The final night of the Wisconsin State Fair collapsed into chaos: fights broke out, crowds ran, security was overwhelmed, and an officer was injured. After eleven peaceful days, the last few hours turned into a scene we’ve watched repeat across Milwaukee all summer.
When WISN 12’s Matt Smith asked Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley about the violence, Crowley’s answer was stunningly inadequate for someone positioning himself as a future governor. Instead of addressing the pattern of mostly Black teen‑organized disturbances, he shifted blame to the Republican‑controlled legislature.
Crowley frequently reminds us that he grew up in 53206, but that’s where the connection seems to end for him in his relationship with Black teens. These takeovers are usually made by mostly Black teens.
Like Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Crowley has not been visibly present in the spaces where these teens gather, nor has he shown up alongside violence‑interruption teams who are on the ground trying to prevent these incidents. Crowley is MIA!
Milwaukee’s hotspots are not a mystery. Brady Street, Water Street, Bradford Beach, Midtown, Summerfest, and now the State Fair have all seen large groups of teens organizing meetups online and showing up ready to fight, intimidate, or disrupt family‑friendly events.
This is predictable. It has been documented repeatedly. And yet our top city and county leaders continue to respond to the chaos after it, rather than before it.
Crowley’s refusal to directly address the issue gives these groups the impression that nothing will change. While he’s out campaigning, the problem is growing, and the public is paying the price.
If Crowley wants to lead this state, he needs to start by leading this county. He needs to reach out to our Black youth. That means proactive policing in known hotspots, direct engagement with teens and community groups, coordination with violence interrupters, and clear accountability instead of political blame‑shifting.
Passing the buck to Madison won’t make Milwaukee’s festivals, parks, or public spaces safer. Leadership will. Maybe David Crowley should stick to his day job.
