MILWAUKEE— Following the tragic events in Madison with an individual losing their life at the hands of local police officers, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Black Caucus has released the following statement:

“It has become far too normalized for us all to watch live on our phones as human life is taken away from us by our own very eyes. Yesterday’s police shooting in Madison was not only traumatic but has also opened old wounds from these seemingly never-ending events. As a caucus, we extend deepest sympathy and prayers to individuals’ loved ones and the greater Madison Community as well as our Black Caucus members wrestling with this trauma.

There must be an independent and transparent investigation of what has occurred, but that means nothing without reform and guardrails to protect human life. Like many preceding events, this situation will be analyzed by politicians and the media, most likely resulting in many voices justifying these actions rather than identifying ways this could have been averted. We believe that this loss of life was avoidable and that this escalation to deadly force could have been prevented.

As Wisconsin Black Democrats, we challenge all those in power to make these changes to listen with an open heart, reflect on what has occurred, and prioritize solutions to ensure that both the lives and mental health of all those involved are prioritized for public safety.”

The Black Caucus is also encouraging Madison area members and residents to attend Common Council President Sabrina Madison’s listening session in response to this Officer Involved Shooting this evening at the Madison Municipal building in Room 215 starting at 5:00 p.m. Their goal is to connect residents directly with City leaders, including Police Chief Patterson. The address is 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Madison, WI 53703.