***Originally published in the Marquette Wire August 30, 2016***

The fatal shooting of 23-year-old Sylville Smith by Milwaukee police officer

Dominique Heaggan Aug. 13 in the Sherman Park neighborhood spurred unrest, and

the effected Marquette community.

For two Marquette professors, and Sherman Park residents, the events two weeks ago

presented an opportunity to think about the causes of the unrest and act on possible

solutions.

Teig Whaley-Smith is an adjunct associate professor of law at Marquette and the

director of administrative services for Milwaukee County. Whaley-Smith was born

and raised in Sherman Park, and currently lives there with his wife and four children.

The unrest took place about four blocks from their home.

Whaley-Smith was initially taken aback by the unrest. “The fact that tension

manifested itself in this form (of violence) surprised some people, and I would put

myself in that category,” he said. “I never expected my neighborhood to be the subject

of arson and things like that.”

Howard Fuller, Ph.D., distinguished professor of education and director of the

Institute for the Transformation of Learning at Marquette, has lived in Sherman Park

since 1988. His house is about 10 houses away from where Smith was shot and killed.

He was less surprised by the unrest, but said it “could have happened in any

community in the city.”

Whaley-Smith agreed, saying, “Of all the neighborhoods, we’ve had a history of

being able to come together and resolve really, really tough issues.”

Fuller has a long history of civil rights activism, and believes the recovery process

will take considerable time.

“There are different levels of emotions that are operating in our community,” Fuller

said. “People are trying to figure out: ‘How do we move forward?’ But it’s going to

take a while, I think, for the healing to take place.”

Fuller continued, saying that the unrest, while partially caused by Smith’s shooting,

was about general frustration with law enforcement, especially in black communities.

“When you have these kind of eruptions, they’re not a response just to the particular

situation,” Fuller said. “It is primarily that, but it’s probably also sort of a history of

other incidents that have occurred either in the city or nationally, and particularly as it

relates to the police.”

Still, Fuller believes it is too easy to generalize a large group’s relationship with law

enforcement.

“I think it’s going to come down to what has been your contact with the police, or

your family’s contact,” Fuller said. “That’s probably going to greatly influence what

your perception is of the police.”

Whaley-Smith echoed Fuller, saying the issue of law enforcement and race can be

unnecessarily divisive. “You either support Black Lives Matter or you support the

police,” he said. “What if I support both? And where is the opportunity to have that

conversation?”

One area to have that opportunity will be at Marquette. Provost Daniel Myers said

there will be dialogue dinners about race, along with speakers on campus throughout

the year to discuss racial issues, with a focus on what it means to be African-

American in an urban setting. He said more details about the dialogues will be

released in the near future.

University President Michael Lovell said he has been in contact with city leaders

about developing long-term programs to improve Milwaukee as a whole. He did not

mention any specific programs, but said they will make an impact in the

future. “Through this effort, the city and others are going to help us find channels for

our students, faculty and staff to make a difference,” he said. “Not just in Sherman

Park, but in other parts of the city that need more help” as well.

Keith Stanley is the executive director of the Near West Side Partners and Avenues

West, and serves as a liaison between the university and its surrounding

neighborhoods. Stanley said the peace rally held in Westowne Square was

“spectacular to see.”

Stanley, a third-generation Sherman Park resident, believes it is important for

Marquette students to understand the struggles of other Milwaukee citizens “on a

human level, with empathy and respect.”

Similarly, Whaley-Smith believes mutual understanding is key. “The more that we all

recognize that we’re all human beings, we’re all Wisconsinites we’re all in this ship

together, and show expressions of love to one another, that’s what’s going to get it

done,” he said.

In Sherman Park, Fuller said the short-term response is “to do everything that we can

to maintain peace” during this specific period of unease. However, he is concerned

that the riots may not be the last example of violent altercations between citizens and

law enforcement in Milwaukee.

“I’m very worried about what’s going to happen when the video (of the shooting)

comes out,” Fuller said. “Something relatively small could happen between the police

and someone and that could escalate.”

Fuller has been involved in meeting with local officials, activists and philanthropists

to try to come up with short-term and long-term ideas, but acknowledged the

difficulty with providing specific long-term solutions. He said it is important to

continue the positive actions in Sherman Park, like after-school education and the

Boys & Girls Club.

“Those of us who are doing something that we think is making a difference, we’ve got

to double down on that,” Fuller said.

Despite the violence and unrest, Sherman Park residents seem willing to help get the

community back on track. Fuller, Stanley and Whaley-Smith all intend to remain in

the neighborhood and assist with the rebuilding efforts.

“It’s a wonderful neighborhood, and my kids get an incredible range of relationships,”

Whaley-Smith said. “It’s a true reflection of American society all on one block, and

what better way to learn the American experience than by being a part of it?”

Stanley shares similar feelings.

“Clearly there are issues, but there are great things going on, too,” he said. “It’s

unfortunate, but I’m not giving up.”

Stanley said that his 87-year-old grandfather, who has lived in the neighborhood for

about 60 years, is an example of someone who is committed to staying and trying to

help.

Whaley-Smith also said the community had a tremendous response to the unrest.

“We went with our kids to go help clean up the park, and that park has never been so

clean in the last 20 years because there were so many people out there wanting to

clean up the neighborhood.”

Fuller gave a broader explanation for why he feels responsible for helping the

community.

“If you believe in social justice, you must continue to fight even when solutions are

not in sight or even don’t seem possible,” he said. “If you don’t do that, then you are

in essence co-signing on the injustice.”