3 Protest Marches Could Pass Through Whitefish Bay Saturday: Cops

WHITEFISH BAY, WI — Police in Whitefish Bay are asking residents to be safe on account of three George Floyd-related marches that are planned to pass through the village on Saturday.

On Friday, Whitefish Bay police chief Michael Young acknowledged that a majority of the protest marches his department has seen have been of the non-violent variety, but wants the public to take extra precautions on account of any cars that may be related to various marches.

"In most of the protest marches in the metro Milwaukee area; the associated motor vehicles have been the safety concern," he wrote Friday. "It is not uncommon for the cars to drive in a reckless manner in the areas in front of or alongside the march. While most of the reckless driving has occurred at night when traffic is light; tomorrow’s protests are during the time of day when citizens are out and about living their lives. We expect the parade organizers to have the motor vehicle participants in their marches to operate their motor vehicles in a considerate, safe and lawful manner."

On Saturday, three different protest marches will likely pass through Whitefish Bay, police said. Whitefish Bay’s protest march begins at Big Bay Park at 1 p.m. Shorewood has a protest march starting at Atwater Park at 1 p.m. A third protest march is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Milwaukee.

The routes of all three marches are similar, police said. Streets that potentially will be impacted are Lake Drive, Silver Spring, Hampton Road and Santa Monica.

"Our policing plan is to facilitate the marches to allow the participants to exercise their right to protest," he wrote. "We will do what we can to see that their marches are a safe and fulfilling event. We fully anticipate that any activity in Whitefish Bay will occur in a safe and respectful manner."