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Revision as of 03:52, 15 August 2016 editMalik Shabazz (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers106,163 edits Reverted to revision 734549278 by Cyanidethistles (talk): Not a chance -- Info Wars, American Mirror, and Libertarian Republic have not become reliable sources. (TW)← Previous edit Revision as of 03:54, 15 August 2016 edit undoGhoul flesh (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,422 edits Undid revision 734557324 by Malik Shabazz (talk) Watch the video you moronic fuckface, tell me that's not reliable.Next edit →
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In total, four police officers were treated for injuries during the disturbances and seventeen people were arrested.<ref name="lawful" /> In total, four police officers were treated for injuries during the disturbances and seventeen people were arrested.<ref name="lawful" />

==Controversies==
On August 14, a video depicting the riot was posted to Twitter, showing African-American rioters chanting "]" and targeting white people to attack. In the video, the rioters can be heard screaming, "Is they white?" - "Yeah they white, get they ass!" One person, presumably the recorder of the video, shouts a few times: "hey, they beating up every white person!".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infowars.com/video-black-lives-matter-rioters-target-whites-for-beat-downs/|title=VIDEO: ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’ RIOTERS TARGET WHITES FOR BEAT DOWNS|author=Watson Joseph, Paul|date=August 14, 2016|accessdate=August 14, 2016|publisher=InfoWars}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/video-milwaukee-rioters-hunt-attack-whites/|title=VIDEO: Milwaukee Rioters Hunt Down, Attack Whites|accessdate=August 14, 2016|date=August 14, 2016|author=Neff, Blake}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nation.foxnews.com/2016/08/14/they-re-beating-every-white-person-riots-fires-after-fatal-shooting-sparks-chaos|title=‘They’re Beating Every White Person’: Riots, Fires After Fatal Shooting Sparks Chaos In Milwaukee|publisher=Fox News|author=Eckberg, Olaf|accessdate=August 14, 2016|date=August 14, 2016}}</ref>


==Aftermath== ==Aftermath==

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2016 Milwaukee riot
DateAugust 13–14, 2016
LocationMilwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
N Sherman and W Auer
43°04′37″N 87°58′03″W / 43.077°N 87.9675°W / 43.077; -87.9675
Caused byShooting and killing of Sylville Smith by police
MethodsProtests, rioting, looting, arson
Parties
Mostly African-American rioters
Number
Initially 20-30 200+
Casualties
Injuries5+
Arrested17

On August 13, 2016, a riot began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sparked by the shooting of 23-year-old Sylville Smith by police. Smith was running on foot and armed with a handgun. Smith and the officer were both black, and video from the officer's bodycam showed that Smith had turned toward the officer with a gun in his hand right before the officer shot him.

Background

Milwaukee had been the location of protests against police brutality following the 2014 shooting of Dontre Hamilton, a mentally ill black man. The officer who shot and killed Hamilton was not charged, but was fired from the police force for not following procedure. In December 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice promised it would work with the Milwaukee Police Department on reforms. Milwaukee police had also attracted controversy for two incidents involving the deaths of black suspects while in police custody, one in 2010 and the other in 2011.

On June 29, 2016, police in riot gear had to respond to unrest in Sherman Park, near 39th and Burleigh, a block away from the August incident. Rioters smashed windows and threw rocks at police.

Initial police shooting

At about 3:30 p.m. on August 13, 2016, two 23-year-old men were pulled over by two officers for "suspicious activity" while driving through the neighborhood. Both men fled on foot. One, who was armed with a semi-automatic handgun carrying 23 rounds, was later shot twice in the chest and arm by one of the officers, dying at the scene. The man's handgun, along with 500 additional rounds of ammunition, had been reported stolen during a March burglary in nearby Waukesha. The second man was later apprehended and put into police custody. The shooting occurred during a violent weekend in Milwaukee, with nine other shootings, five of them homicides, occurring within the preceding nine hours from August 12 to August 13. Two of the crime scenes were located a few blocks away from the police shooting.

The deceased man was identified as Sylville K. Smith, who had a "lengthy arrest record". The officer who fired the fatal shots was a three-year veteran of the force who was 24 years old and wearing a body camera at the time. The officer has been identified as an "African-American" with his name withheld as "there are concerns for his safety" On August 14, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn stated that the officer's body camera showed Smith pointing a handgun at the officer before the shooting occurred..

Riot

Between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m., hours after the police shooting, a group of around 100 black protesters gathered near the scene of the shooting at North Sherman and Auer to hold a protest, and confronted a line of 20–30 officers. Some of the protesters used social media to encourage others to participate in the demonstration. At some point, the protest turned violent.

Several cars, including police squad cars, were set alight and a gas station was looted and set on fire as well. The BP gas station had been a frequent flash-point for unrest during June and July 2016 with several incidents taking place there, including a murder. When additional officers dressed in riot gear arrived, gunshots were heard. Firefighters were initially unable to put out the gas station fire due to reports of shots being fired, but were eventually able to extinguish the flames. The Milwaukee Fire Department reported that bricks were thrown at one of their trucks. One officer was treated at a hospital for injuries sustained after being hit by a brick. The protesters also attacked reporters and a photographer documenting the incident. One reporter was shoved to the ground and physically assaulted. At least three people were arrested.

