Milwaukee’s Fourth of July weekend was supposed to be a celebration of America’s 250th. What we witnessed across the city was full blown rioting, spreading from Brady Street to Water Street, from Lincoln Memorial Drive to the Summerfest grounds. And it happened all weekend long, just as it did in other blue cities across the country. It seems to be a common theme in Democratic led cities.
The scenes shared online tell a scary story. Police officers were shot at with guns and fireworks, pinned down in their squad cars as explosives detonated around them. On Water Street, an 18-year-old suspect struck a Milwaukee police officer with his vehicle while firing a weapon, prompting officers to return fire and arrest him.
On Brady Street, another officer was injured when an illegal firework exploded in a Walgreens parking lot not from debris, but from the concussive force of the blast itself.
Dan O’Donnell, our Editor-In-Chief here at Heartland Post, shared a couple of riot scenes on X.
These are not “takeovers” anymore. They are mobs, riots, and violent occurrences that overwhelm law enforcement and terrorize residents.
Some teens showed up for the worst possible reason, to go viral. Fight challenges on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram are fueling a culture where violence is clickbait entertainment.
Others came to settle gang beefs, neighborhood disputes, or personal drama. Talking things out has been replaced with fists, weapons, and recklessness.
Property damage was everywhere. Teens were dancing on cars, smashing windows, even stripping a Harley on Brady Street. They clogged Water Street with scooters.
Even homeless encampments were not spared. Homeless men were beaten by roaming groups of teens. These men are already living in hell; attacking them was cruel and evil.
Why are there homeless encampments in the entertainment districts? Mayor Chevy Johnson and County Executive David Crowley (candidate for governor) said they were creating “safe spaces” for our homeless population.
They keep shifting homeless people around the city and county. However, the homeless will always migrate to where the greatest number of people are. They are pandering for money either to survive or sadly for drugs.
And where is the mayor during all this? Missing. Silent. Nowhere near the chaos.
Police Chief Jeffrey Norman held a press conference about the officer-involved shooting but not about the citywide mutiny that unfolded.
Ever since Norman failed to secure positions in other cities, he has checked out. What is stopping him from confronting these takeovers before they are uncontrollable?
The Common Council? Busy with a small number of ICE investigations and even smaller number of scooter incidents. They tried to remove food trucks from Water Street thinking that would solve the problem. They still have not come up with a safety plan.
The mayor’s “Reckless Car-mobile”? Another zero.
Milwaukee officers need backup, resources, and leadership. They need district attorneys and judges who actually enforce consequences. They need elected officials who show up physically and face the crisis head-on.
I said it on X, and it needs to be confronted:
“It needs to be said but this is a Black community crisis… We have a Black mayor, a Black police chief, a Black sheriff, and a Black county executive. Do something.”
It’s time for city leaders to stand in the streets they claim to represent and fight against this rioting.
This is not about blaming all Milwaukee Black youth. It IS about acknowledging where the problem is concentrated so solutions can be targeted.
Ignoring reality helps no one. Black leaders, parents, clergy, media, and community activists must speak plainly and act decisively. Silence is complicity.
Milwaukee’s Summer is just beginning with the Summer of Soul-HBCU Homecoming July 8th, just a ways down from Water Street on the Performing Arts Grounds. Bastille Days and Festa Italiana are also this weekend. State Fair is next month.
Businesses are losing money. Residents are terrified. Visitors are reconsidering whether Milwaukee is safe.
If leadership does not get serious now these events will be defined and ruined by violence instead of celebration.
Enough press conferences. Enough statements. Enough lip service.
Milwaukee’s leaders need to show up at night, in person, in the hotspots, and look this crisis in the eye. If they will not stand with the community during chaos, they don’t deserve to keep their positions.
