Outbreaks of rage against the police, like by the people of Ferguson, do not just happen. Yes, an incident like the shooting of a young unarmed black male by a white police officer sparked the outbreak but forces were building up for quite some time in this community.

Milwaukee, a racially segregated city, like Ferguson, is building up for an explosion from racism. Incidents, like the taking down of basketball rims in predominately white neighbors when African American males start playing basketball in the park is a spark. A police chief, supported by a Mayor, who believes in “data driven policing” and targeting African American neighbors for police car stops but does not believe in Crisis Intervention Team training, which consists of specialized training in dealing with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, adds fuel to the fire of racism. A St. Vincent de Paul Society, dedicated to person to person service to people in need, building a multi-million dollar thrift store in suburbs where it is not needed, rather than in North Central Milwaukee where it is needed, adds to the cauldron of racism.

As in the 60’s in the USA or in the imprisonment of Palestinians in Gaza, when enough acts of racism, discrimination or apartheid build up they are bound to boil over into society. When the ‘good people’ are silent during these incidents enough sins are added to the cauldron of evil. The cauldron overflows or bust and we are all affected by the consuming fire.

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