Milwaukee, WI – On the afternoon of January 17, roughly 40 people gathered in a parking lot at Lincoln Park to celebrate what would have been Alvin Cole’s 18th birthday. Cole was murdered by former Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah on February 2, 2020. Mensah remains free after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm determined he would face no charges in October. The cop was not fired by the Wauwatosa Police Department either, but rather was allowed to resign.

After hearing from a teacher from Cole’s youth, those gathered at the park embarked on a march through the streets. Chants of “Say his name! Alvin Cole! Don’t forget Alvin Cole!” rang out. The route ended at the Cole family home, where members of the family were gathered on the steps with balloons and candles.

The amassed crowd collectively sang happy birthday before Tracy, Alvin’s mom, and Taleavia, Alvin’s sister, each shared their thoughts. Their comments included calls to keep up the struggle in the streets for Alvin and for all in and around Milwaukee who have been killed by the police. Following the remarks, everyone joined in a balloon release before the march started up again, finishing up back at Lincoln Park.

While the ruling in Cole’s case came down months ago, the groups who have and continue to advocate for justice plan to keep fighting. Many are fighting against the approval of the COPS Grant in Milwaukee; for an end to qualified immunity, and for community control of the police. Organizers are looking ahead to the one-year anniversary of Alvin’s murder where they will no doubt gather in protest once again.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #Birthday #AlvinCole #MKE

Milwaukee, WI – On the afternoon of January 17, roughly 40 people gathered in a parking lot at Lincoln Park to celebrate what would have been Alvin Cole’s 18th birthday. Cole was murdered by former Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah on February 2, 2020. Mensah remains free after Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm determined he would face no charges in October. The cop was not fired by the Wauwatosa Police Department either, but rather was allowed to resign.

After hearing from a teacher from Cole’s youth, those gathered at the park embarked on a march through the streets. Chants of “Say his name! Alvin Cole! Don’t forget Alvin Cole!” rang out. The route ended at the Cole family home, where members of the family were gathered on the steps with balloons and candles.

The amassed crowd collectively sang happy birthday before Tracy, Alvin’s mom, and Taleavia, Alvin’s sister, each shared their thoughts. Their comments included calls to keep up the struggle in the streets for Alvin and for all in and around Milwaukee who have been killed by the police. Following the remarks, everyone joined in a balloon release before the march started up again, finishing up back at Lincoln Park.

While the ruling in Cole’s case came down months ago, the groups who have and continue to advocate for justice plan to keep fighting. Many are fighting against the approval of the COPS Grant in Milwaukee; for an end to qualified immunity, and for community control of the police. Organizers are looking ahead to the one-year anniversary of Alvin’s murder where they will no doubt gather in protest once again.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #PeoplesStruggles #Antiracism #Birthday #AlvinCole #MKE

Milwaukee, WI – Protests in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa ramped up over the past two nights. On October 7, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm ruled that although the shooting death of Alvin Cole in February was not justified, Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah would not face charges for the murder. Mensah is also responsible for the murders of Antonio Gonzales and Jay Anderson. Chisholm was the district attorney who filed no charges in each of those cases, as well as six other instances of killer cops in and around Milwaukee.

Immediately after the announcement, protesters took to the streets of downtown Milwaukee. They quickly made their way to Interstate 94 going west towards Wauwatosa, breaking through a police line to get onto the freeway. The protest eventually made its way to the suburb where they were met with riot police and National Guard troops.

Rubber bullets, teargas and pepper-ball shot were used to brutalize people in what is becoming common place for protesters in southeast Wisconsin. There were a few broken windows, and a handful of people shopped for free at a gas station before the night was done.

The situation escalated on the night of October 8. Wauwatosa has taken on the characteristics of a war zone, with armed National Guard troops patrolling the streets and enforcing a 7 p.m. curfew. Reports on the ground indicate that mass arrests are being made.

Among those arrested include many of Alvin Cole's family, including his mother Tracy, his sisters, and his brother. The Coles were literally ripped from their vehicles during the arrests. Tracy Cole was taken away in an ambulance after police broke her arm during the ordeal. Some family members of Jacob Blake, the man who Kenosha police attempted to murder at the end of August, had joined the protest in Wauwatosa. Jacob Blake, Sr. has been arrested.

These injustices perpetrated against the Cole and Blake families, as well as all other protesters who have been attacked and arrested by the police and National Guard while demanding justice, will not go unchecked. When DA Chisholm determined that there would be no justice, he ensured that there would be no peace.

