cause. My fellow prisoners were polite with manyof the officers as they often were with us.Finally in the morning - 16 hours after my arrest - I was booked, finger-

printed, and had my mug shot taken. I finally was able to call home for 30seconds, and figured I'd be out soon. By 11 AM, the first group of womenprotesters were released. I found the baloney sandwiches we were offered (the only food) unappe-

tizing and started to crash from lack of sleep and food. Spending all night ina brightly lit cell sitting up against a cement wall I did not get much sleep,and it took its toll but I kept thinking I would be out soon. Shortly after 5 PM,more than 24 hours after my arrest, I was finally released to an appreciativecrowd of supporters outside.The Mayor, Police Chief, and Sheriff have provided accounts of this action

that are not accurate. First, they claim that people were arrested for shuttingdown the freeways.The people who shut down I-43 were not part of our protest or march from

Red Arrow Park, and they were NOT arrested. They got back in their carsand drove off. The people arrested were our group, which approached thebarricade, and another group that marched up a ramp toward the stopped traf-fic (many of whom planned to be arrested for civil disobedience on the free-way but not everyone there knew that).I think it is fair for people to be angry and upset with the individuals who

blocked I-43. But civil disobedience is never convenient. People were angrywhen Martin Luther King marched and when students occupied lunch coun-ters. In fact, many of the civil rights marches closed down streets and high-ways. This is nothing new, and as I understand it those who chose that tacticaccepted responsibility and knew they may be arrested. It also did draw the

attention that a simple march would not have. I hope those who criticize usgo see the movie Selma next weekend, so they may be reminded that this isactually what democracy looks like.Then there were folks like me who were practicing civil obedience. We fol-

lowed a path blocked off for us by police and when the police officer askedus to disperse, we dispersed. They arrested us anyway. The warning was hol-low. If they had let us walk off the ramp and go back to Red Arrow Park, the

police could have removed their cars and re-opened the ramp immediately.Someone called in an order to punish us and the result was we sat handcuffedon the ramp for at least an hour, which slowed down many commuters. PoliceChief Flynn was upset they had to "babysit a bunch of self-indulgent protest-ers" who inconvenienced hundreds of thousands. They didn't have to do that,and at most a few thousand were slowed down and rush hours have beenslowed down or stopped for much less.Sheriff David Clarke told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the protest

was steered by outside trouble makers. "Several anarchist groups led by out-side persons are gathering in the Milwaukee area to plan disruptive activi-ties..." Well, I am a tax-paying citizen of Milwaukee, a father, and aprofessional who has relationships with many city leaders. Everyone I metlived in Milwaukee and the young men and women who were leading us wereall local people. Yes, I met some with radical views about issues and disruptive tactics, but

most were thoughtful, passionate people, who want our community to be saferand fairer for all. I write often about civil rights movement history, and findit ironic that Sheriff Clarke is using the same argument the Montgomery po-lice used when they could not believe that people like Rosa Parks, E.D. Nixon,and Martin Luther King were actually leading the bus boycott. "There mustbe outside agitators," they thought.I am proud that I was arrested. I am proud of those arrested with me. I am

glad that we lifted the name of Dontre Hamilton and our call for criminalcharges against an officer who shot an unarmed man 14 times. Black livesmatter, and our justice system must become more fair and just. I hope manyothers concerned about these injustices will stand up to support policies andreforms that will create a fairer, safer, and more just America.Update: The District Attorney did not file charges against Officer Manney.

I understand the rightful rage many feel, but the struggle for justice is amarathon, not a sprint. I hope that those who engage in civil disobedience doso in a disciplined way and that we bend, not break public opinion by liftingthe collective outrage of many in our community. I also hope that city leaders,law enforcement officials, and the media properly represent those who protestthe decision instead of the misinformation they spread this weekend. We mustlift up Dontre and the bigger issues and continue fighting for change.

Why I Was Arrested Standing Up for Dontre Hamilton in Milwaukee

I am proud that I was arrested. I am proud ofthose arrested with me. I am glad that we lifted thename of Dontre Hamilton and our call for criminalcharges against an officer who shot an unarmedman 14 times. Black lives matter, and our justicesystem must become more fair and just. I hope

many others concerned about these injustices willstand up to support policies and reforms that will

create a fairer, safer, and more just America.