An O'Reilly Auto Parts shop, a beauty supply store, and the local branch of BMO Harris Bank were also set on fire in the area. A MetroPCS store was among the businesses that were looted. A supermarket and a liquor store were destroyed during the rioting, as well.

In the early hours of August 14, Mayor Tom Barrett and other local officials urged residents at a press conference to help restore order. Barrett also urged residents to bring home any of their children who may be among the protesters. Volunteers assisted police in cleaning up debris left by the riot.

In total, four police officers were treated for injuries during the disturbances and seventeen people were arrested.

Controversies

On August 14, a video depicting the riot was posted to Twitter, showing African-American rioters chanting "black power" and targeting white people to attack. In the video, the rioters can be heard screaming, "Is they white?" - "Yeah they white, get they ass!" One person, presumably the recorder of the video, shouts a few times: "hey, they beating up every white person!".

Aftermath

Under the threat of another riot in Milwaukee, Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency in Milwaukee and put the National Guard on standby. President Barack Obama was briefed on the situation.

Investigation

An investigation into the police shooting was initiated by the state. According to Mayor Barrett, the riot was "driven" by the protesters' social media messages encouraging others to congregate in the area.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Officer's shooting of suspect that sparked Milwaukee riot appears lawful: police". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Protesters riot, burn cars & properties after fatal officer-involved shooting in Milwaukee, WI". Russia Today. August 13, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  3. ^ Sears, Ashley; Duria, Angelica (August 13, 2016). ""Things got out of hand:" Violence breaks out in Milwaukee following officer-involved shooting". Fox 6. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  4. ^ "Milwaukee Police Chief Identifies Shooting Victim as Sylville K. Smith, Says He Had a 'Lengthy Arrest Record'". ABC News. August 14, 2016.
  5. Police: Man shot in Milwaukee had a gun in his hand, U.S. News & World Report, August 14, 2016
  6. ^ Ehlke, Gretchen; Richmond, Rodd (August 14, 2016). "National Guard put on standby after violence in Milwaukee". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  7. ^ "Slew of Police Encounters Precedes Latest Milwaukee Shooting". ABC News. Associated Press. August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  8. "Officers in riot gear respond to Sherman Park for group breaking windows, throwing rocks at police". Fox 6, Milwaukee. June 30, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  9. ^ Helsel, Phil (August 14, 2016). "Milwaukee Crowd Turns Violent After Police Fatally Shoot Armed Man". NBC News. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  10. ^ Mak, Aaron; Carpenter, Jacob (August 14, 2016). "Uneasy calm in Milwaukee after police shooting, protests". USA Today. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  11. ^ Karimi, Faith; Sutton, Joe; Patterson, Thom; Young, Ryan (August 14, 2016). "Milwaukee reeling after deadly police shooting". CNN. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  12. O'Brien, Brendan (August 14, 2016). "National Guard activated after Milwaukee riot over suspect's death". Reuters. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  13. "Chief Flynn: Officer who fatally shot Sylville Smith is African-American; there are concerns for his safety".
  14. "Gas station on Sherman, burned by protesters, has seen several incidents this summer". Fox 6, Milwaukee. August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  15. ^ "Police shooting in Milwaukee sparks violent protest". CBS News. Associated Press. August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  16. Mak, Aaron; Carpenter, Jacob (August 13, 2016). "Violence erupts after police shooting in Milwaukee". USA Today. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  17. Mele, Christopher; Serviss, Lew (August 14, 2016). "Fires Burn in Milwaukee After a Fatal Police Shooting". The New York Times. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  18. Ehlke, Gretchen (August 14, 2016). "Milwaukee officials call for calm after unrest over shooting". Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  19. Weich, Robert (August 13, 2016). "Milwaukee's Night of Unrest (Videos and Photos)". CBS News. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  20. Green, Christie (August 14, 2016). "Milwaukee Wakes Up to Aftermath of Disturbance". CBS News. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  21. Watson Joseph, Paul (August 14, 2016). "VIDEO: 'BLACK LIVES MATTER' RIOTERS TARGET WHITES FOR BEAT DOWNS". InfoWars. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  22. Neff, Blake (August 14, 2016). "VIDEO: Milwaukee Rioters Hunt Down, Attack Whites". Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  23. Eckberg, Olaf (August 14, 2016). "'They're Beating Every White Person': Riots, Fires After Fatal Shooting Sparks Chaos In Milwaukee". Fox News. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  24. Mahtani, Shibani; Calvert, Scott (August 14, 2016). "Governor Declares State of Emergency in Milwaukee After Shooting, Unrest". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  25. Tacopino, Joe (August 14, 2016). "Scott Walker calls in National Guard after Milwaukee riots". New York Post. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  26. "Call for calm in Milwaukee after violent protests". CBS News. Associated Press. August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
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