Release the Cole family! Release Jacob Blake, Sr.! Release all others who have been arrested! Charge, arrest and indict serial-killing cop Joseph Mensah! Justice for Alvin Cole!

#MilwaukeeWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #PoliticalRepression #AlvinCole #JacobBlake

Milwaukee, WI – On the afternoon of October 7, it is expected that Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm will make a decision on the killing of Alvin Cole. The decision comes over eight months after Cole’s murder. Milwaukee and Wauwatosa – the suburb where Cole was shot by Wauwatosa police – have been gripped by protests and actions of varying size and intensity since the resurgence of the movement for Black lives at the end of May.

While the initial local demonstrations largely centered around out-of-state cases like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, the focus quickly shifted when the Cole family went public with their fight on June 4. Then, on June 6, the family marched for the first time alongside members of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression. The Cole family has been at the forefront of the struggle against police crimes in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa ever since.

While Alvin Cole’s case has not received the same coverage as the murders of Floyd and Taylor, or even the attempted murder of Jacob Blake in neighboring Kenosha, people should be aware of the situation. Cole is not the first person to be killed by Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah. In fact, Mensah is a certified serial killer, having murdered two other people since 2015: Antonio Gonzales in July of that year, and Jay Anderson, Jr. in June 2016. Both of those murders were deemed ‘justified uses of force’ by the Milwaukee County DA’s office, headed by Chisholm.

Similar to the situation in Louisville, Kentucky in the lead-up to the Breonna Taylor announcement, business owners are boarding up their stores in Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, and Wisconsin National Guard troops are setting up shop at the State Fair Park.

“The armed response on the eve of DA Chisholm’s decision is only proof that grassroots mobilization is what threatens those in power,” said Lauryn Cross, a leader with the Milwaukee Alliance. “We will continue to demand justice for Alvin Cole, Jay Anderson, Antonio Gonzales, Joel Acevedo and all other victims of police crimes without compromise.”

#MilwaukeeWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #AlvinCole #MilwaukeeAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression

Milwaukee, WI – On the morning of June 4, the family of Alvin Cole, a 17-year-old African American teen who was killed by Wauwatosa Police on February 2, together with around 25 supporters, held a press conference. The family, led by Alvin’s mother Tracy and his sister Taleavia, made their intentions clear: they want justice, but not just for Alvin.

Until only days ago, the Cole family didn’t even know who was responsible for Alvin’s death, but when they learned who the officer was, it became clear the fight was bigger than just their family. Officer Joseph Anthony Mensah of the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) is the man who murdered Alvin, but Mensah also murdered Antonio Gonzales in July 2015, and Jay Anderson, Jr. in June 2016.

“Of course, a lot of things are going on in the world today, but we have to focus here for our people who are dying in the hands of these police officers,” said Taleavia Cole. “So we need to stand for our people as well.”

As a part of their conference, both Tracy and Taleavia Cole announced that the family called for a march on Saturday, June 6. The event will highlight the demand for justice for all the victims of Officer Mensah’s crimes.

“We found out a couple weeks ago that the guy that killed my son – murdered my son – he has a history. He killed not just one, not two, but three people. This man is a murderer. You can say serial killer cause he still out here doing it,” said Tracy Cole. “Joseph is a killer, and I wanna see him tried. I wanna see his job taken from him. And I’m not gonna sleep until I’ve received justice for my son.”

The other main demand of the event is the call for community control of the police through the creation of a civilian police accountability council, or CPAC, something which has built up a lot of momentum in the city of Chicago, just south of Milwaukee.

“We need justice. We need the truth. We need laws changed,” Taleavia said. “We need CPAC here in Milwaukee, that’s what we need. We need to hold these cops accountable.”

The June 6 demonstration is set to begin at 4 p.m. The event is being co-sponsored by the recently relaunched Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

#MilwaukeeWI #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #ChicanoLatino #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #civilianPoliceAccountabilityCouncilCPAC #AlvinCole #MilwaukeeAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression

“What is clear and not a matter of dispute is that the deceased fired his weapon before the police officer fired theirs,” said Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber.

During the press briefing, Chief Weber introduced a photo of the firearm that the police allege was found at the scene, and a video from the dashboard cams in two squad cars was shown. Weber also claimed that authorities found an extended magazine with 35 rounds in Cole’s bag.

In the low-quality video, police say five gunshots can be heard, the first of which is supposedly Cole firing the 9mm semi-automatic from the photo. As proof of this, Chief Weber explained that the crime lab discovered a spent shell casing inside the chamber of the weapon they claim Cole fired. The next four are the shots from the officer that took Cole’s life.