(continued from page 3)

Milwaukee Alderman Joe Davis issued thisstatement: “As Christians, this is a very important time of yearfor my family, my friends and my community. But as we enter thisholy season, the faith community should be questioning the timing ofa controversial decision that has had such a traumatic impact on theCity of Milwaukee.

“Almost eight months ago, an incident occurred here in the citythat caused divides and an unsettled environment that have continuedfor members of the public and law enforcement. In the months thatfollowed, we saw verdicts come down in other cases of death at thehands of law enforcement elsewhere in the country. Meanwhile, wesat and waited patiently for local authorities to address the issue ofDontre Hamilton’s shooting death in Red Arrow Park.

“In a public space, no one should get shot 14 times by anyone, es-pecially here in Milwaukee. The district attorney has had almost eightmonths to make his decision. But whether his choice today was rightor wrong, we have to question why he chose a time three days beforeChristmas to render this controversial decision.

“Was the timing of this decision influenced by the recent decisionsin Ferguson and New York City? Was it influenced by the murder oftwo law enforcement officers this weekend in Brooklyn? Was it influ-enced by the civil disobedience that took place on the freeway here inMilwaukee?

“In this holiest of seasons, we should be gathering together withfamily and friends to celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Savior. It’snot a time of year when the justice system should be competing forour attention to render such a divisive verdict. Politics should have noplace in justice.

“I don’t know what role politics played in the timing of today’s an-nouncement, and this is not about the law enforcement officers whoget up every day and serve this community with integrity andcourage. But I do see it as evidence of a growing divide, and I trulybelieve that Milwaukee is a broken city.”

Congresswoman Gwen Moore:“I am deeply disappointed in District Attorney John Chisholm’s de-

cision to not press charges against Officer Christopher Manney in theshooting death of Dontre Hamilton. This decision is just one of manyin recent weeks that continue to perpetuate a disheartening notionthat there is a significant lapse in accountability for reckless officersand the behavior they employ in our communities.

“For those who see this decision as a miscarriage of justice, I as-sure you that our efforts to pursue a fair and equitable outcome forthe Hamilton family are far from over. In the coming days, I will beasking the Department of Justice to conduct their own investigationinto this matter to ensure that Dontre’s death will not be in vain.”

“It is paramount that we channel our collective grief and frustra-tion in a constructive manner. We must rigorously pursue justice, in-cluding changes to police procedure and training regarding theappropriate use of force. This, not violence, will honor Dontre’s mem-ory. As a mother and grandmother, I can’t imagine the anguish anddisappointment the Hamilton family must be feeling right now. Myheart goes out to them during this painful time.”

Milwaukee County Supervisor David Bowen:“The 14 shots fired seems excessive for an unarmed citizen who

was not known to act violently prior to police contact, and calls intoquestion the decision not to file criminal charges while calling this jus-tified self-defense,” Bowen said.

“This is a tragedy that occurs far too frequently both in our com-munity and around the country. We are saddened and outraged, andwe want justice from a system that clearly attempts to be the ‘Just Us’system. It is imperative to our cause for a better future that massive

numbers of people engage in creative protest.“This series of senseless violence will only end when we stand

firmly together with righteousness in our hearts. The lives of our com-munity matter, and I pray for the Hamilton family’s strength.”

ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Chris Ah-muty:

“The ACLU of Wisconsin regrets District Attorney Chisholm’s deci-sion because it leaves a cloud of uncertainty over the circumstances ofand the responsibility for Mr. Hamilton’s death. If Officer ChristopherManney did not violate the law, then is anyone legally responsible forMr. Hamilton’s death? Does the criminal law protect individuals likeMr. Hamilton from deadly force exercised by police officers? Are po-lice officers above the law?

“Furthermore, what will the Milwaukee Police Department do toensure that Milwaukee police officers stop killing unarmed individu-als? The MPD needs to find ways to hold officers accountable, so thatthey will know there will be consequences for their actions.

