Residents take neighborhood safety pledge to help tackle violence

A group of community activists went door-to-door Wednesday asking neighbors to commit to a safety pledge. They want everyone to do their part to get a handle on the violence in Milwaukee. Some in the group advocated against violence because of their own personal experience. Shannon Allen said it’s particularly hard to hear about the violence after her son was killed in 2016.”I’m never really healing,” Allen said. “It’s like a wound that’s steady being re-wounded.””We have to do something, definitely have to do something,” added Brenda Hines, who also lost her son.They started at the McDonald’s near 49th and Hampton, where two teenagers died after a shooting this month. Organizers are tired of losing people to violence. They want neighbors to take action. Community Action Pledge: In order to protect my family and neighborhood, I need to stick my neck out more. I believe in neighbors helping one another to create a better neighborhood; together we are safer and stronger. I will be more aware of suspicious people, cars and reckless driving. I will write down the license plate numbers of dangerous drivers. I will drive responsibly at all times. I will keep notes of things I see that I don’t like. I will report these activities to the police and/or my block captain. I am willing to meet with my neighbors every 2-3 weeks to discuss safety issues. I will model for my family responsibility and community power. I will recruit friends, family, neighbors and church members to this effort. We can do these things with or without the help of the police. If any leads or information, I will contact Crime Stoppers.Neighbors who were home were receptive to the pledge. “Stop the violence and get everybody together and stop,” said Brent Vanwert, who has lived on 50th Street for about four years. “I’m down to support anything for the positive,” added Jonas Bradford, 20. According to Milwaukee police, there have been 84 homicides so far this year. That’s up 53% from last year.Non-fatal shootings are also up this year. Just last week more than 20 people were shot in three separate shootings in downtown Milwaukee.”Every year we break records and enough is enough. We have to do something,” said Tracey Dent, community activist. “What’s in place right now, it is not working.”The plan is to go into different neighborhoods a few times a week throughout the summer.The goal is for neighbors to form block watches.