‘Utterly Disrespectful’ – Wisconsin Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action Respond After Republican Leadership Gaveled in and out Without Action on Police Violence

The Wisconsin chapter of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, the grassroots networks of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after Republican leadership adjourned the special session without taking any action to address police violence following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. 

“Today’s action was utterly disrespectful to Jacob Blake, his family, and the Black people who are still being killed, wounded, and traumatized by police in Wisconsin,” said Khary Penebaker, a gun violence survivor and member of the Everytown Survivor Network and volunteer with the Wisconsin chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Republican leadership clearly has no intention of taking immediate action to address police violence – and the widespread, societal damage it causes. Wisconsin simply cannot wait any longer for change.”

In November, the leaders of both the Wisconsin Assembly and the Wisconsin Senate ended special sessions on gun violence shortly after gaveling them in, and the Wisconsin legislature has not passed a bill in 130 days.

Research shows that meaningful use of force policies encourage de-escalation, utilize early intervention systems, and ensure that officers who act in a manner that is criminally negligent can be held accountable. Use of force policies can ensure that laws help advance safety.

Black people in the United States are far more likely to be shot and killed by law enforcement than their white counterparts, and data from Mapping Police Violence shows that 95% of people killed by police are killed with guns. Mapping Police Violence shows that 109 people have been shot and killed by police between 2013 and 2019 in Wisconsin and that 99% of killings by the police from 2013-2019 did not result in officers being charged with a crime. Black Americans are shot and killed by police at nearly three times the rate of white Americans.