“City leaders need to continue to work to make sure that the Mil-waukee Police Department and all its members work to protect andserve all residents in an unbiased and professional manner.”

Voces de la Frontera:“We condemn District Attorney John Chisolm’s decision to not

charge fired police officer Christopher Manney with any crime forkilling Dontre Hamilton. To ensure positive police-community rela-tions, we must hold law enforcement officials to high standards understressful situations. There was no need to fire 14 rounds in a lethalmanner at a man who represented no danger.

“We send our love to Dontre’s family and the families of other vic-tims of police violence. We encourage community members to protestthis decision, and we join the Hamilton family in calling on the fed-eral government to start an independent investigation to achieve jus-tice. Justice for Dontre! Black Brown solidarity! Black lives matter!”

State Sen. Harris Dodd issued the followingstatement:

“I am deeply disturbed by District Attorney Chisholm’s decision notto charge Officer Manney in the death of Dontre Hamilton. Initial re-ports indicated that two police officers had independently determinedthat Hamilton was not causing a disturbance by sleeping in the park. Ifind it very disheartening that D.A. Chisholm’s investigation did notinclude an investigation into Officer Manney’s sudden decision to ap-proach Hamilton and awaken him, despite the fact that Hamilton wassleeping peacefully. By waking Hamilton, Officer Manney agitated apeaceful situation and caused the situation to erupt with deadly re-sults.

“While I do not agree with the D.A.’s decision, I do believe that it isimportant that we do not react to this breaking news with violence. Upto this point, the community has peacefully and responsibly protestedthis case and through their actions, have cast light on the urgent situ-ation that Milwaukee is faced with. It does not strengthen our cause toescalate an already devastating decision for Hamilton’s family and forthe Milwaukee community.

“District Attorney Chisholm’s decision reflects a sad sentiment thatpolice officers should not be held accountable for their actions. It is anofficer’s duty to protect the public and enforce the laws, but it is nottheir duty to inflict fear and apply the law through forcible and vio-lent measures. I am saddened that D.A. Chisholm is sending the com-munity the message that police officers are immune from prosecutioneven if their actions bring about the death of one of our communitymembers.

“In the wake of this decision, it is time for us to start the road to

healing. We need to move forward with the renewed resolve to createa better Milwaukee for our children. We need to work with the policeto create more competent and comprehensive police training. In-cluded in that training should be training on appropriate police re-sponses to interactions with those individuals suffering from mentalillness.

The road to healing will be a long one, but I can assure you that Iam steadfast in my determination to prevent these injustices fromhappening in the future.

“My heart goes out to the Hamilton family again for their loss andfor the devastation that I am sure they feel in the wake of this news.”

State Sen. Lena Taylor:“First I would like to say, my continued thoughts, prayers, and sup-

port are with the Hamilton Family during this difficult time. I know itis difficult as we watch our friends, family, and community sufferwithout recompense; but, the way forward is not through violence butthrough active engagement in the political process. I am disappointedin DA, John Chisholm’s choice not to charge Christopher Manney. Hon-estly, after waiting eight months, like most Milwaukeeans I am notsurprise by his decision. I commend the Hamilton family’s nonviolentresolve; I understand the frustration that flows from intolerable condi-tions that exist in our society.

“The outpouring of community outrage is about more than DontreHamilton or any one individual, incident, or injustice. It is larger thana single police officer or department. It is about the systemic inequitywithin the institutions that are supposed to uphold justice “I urge theprotesters to ‘keep their eyes on the prize’ and remain peaceful andstrategic; this is the only way to sustain long term and systemicchange.

‘Let’s be clear, anything short of mandatory cultural competencyand mental health training for all those who serve the people of Mil-waukee, and the dollars to match is not real. This must be coupledwith a plan to fill the two vacant appointments on the Fire & Police

Commission, and direct engagement in a transparent selectionprocess for the new executive director. All other efforts are only disin-genuous efforts to pacify rather than address the real problem. Thereare well documented disparities in policing, charging, and sentencingand judicial and prosecutorial discretion play a key role in the perpet-uation of these disparities. The DAs decision not to charge ChristopherManney is but one of many examples of how this discretion leads toever widening inequities within the justice system. I will continue toadvocate for the necessary changes to ensure that unnecessary loss oflife ends with Dontre.”

