Milwaukee’s 2026 Juneteenth celebration was beautifully organized and well executed. While I wasn’t there in person, I saw many videos of diverse groups of people lined up along the parade route excited to greet the celebrities, elected officials, and honored guests.
This year’s grand marshal, Mr. Reuben Harpole, was the perfect choice. Mr. Harpole has poured decades of service, mentorship, and dedication into the community. I’ve known him since I was a little girl, and he has always been a role model and mentor.
Even though I don’t always agree with some of the parade participants, it was refreshing to see people with their families, enjoying a reprieve from politics. Kids grabbed candy and handouts, parents took pictures, elders shared history, and for a while, Juneteenth felt like the celebration it used to be.
Here’s a brief glimpse at a Juneteenth celebration from 40 years ago:
One issue I did have was when I saw the WTMJ 4 weather team make a little dance video. Harmless enough at first. Then I saw Chief Meteorologist Brian Niznansky doing the Crip Walk dance. Very cringe! A quick Google search will tell you exactly what that dance represents and where it originated. That is not a dance for a Black Freedom celebration. It was an initiation rite and identifying symbol of a violent street gang.
It also celebrates murders and rapes as part of the initiation. It was defiantly inappropriate. If Mark Belling, Jay Weber, or Dan O’Donnell came crip walking down the street, they would be suspended until the dawn of time.
And then came the moment that turned a beautiful day into chaos.
As the event wrapped up, a massive group of Black teens flooded the area near Rose Park by Burleigh and MLK. Within minutes, the atmosphere shifted. People were running, crowds scattered, and gunfire erupted. What had been a joyful celebration turned into sheer panic. A 13-year-old boy was shot but is expected to be okay.
Milwaukee Crime Report captured the chaotic scene:
Why weren’t the police surrounding the perimeter? Everyone knew these kids were coming. They always come. Why does this city insist on being reactive instead of proactive in most situations?
Does it need to be spelled out for Police Chief Jeffrey Norman or Mayor Cavlier Johnson? Actually, we already covered this and warned the city. What is so hard about being proactive in situations we know will be brewing.
Summerfest just kicked off. Brady Street is escalating in violence. Jazz in the Park just started. More festivals are coming. And every single one of them is vulnerable if we keep pretending this problem will magically fix itself.
Milwaukee needs to unleash the police and let them do their jobs. If city leadership refuses to get ahead of this, then call in the National Guard. Because right now, Milwaukee’s “City of Festivals” is under siege.
We want our city back and we deserve safety. We deserve leadership that acts before chaos erupts not after. These out of control Black youth ruined a very beautiful day that so many people worked so hard on.
