A group of Wausau churches has scheduled a “Black Lives Matter” march this Sunday that will address a wide range of issues affecting black Wisconsin residents, and not just police shootings.
The mile-long March will take place in a city where only 2.52 percent of the public school students are African-American.
Reverend Tony Patterson, chairman of the Marathon County Diversity Commission, said the event will draw attention to a wide range of issues.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
“How black students are faring in Wisconsin, the incarceration rate of African Americans. There are some really disturbing things that are going on with the black population in Wisconsin and we really need to talk about that,” said Patterson.
Patterson is also a member of the Wausau Police and Fire Commission. He said Wausau Police have had an exemplary record in their contacts with the city’s minority population.
“Our officers have used great restraint in terms of the whole deadly-force issue with everyone,” said Patterson.
Seven Wausau churches are participating in Sunday’s march.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