Ralph Hollmon, President and CEO of the Mil-waukee Urban League:

“I join with members of our community in expressing disappoint-ment and frustration after hearing District Attorney John Chisholm’sdecision not to file charges against Christopher Manney in the deathof Dontre Hamilton.

“Locally and nationally we have seen unarmed Black males killedby police officers with no charges filed. We know police officers havea difficult job and that the vast majority of police officers do their jobswell. However, if those who have sworn to protect and serve our comu-nity abuse or violate that oath, they must be held accountable fortheir actions.

‘That is why I also join with others in our community to call for U.S.Attorney James Santelle (Eastern District of Wisconsin and the U.S. De-partment of Justice) to initiate a review of this case to determine ifFederal Civil Rights charges should be filed against Christopher Man-ney. In addition we ask that the U.S. Department of Justice continueits review of the Milwaukee Police Department to determine if a “Pat-tern and Practice” investigation regarding civil rights violations shouldbe conducted. We must do everything possible to create reforms andpositive changes within our police department so tha the tragic deathsof unarmed Black males do not happen in the future.”

Community Leaders Respond to the Hamilton Decision

Facebook &Twitter QuotesMilele A. Coggs:“As we see the news about mur-dered officers, reflect on imagesof people looting & businessesburning in other cities, we shouldalways remember... that in Mil-waukee over the past severalmonths, whether you agree withthe tactics of marching on thestreets or highways or not, therehas been no violence, no loot-ing, no buildings burning. Justconcerned mothers, fathers, sis-ters, & brothers of all races &ages, students, community or-ganizers, teachers & preachersalike who each want to beheard, Justice to be served andthe system to change. So theimage of protestors that someare attempting to create as anuncontrollable "mob" couldn't bemore wrong. One could evenargue that Milwaukee has hadsome of the most consistentlypeaceful protests against policebrutality in the nation. My sin-

cere hope is that a day will sooncome where the need for suchprotests will no longer exist.”

Carolyn Murphy:“We already knew what the ver-dict would be...not too manypeople should be surprised.”

Anthony Caples:“After reading posts and conver-sations with people regardingthe fate of men like DontreHamilton, Eric Garner, and MikeBrown Jr. It is my prayer that youwould never be in a place ofjudgment for your perceived ac-tions where the only responsefor your actions is your immedi-ate death.”

David Anderson:“I keep thinking of Ernest Lacy(1981) from back in the day andsee how far WE HAVENT come.I learned that many of the newlaws in this country that have ac-tually been passed and enforcedconcerning racism and the po-lice is because Milwaukee has avery long History of this type of

problem..going back to the 40sand 50s ref Daniel Bell 1958.....”

Vincent Nash:“This is another case that is Un-acceptable!!!!Janie R. Hatton:“Bring in the Feds. This is unac-ceptable.”

Sara Johann:“Just appalling. I am disgusted.”

@B3ckyJ:“"Justified" in firing 14 shots intoan unarmed person? Sick. Dis-gusting. No justice.”

@Chris_Topher_11:“Clarke saying Manney deservesa medal is one of he most ludi-crous, insulting things I've heardin a long time.”

@deray:“If you are in Milwaukee andaren't a part of this protest familyand you believe in social justice,you're making a mistake.”


“I spoke to one of the instructorsand she just helped me to realizethat I did have a lot to offer. I had alot of experience, which could trans-late into wisdom, and if I just lookedat that as strength instead of a weak-

ness, then I would be okay,” Griffinexplains. The instructor was right. Griffin,

who received her bachelor’s of busi-ness administration degree withconcentrations in finance and

human resources management inDecember, completed her degree inless than four years, while workingfull-time. Another graduate, Yusef Salameh,

who received his bachelor’s degree

in education with a focus on earlychildhood education in December,found his own experiences as theson of immigrants gave him specialstrengths and insights into the needsof young students who also have

