Activists press council for input on safety plan

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MILWAUKEE (AP) — Community activists loudly interrupted a meeting of the Milwaukee Common Council over a plan that would, in part, add more law enforcement officers to city streets. The public safety plan was being developed long before last month’s fatal shooting of a black man by police. But, the shooting has turned up the temperature on police-community relations.

Police officers stood outside the council chambers on Thursday as about three dozen people from various community groups chanted and held signs.

One of the activists, Markasa Tucker, told the council the community needs opportunities to weigh in on the public-safety plan that would add 280 police officers to the city’s force. While Tucker spoke from the chamber podium, the head of the Black Panthers in Milwaukee, King Rick, shouted from the gallery, telling council members to act now to improve social and economic conditions for people of color.