What a difference a year makes!
Juneteenth Day 2007 in Milwaukee was a disaster. The brutality of the city's thugs received national attention. They brought dishonor and disgrace to the community.
Police Chief Ed Flynn promised that this year would be different. There was more security and a new strategy.
The president of the Milwaukee NAACP chapter, Jerry Ann Hamilton, declared that "Juneteenth will go back to the old days and the old ways, will be peaceful, fun and enjoyable."
Thankfully, this year's Juneteenth Day festival was much more peaceful than the previous two.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Milwaukee police, community leaders and festival organizers who promised a safe and enjoyable Juneteenth Day were proved largely correct Thursday, as thousands gathered to celebrate the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas received word they were free.
No major incidents were reported, and the weather cooperated as the smell of barbecue billowed and the sounds of jazz echoed along a four-block stretch of N. King Ave.
...About 200 Milwaukee police officers patrolled the festival this year, 50 more than were assigned to last year’s event.
...On Thursday, 19 people were cited for disorderly conduct and one for obstructing or resisting an officer, said police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz. Most came toward the end of the festival.
No injuries or violent incidents were reported, she said.
...As Thursday’s festival came to an end about 6 p.m., police officers wearing helmets and face shields, and officers and sheriff’s deputies on horseback and motorcycles monitored the crowd. A helicopter provided to the Police Department at no cost by the nonprofit Law Enforcement Aviation Coalition circled the area.
“The police are doing their jobs,” said Warren Smith, 40, as he watched the crowd clear out. “I like the security down here. If anything breaks out, the police are right here. It seems like they’re getting more and more organized each year, and that’s a good thing. I feel really relaxed this year.”
Thursday’s festival should help restore the event’s reputation, said festival-goer Keith Bailey.
Restoring the event's reputation will take more than one relatively peaceful gathering.
This year's festival was a great improvement over the 2006 and 2007 festivals. The sort of disorder and violence that marred the event in years past was minimal.
That's good news, though I wonder if that's how things would have played out if the Police Department hadn't dramatically beef up security.
Two hundred police officers is a lot. Officers and sheriff’s deputies were on horses and motorcycles. They stood on rooftops. There was even a helicopter!
It's a shame that such measures are necessary to stage a safe, peaceful Juneteenth Day festival. It's a shame that police officers must wear helmets and face shields as they monitor the crowd when the festival ends. Such gear shouldn't be needed, but lessons have been learned from the previous disturbances at Juneteenth Day festivities.
Was the added security the reason that the event was largely peaceful? It certainly had to have some impact.
It would be nice to think that the thugs decided to respect the community this year, not because of the police presence, but because it's the right thing to do.
I'm just thankful that people were able to enjoy the festival and there was no replay of last year.
Wouldn't it be nice if next year they can skip the helicopter?
No comments:
Post a Comment