Protest Planned Friday In Brookfield, Organizers Say

BROOKFIELD, WI — A protest over the death of George Floyd, who died with a police officer's knee on his neck on Memorial Day, is planned for Brookfield, and organizers say they have felt a measure of support from local residents and authorities.

Julia Korban said she's attended some peaceful demonstrations including Downtown Milwaukee, Brookfield, and Wauwatosa in hopes of opening people up to a more expansive point of view.

"We just wish to spread awareness to the cities on the outskirts of Milwaukee, as oftentimes they may not be exposed to the reality of the situation and how it is affecting so many people in a real way," she said.

The rally will be held at the corner of Bluemound Road and Moorland Road from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, organizers are asking that participants wear a mask and space themselves 6 feet apart from other protesters.

"Overall, we have felt supported," she said. On Tuesday, a handful of protesters gathered near Bluemound and Moorland Roads in Brookfield in the 90-degree heat. Korban told Patch that Brookfield police stopped by to give the sweltering protesters some cold water.

While many people have been supportive, Korban said a few people have been inconsiderate to the group. "The worst was a man shouting 'white lives matter' at one of our dear friends, who is black," she said.

Korban's husband said one of the reasons he is protesting is for others to see him more fully as a valued member of the community.

“As a black man I want to see that the people of Brookfield support me in existing peacefully without the threat of violence due to the color of my skin. I don’t want people to be afraid of me. I don’t want to be afraid of jogging through suburban neighborhoods or playing tennis in the courts at a suburban high school," Perez said in a statement to Brookfield Patch. "I shouldn’t feel this way, but I do. I hope that we can come together to change that. I’m tired of people continuing to look the other way and remain silent during this time. I want to see everyone mourning injustice collectively and speaking out about the blatant racism that our country has yet to uproot.”