Milwaukee ‘All Lives Matter’ Forum Draws Debate, Exposes Differences

A forum emphasizing that all lives matter brought out agreement and disagreement Monday night in Milwaukee.

The Peace for Change Alliance and the Milwaukee Urban League invited people to the Milwaukee City Hall rotunda to talk about bridging the gap between races, and between police and the community.

The Rev. William Muhammad of the Nation of Islam said the gaps won’t be closed until there’s justice for those treated unfairly.

“Injustice creates imbalance,” Muhammad said. “When you give people justice, you bring them back into balance.”

Milwaukee Police Association President Mike Crivello said members of the law enforcement union don’t want to divide anyone.

“Every day our officers come to work, they come to work, in their heart, hoping to affect this community to the positive,” Crivello said.

Participants at the forum seemed to find consensus over the need for more conversations between police and community members, and the idea of police outreach to youth sports programs.