Hundreds march in Grafton

Break the Silence in the Burbs organizes peaceful demonstration to protest police brutality, racism; police report armed counterprotestors but no incidents

ABOUT 500 DEMONSTRATORS marched along Highway 60 to the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Washington Street on Friday, June 5, to raise awareness of police brutality and racism. Photo by Sam Arendt
By 
JOE POIRIER
Ozaukee Press staff

Approximately 500 demonstrators took to the streets in Grafton during a 1.3-mile march along Washington Street on Friday evening, June 5, to support social reform in light of the May 25 death of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police has sparked demonstrations throughout the nation and world. 

Break the Silence in the Burbs co-organizer Brittany Vulich of Mequon told Ozaukee Press the march was intended to increase awareness of police brutality and racism.

“We will hold demonstrations for as long as we need to until the African-American community feels there has been justice and systemic change,” Vulich said. “We want to do our part to use our platform in the suburbs to make sure African Americans are heard.”

Grafton Police Chief Emmett Grissom said demonstrators walked on the sidewalks and did not interfere with traffic along Highway 60. There were no reported incidents during the event, and all police departments in Ozaukee County and Village of Germantown were on hand to ensure public safety, he said.

“We are not a big department. If it wasn’t for our neighboring departments, it would have been very difficult,” Grissom told the Public Safety Committee Monday, noting the Grafton fire and public works departments were also on hand to help guide traffic. 

Grissom said there were counter protesters at the event, including several armed people outside PyraMax Bank on Washington Street. 

“They were exercising their Second Amendment right. Our officers spoke with them to make sure there wouldn’t be any trouble,” he said.

The march began at the Target parking lot at 6 p.m., where several speakers including Ozaukee County Supr. Janette Braverman, who is the only African American on the County Board, addressed the crowd. 

Demonstrators marched to the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Grafton before returning to the Target parking lot. The demonstration lasted more than 2-1/2 hours. 

Vulich said her group chose to march on  Washington Street because the high volume of traffic leading into downtown would draw spectators.

She said her group will continue holding demonstrations throughout the county and North Shore area until there is a noticeable change in how law enforcement officers treat African Americans. 

“The reason why we are doing (marches) is because historically that is where change has started when it comes to civil rights. It has always started with marches,” Vulich said.  

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Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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