Vaun L. Mayes is a leading activist in Milwaukee’s African American community facing serious felony charges in what many consider a frame-up by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (the ATF) and Milwaukee Police Department (MPD).

On June 5, 60 supporters applauded in federal court as Mayes was released from custody after a hearing. Mayes is facing three charges, including attempted arson. While federal prosecutors claim Mayes tried to organize people to throw rocks at police and firebomb a police station, they also say he never acted on the plans. It was also revealed in court there are at least two government informants involved.

Mayes alleged crimes took place after the MPD shooting of Sylville Smith, a 23-year-old African American man who was running away from police. Smith’s murder by police sparked the Sherman Park uprising, in which a BP gas station was burned to the ground and police lost control for three days, starting on August 13, 2016.

At the time, the MPD said Smith pointed a gun at officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown. Protesters demanded the release of police body camera footage and it revealed that Milwaukee police lied to the public. It showed that Smith had thrown a weapon to the ground before officer Heaggan-Brown shot him in the arm, and then the officer fatally shot Smith on the ground.

Officer Heaggan-Brown was charged, but then acquitted, in the murder of Smith.

In the two years since the Sherman Park uprising, the MPD and federal agencies have had little success in filing charges against people involved in the protests. So the U.S. government is resorting to a frame up.

Mayes is a well-respected activist and youth mentor. He is targeted because he is an unapologetic fighter against police crimes and the oppression of African Americans. Mayes was one of the leaders in the high profile movement to hold MPD accountable for the killing of Dontre Hamilton in 2014. Mayes works tirelessly for the residents in Milwaukee’s African American community, which suffers from some of the highest poverty and incarceration rates of any major U.S. city.

The charges against Vaun Mayes are an attempt to target activist leaders who speak out and organize people against the Milwaukee Police and their crimes. We need your help to defend Vaun Mayes and to hold police accountable, to end there lies, cover-ups and crimes.

The CSFR is asking you to stand in solidarity with Vaun L. Mayes and demand “Drop the charges now!”

Be ready for future calls to action in the campaign to “Drop the charges now!”

#NewYork #AfricanAmerican #Antiracism #Milwaukee #SylvilleSmith #VaunLMayes #MilwaukeePoliceDepartmentMPD

The July 5 hearing was to determine if Mayes would be kept in jail leading up to his trial. After the judge determined he would be released, the government requested a stay in an attempt to appeal the decision – which was denied. The court room broke out in applause with this ruling.

#MilwaukeeWI #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #Antiracism #SylvilleSmith #VaunLMayes #ShermanPark

Milwaukee, WI – The response to the Aug. 13 police killing of a young African American man is continuing here. At 8 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, over 100 community members showed up for a community cleanup called for by the Coalition for Justice.

On Saturday night multiple businesses were burned down, bus shelters were destroyed and police cars smashed. The Milwaukee Fire Department said they responded to 74 fires during the protests on Saturday.

All day Sunday the entire area around Sherman Park was bustling with activists, national media, faith community and neighbors.

Small and scattered protests happened around the Sherman Park neighborhood throughout the day. In the afternoon, dozens of protesters marched to the 7th District police station, which had been boarded up and barricaded. Police say the building was the target of gunfire Saturday night.

The burned-down BP station on the corner of Sherman Boulevard and Burleigh Street, which was the target of a protest and boycott weeks earlier, was surrounded by caution tape and police. Preachers from different religious groups were set up on both sides of the station, as well as across the street.

City buses full of police were on standby near the park, and there was a heavy police presence throughout the neighborhood.

Milwaukee County Sheriff and Fox News regular David Clarke called for the National Guard to be activated after Saturday's rebellion, and on Sunday morning Governor Scott Walker granted his request and declared the situation a state of emergency.

At 6:45 p.m. Saturday evening there was a vigil at the scene of the police shooting of Sylville Smith that sparked the protest the day before. 400 people gathered for the vigil and prayer service. Donations were collected for the family, and candles and balloons were left on the memorial site. Family members spoke, expressing their pain to the crowd. Local politicians and clergy repeatedly called for calm, while another community member who spoke said “last night they seen what we're capable of,” and called for continued, organized action to demand justice.

By 8 p.m. there were several gatherings in the area happening simultaneously. A march led by the Nation of Islam took about 400 people around Sherman Park. Protesters chanted, “The cops in my hood ain't no good,” and “Who can you trust? Not the police!” The march ended with a rally. State Senator Lena Taylor called for the community to support the family of Sylville Smith.

At 10 p.m. hundreds of protesters were still present at the scene, many marching in the streets and giving speeches. At press time police in riot gear began to move in closer than they had all day long. Fight Back! will continue to report on the any further developments.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #SylvilleSmith