More Security for Milwaukee Juneteenth Day

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Police are increasing security at Thursday's Juneteenth Day festival, adding 50 officers over last year's total of 150, restricting traffic to ease the flow of people and patrolling surrounding neighborhoods.

...At a news conference Tuesday, Police Chief Edward Flynn stressed mobility. He emphasized that his officers would not be clustered in the middle of the festival along N. King Drive and said they would restrict traffic on the north end, where most of the problems occurred in previous years, so people aren’t bunched up trying to exit.

“The Milwaukee Police Department is making a commitment . . . that working with the community, we’re going to ensure that this event is free from fear, free from disorder and free from violence,” he said.

Can the Police Department really ensure that the event will be free from fear, disorder, and violence?

I think the improved security plan can keep disorder and violence to a minimum if once again thugs choose to become disorderly and violent.

But let's be realistic. Flynn can't ensure that the event will be free from such problems.

It would be wonderful if the Juneteenth Day festival can be held without major disturbances. It would be great to break the pattern of violence.

Who knows what the thugs will do this year?

Will they see the Police Department's plan for a safe festival as a challenge to disrupt it?

Will the thugs acknowledge defeat and accept that they don't rule the streets?

Let's hope it's safe.

...Festival organizer Mac Weddle stressed that the violence in the past has happened outside the festival or after it was over, and that there has never been a stabbing or shooting.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. The major violence didn't occur within or during the festival.

The RiverSplash disturbance happened after the festival was closed, too.

While it's true that there's never been a stabbing or shooting, I think that's setting the bar rather low in terms of standards of safety.

"Come to the festival. Thirty-seven years and no shootings!"

Jerry Ann Hamilton, NAACP-Milwaukee president, said, “I declare that Juneteenth will go back to the old days and the old ways, will be peaceful, fun and enjoyable.”

Hopefully, her declaration will become reality.

The police are trying.

Now the community has to cooperate. Zero tolerance for thugs.