“The public execution of Black folks will never be normal.” -Andrena Sawyer

Today we take a moment to send our love, prayers, and comforting thoughts to the family of Broderick Shelton, Jr, a 42-year-old Black man that was killed by Milwaukee police yesterday near 27th and Wright.

We send that same energy to our community that continues to experience ongoing trauma because of the extreme effects of divestment, poverty, systemic racism, and all forms of violence, including police violence.

Mr. Shelton’s family and people throughout the community said he suffered mental health issues. We hear these stories all too often of people with mental health issues dying at the hands of police.

We also know our communities don’t have what they need when it comes to mental health services. What would it have looked like if Mr. Shelton had everything he needed to support his mental health? Would Mr. Shelton be alive today? We believe so.

Tonight we have an opportunity to speak out in support of resources to help others who may suffer from mental health issues during the mayor’s virtual city budget hearing at 5:30 p.m..

“Our communities desperately lack the resources they need to address such issues as mental health. That’s why the African American Roundtable is calling on everyone who is able to join us this evening to demand more from the City of Milwaukee,” said Markasa Tucker-Harris, Executive Director. “Our rallying cry is ‘LiberateMKE,’ which means that all residents, no matter what their zip codes are, have the freedom to thrive. We will thrive when we invest in public health, cooperative housing and jobs. We will thrive when we create a participatory budgeting process so that all residents have decision-making power. We will thrive when Black residents, such as Broderick Shelton Jr, can exist in their skin without being seen as a threat that must be eliminated.”

Again, we encourage the community to take whatever necessary time you need to process what continues to happen to us and around us. Although it may be extremely difficult on days like these, in the words of Marc Lamont Hill, “We cannot give up. We still here. Until victory. Always.”