Milwaukee’s rioters have burned some gas stations and cowed some white reporters, but they’ve definitely met their match in Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke. The African-American top cop has been one of Black Lives Matter’s most vocal critics and as racially motivated violence roiled the streets in his home city, he didn’t keep quiet.
During Sunday night’s riots, Clarke took to social media—and later to The Hill in an op-ed – to criticize those who would address trouble with the police by causing more trouble for their communities. Agree with him or not, he’s certainly taking on some very tough issues.
Here are five things Clarke said in the wake of Milwaukee’s chaos that prove he’s dedicated to making changes.
1. A take-down of “group think.” In his article for The Hill, Clarke noted that it wasn’t police violence that started Milwaukee’s riots, it was complete cultural dysfunctIon.
“What happened Saturday night and again Sunday night had little to do with police use of force — it was a collapse of the social order where tribal behavior leads to reacting to circumstances instead of waiting for facts to emerge.”
2. Calling out Democratic policies. Clarke spoke eloquently on Twitter and in his op-ed about how nanny-state policies create hopeless situations in minority communities.
“The actions were the manifestation of a population with no hope, no stake in the American dream that could provide advancement and purpose and pride of self. They are the ones lied to, exploited by and ultimately manipulated by the Democrats who claim to care. They are victims of the left, but they are not without blame.”
3. Pointing out a strange dichotomy. Clarke was the only official brave enough to point out that in the same weekend there was a victim of a police shooting, there were nine victims of gang violence in Milwaukee (and nearby Chicago)—that no one rioted for.
4. Calling for a community self-examination. Clarke didn’t let the rioters off the hook by blaming their situation only on Democratic policies. He wants Milwaukee’s poor communities to take a long, hard look at themselves.
“The officer-involved-shooting was simply a catalyst that ignited the already volatile mixture of inescapable poverty, failing K-12 public schools, dysfunctional lifestyle choices like father absent homes, gang involvement, drug/alcohol abuse and massive unemployment….A self-examination and self-criticism by the underclass is in order as well – as is an admission by Progressive Democrats that they have failed Milwaukee would be the first step in reversing this urban decay.”
5. A critique of the “anti-police” Black Lives Matter rhetoric. Speaking to CNN‘s Don Lemon over the weekend, Clarke also called out Black Lives Matter for encouraging violence.
“This anti-police rhetoric sweeping the country has turned out some hateful things inside of people that are now playing themselves out on the American police officer.”