Nothing from the video that was shown could be described as conclusive. It’s hard to differentiate the sounds on the inside of the vehicle from what’s happening on the scene outside. Wauwatosa police officers don’t wear body cams, so the view that is presented in the video is at least 30 feet from where the murder takes place.

Something pointed out by Christopher Storm, a local private investigator who has been involved in documenting the police and challenging their narratives when they’ve committed crimes, puts into question the story that Wauwatosa police are rolling out.

“The weapon [in the photo] appears to have the safety in the ‘on’ position, meaning the gun would not fire,” Storm said. “The gun has no magazine or clip in it. The crime lab could not find a ‘spent casing inside the chamber,’ as a semi-automatic will eject the casing to prepare for the next firing and send the spent casing flying out and to the side. Something is wrong, if this is Alvin Cole’s gun.”

Stretching the truth and presenting false evidence to exonerate killer cops is something that police departments everywhere do. With this being the fifth death at the hands of a police officer in five years, this is old hat for the Wauwatosa Police Department. Leaving the investigation in the hands of the Milwaukee police simply adds to the initial causes for concern that justice will be denied to Cole, his family and his friends. The community is outraged and are demanding justice.

#MilwaukeeWI #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #WauwatosaPoliceDepartment #AlvinCole

During the morning of January 25, Ceasar Stinson, 47, was killed in a car crash precipitated by an unmarked MCSO squad car. Stinson was a long-time community advocate and a lobbyist for Milwaukee Public Schools. Friends, family and colleagues gathered on January 27 to remember Stinson and the work he did to benefit his community. Questions abound about the circumstances of Stinson’s death, namely, who is to blame?

“The speed of the car, something had to be going pretty fast in order for that to happen,” said Kwabena Antoine Nixon, a friend of Stinson’s for more than 20 years.

The MPD is conducting the investigation into the fatal crash. The MCSO officer was treated at a hospital for minor injuries while the passenger in Stinson’s car is in stable condition. MCSO has placed the officer, who has been on the force 23-years, on paid administrative leave for the length of the investigation. His identity has not been revealed.

And then on the evening of February 2, in the Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa, officers from the Wauwatosa Police Department shot and killed Alvin Cole, a just-turned-17-year old high schooler. Officers responded to a call about a disturbance at the Mayfair Mall, just a couple miles outside of Milwaukee’s city limits. The call indicated that one of people may have had a gun.

When they arrived on the scene, a group of approximately 10 people were gathered in a parking lot outside the mall. Upon seeing the cops, at least four members of the group broke off from the others. That is when a Wauwatosa officer shot Cole in the back as he was running away. A gun was reportedly found at the site of the murder.

The investigation of this crime is being conducted by the Milwaukee Police Department. MPD reported that the identity of the officer involved would not be released at this time. They have been placed on administrative leave. Video of the killing from the officer’s body camera has also not been made public.

Family, friends and supporters from the community gathered at a vigil on February 3 near where Cole was killed. More than 50 people came out in a show of unity with the family.

“They shot my baby, my baby boy,” said Tracy Cole, Alvin’s mother. “He was supposed to graduate from high school this year. Seventeen years old. Very intelligent young man. Wanted to go to college. He tells me, ‘Mom, I am going to do something positive with myself.’”

The family and their supporters have made it very clear that they intend to seek and win justice for Alvin Cole. Part of that involves an independent investigation, something that does not appear to be in the cards, as Milwaukee police are currently charged with the task.

At the vigil, members of the Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee helped to guide the proceedings with powerful words. Mention was made of a march on the Wauwatosa Police Department, but no information about a date or time was given out.

“We are going to demand a clear, transparent investigation. You see the family is hurt. The community is hurt. We need answers, and we are demanding answers,” said King Rick, a leader of the Panthers. “This was a young man, a child, a young black man. Children make mistakes. Children get in trouble, but do they deserve to die for that?”

What these two incidents make clear is the lack of responsibility and the sheer disregard for Black lives that is shared across law enforcement agencies in Milwaukee and the surrounding suburbs. Milwaukee’s Black residents need authentic justice, something they so rarely see in one of the U.S.’s most segregated cities. Tthose gathered at the vigil shouted out with resolve, “No justice, no peace!”

#MilwaukeeWI #OppressedNationalities #PeoplesStruggles #AfricanAmerican #PoliceBrutality #Antiracism #MilwaukeeCountySheriffsOfficeMCSO #WauwatosaPoliceDepartment #CeasarStinson #AlvinCole