immigrant parents. His mother isfrom Mexico; his father from Jor-dan. “Some of my kids are in the same

boat I was in,” says Salameh, whois currently student teaching a di-verse group of second and thirdgraders at Horace Mann Elementaryin West Allis.“My parents are wonderful people

and they really, really cared abouteducation,” says Salameh. As child, however, he felt his par-

ents couldn’t help him as much ashe would have liked because hisschoolwork was in English.Originally from Chicago, Griffin

came to UWM after doing some se-rious soul searching about her ca-reer and deciding to prepare herselffor the future. When the company she worked at

underwent some major internal re-organizing, she started takingclasses at Milwaukee Area Techni-cal College. Then in her mid-30s, she wanted

to develop the skills she felt werenecessary to become an employeevalued for unique, standout skills. She moved on to UWM through

the Panther Tracks program after adiscussion with her MATC advisor.“It just seemed like a good idea.”“My accomplishing this goal and

earning my undergraduate degreewas definitely a family effort,” saysGriffin, a mother of two and grand-mother of one, who graduated witha 3.67 GPA.

At UWM, she found an area shewas passionate about, and is nowfocused on finding a job in theChicago area as a recruiter or bene-fits specialist. Salameh also found his passion

for the field of education at UWM.A part-time job tutoring youngstersin the SPARK reading program – apartnership involving UWM and theBoys and Girls Club – inspired himto enter the early childhood educa-tion program. “It was an amazing experience,

watching the students I worked withmake progress in learning to read.” This past year has been a particu-

larly busy one for Salameh. Hiswife, Angie, is a UWM School ofArchitecture & Urban Planninggraduate and a new mom to Zara,the couple’s first child. He didn’t mind breaking a few

stereotypes along the way – he wasthe only male graduate this Decem-ber in the early childhood educationprogram.One of his goals is to become

principal of a bilingual publicschool, helping students from simi-lar backgrounds. Modest about hisspeaking capabilities, he’s familiarwith Arabic and is working on per-fecting his Spanish.“It’s vital that teachers and prin-

cipals are able to work with youngchildren of different backgrounds,particularly in those early years,”says Salameh.

Graduating studentsuse their past experiences and current skills toforge path to success LaVenia Griffin

aVenia Griffin, a University ofWisconsin-Milwaukee studentwho was a little older thanother students in her class, felt

a little nervous about working on agroup project.

L

ADVERTOR

IAL

MARCUS DUKE (Exec. Dir. of ClubKids): “I will be working to provide bags of hopeand toys from Heaven Holiday Toy and Food Driveso kids that have lost a parent to violence in Mil-waukee can have a “Christmas n Da Hood.”

A.J. TRAYLOR (Supervisor at HomeDepot on Port Washington Road): “Iwill be delivering Christmas trees with decorationsand presents for the children of military families.”

CHIFFON GINLACK: “I will be workong on thefinal plans for my wedding. I am getting marriedon Christmas Eve.”

MARTHA LOVE: “I will be working during myChristmas Day holiday. I am a volunteer for theChristmas Family Feast. I’ve been doing this for 20years!”

PULSE OF THE COMMUNITYPhotos and question by Yvonne Kemp

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:“What are yourplans for the

Christmas Holiday?”

“Mister Speaker, I am proud that theMilwaukee Community Journal hails fromthe 4th Congressional District. It has consistently informed, analysed and entertained readers for nearly 38 years. Iam pleased to give praise to PatriciaO’Flynn Pattillo and her staff for providinga voice to the community and providingeducational opportunities to students. Iwish them many more years of success.”--A segment from Cong. Gwen Moore’s remarks she made on the CongressionalRecord paying tribute to the Milwaukee Community Journal’s Dr. Terence N.Thomas Scholarship Annual Brunch


