March and gun buyback program a highlight of ‘Ceasefire Week’

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, along with several other elected officials, spent Sunday, May 18, 2014 visiting churches throughout the city to spread a unified message of non-violence with the hope of curbing gun violence in the City of Milwaukee. Alone, the mayor visited seven churches, and spoke about the importance of eliminating gun violence, which was also addressed at the Mayor’s Ceasefire Sabbath Clergy Breakfast held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on April 22, 2014 and was attended by clergy of all faiths. During the breakfast, the mayor likened the clergy to having the “cavalry arriving” to partner with in crime reduction and prevention. The mayor noted the daunting challenge of reducing violence in the African American community where young black males are “disproportionately the victims of violence.” Reacting Monday to two black men being killed in a triple shooting a day earlier, Mayor Barrett said there was no single solution to addressing violence. The most recent outbreak of violence occurred at the close of the city’s Ceasefire Week. To address gun violence, the mayor said the city was adding more police officers and working to change state statutes to ensure certainty in sentencing for people who commit crimes with guns. Activities during Ceasefire Week included a Community Walk to the North Central YMCA, which began at 9:00 a.m. and a Gun Buyback, which started at 10:00 a.m. at Tabernacle Community Baptist Church. Pictured above are several Milwaukee Police Department officers and residents who assisted in the collection of more than 350 weapons that will be melted down into gardening tools by local recycling firms.