[Milwaukee, WI] – Earlier today, the District Attorney’s Office announced that the five Columbus Police Officers involved in the killing of Samuel Sharpe Jr. during the Republican National Convention (RNC) on July 16th, 2024, will not face criminal charges. The Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression condemns this decision by DA Kent Lovern.
From the moment it was announced that the RNC would be held in Milwaukee, the community was clear: we did not want outside law enforcement agencies unleashed on our community. The Milwaukee Alliance stands for Community Control of the Police, and bringing in outside law enforcement agencies that are completely unaccountable to the people is the opposite of Community Control. Shame on Mayor Johnson for inviting the RNC here! Shame on Chief Jeffrey Norman for allowing outside agencies to murder Milwaukeeans with impunity!
When killer cops are allowed to commit these acts with impunity, a clear message is sent to our communities: the police can and will get away with their crimes. We are accustomed to these kinds of decisions by DAs, but it doesn’t negate the pain they cause. Sharpe and his family deserve justice, and the first steps towards justice are criminal charges for all officers involved. The body camera footage shows the five officers running up to the scene and immediately firing over 20 shots into all parts of Sharpe’s body. This is an act of murder, and should be prosecuted as such.
Angelique Sharpe, Sharpe’s sister and a member of the Milwaukee Alliance, responded to the decision by saying:
“5 killer cops + 1 person defending himself with two paring knives resulting in 23 shots and 34 wounds. The math aint mathing. It’s a miscarriage of justice and gross neglect of oversight on the part of MPD, who lied to the public and let killer cops run loose in one of the most vulnerable communities in our city. My brother’s blood is on your hands regardless of the law continuing to support murderers behind badges.”
The Sharpe family and the Milwaukee Alliance will not stop fighting for justice and for these officers to be held accountable in the courts! Whether it’s the five Columbus police officers, Mayor Johnson, or the Milwaukee Police Department who allowed these killer cops to operate without supervision in our neighborhoods, there must be accountability for Sharpe’s murder.
