Yesterday, Alderman Bob Donovan sent out an inflammatory, inaccurate and divisive statement, accusing African-American elected officials of being apathetic – even silent – on the issue of crime in our neighborhoods.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I cannot begin to fathom why Alderman Donovan would take the time to write a blatant fabrication that does nothing to advance our collective crime-fighting agenda.
Unfortunately, any strategic initiatives mentioned in his statement related to the Neighborhood Safety Initiative have now been overshadowed by the alderman’s attempt to discredit the voices and votes of his African-American colleagues.
The three African-American aldermen whom I have the privilege of currently working alongside on the Common Council – Ashanti Hamilton, Joe Davis and Willie Wade – are each leaders in their own right. Our record reflects a steadfast commitment to fighting crime at every turn.
All of us, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, are personally invested in our communities, and all of us take the recent increase in criminal activity seriously.
Furthermore, all of us have consistently expressed our outrage about violent acts and homicides throughout the city and in our own districts.
We can only be successful in our fight against crime if we have a unified front: citizens, police and public servants. No one is above being criticized. We are all accountable for our actions. But divisive rhetoric only diverts us from our mission to make Milwaukee safe.
Alderman Willie Hines is president of the Milwaukee Common Council.