Holiday DietTips: KeepCalories inCheck WhileEnjoying theSeason(Family Features) As the seasons

change we’re all tempted to in-dulge, but consuming all the extracalories added from sugar in thosedecadent sweets and savories canquickly add up to pounds on thescale! In fact, during the holidayseason, the average person gainsmore than 1.5 pounds, according toa 2013 study from Texas Tech Uni-versity. The study also found that most

people retain that weight and exer-cise alone won’t stave off the gain.The good news is that there are op-tions for swapping higher-caloriefoods for lighter choices that canhelp you save calories from sugarand prevent holiday weight gain. And the best part — you don’t

have to skimp on flavor to enjoy allthe festivities! “You can still enjoy an occa-

sional holiday treat if you followsimple, easy steps to reduce calo-ries from sugar in your diet,” saidMichelle Harrington, registered di-etitian at McNeil Nutritionals,LLC, the maker of SPLENDA®Sweeteners. Follow Harrington’s tips below

to cut calories and manage yourweight to enjoy a healthier and hap-pier holiday season!

Set realistic expectations.Whenit comes to holiday diet tips, use the80/20 rule, in which 80 percent ofyour choices are healthful and withthe other 20 percent you splurge alittle.Consider it a win and pat your-

self on the back if you maintainyour weight during the holidays.Enjoy the fun of the season and feelgood about the choices you make. Remember, everything in moder-

ation! Budgeting your calories. Your

bank account isn’t the only thing tokeep in balance this holiday season.When you’re on the run with holi-day shopping, be mindful whenstopping in your favorite coffeeshop. Skip the whipped cream, full-sugar syrups, cream and sugar! Instead, save those calories for

holiday desserts, and explore coffee“makeover” alternatives that arestill sweet and delicious but aremade with reduced fat milk and

sugar-free flavored syrups. Try these simple swaps to enjoy

the sweetness of the season withoutall the added calories:Instead of a cheesy or heavy dip,

try salsa, a low-fat yogurt-based dipor hummus.Instead of fried hors d'oeuvres,

go for a fresher approach withsteamed shrimp or crudités.Instead of cakes and pies, opt for

something like a fruit crisp that hasfewer calories than a traditional pie.For handy tips and tasty recipes

to help you save calories every day,visit www.365SweetSwaps.com.Spice up your substitutions. Tra-

ditional holiday beverages like eggnog, hot chocolate and mulled cidercan contain a lot of calories. But there’s no need to skimp on

the spice. Ingredients like nutmeg,cloves and cinnamon sticks helpadd a little kick. For somethingwith sweet and spice and every-thing nice this season, try these re-duced-sugar beverage recipes fromthe SPLENDA® Brand.

Mexican Hot ChocolateIngredients1/4 cup water6 tablespoons unsweetened

cocoa powder1/4 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie

Sweetener, Granulated1 tablespoon vanilla extract1 tablespoon grated orange peel1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper5 1/2 cups skim milk2 cinnamon sticks1/8 teaspoon saltPreparationWhisk water, cocoa powder and

sweetener in sauce pan. Slowlybring to simmer over medium heat,stirring constantly. Cook until mix-ture thickens and resembles syrup.Mix in remaining ingredients and

heat. Do not boil. Serve hotServes6 servingsCinnamon LatteIngredients2 tablespoons fat-free half-and-

half1 teaspoon SPLENDA® No

Calorie Sweetener, GranulatedDash ground cinnamon

3/4 cup hot brewed strong hazel-nut-flavored coffee2 tablespoons thawed sugar-free

whipped toppingPreparation

Microwave half-and-half, sweet-ener and cinnamon in microwave-safe mug on high for 15 seconds oruntil heated through.Stir in coffee. Top with whipped

topping and serve.Serves 1SOURCE: SplendaKALEIDOSCOPEKALEIDOSCOPE

the MCJ lifestyle & entertainment section

INFORMATION, EDUCATION INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND INSPIRATION!AND INSPIRATION!YOUR Milwaukee YOUR Milwaukee

Community Journal!Community Journal!

38years of feeling the PULSEPULSEof Your Community! our Community!


“For unto us a child isborn, unto us a son isgiven, and the govern-ment shall be upon hisshoulder. And his name

shall be called Wonderful,Counselor, The MightyGod, The EverlastingFather, The Prince ofPeace!”--Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa!From the publisher, management

and staff of YOUR Milwaukee Community Journal!



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MCJ December 24, 2014 Edition