Weather
Local NewsThrowing Bricks at Reckless Drivers?By Lauren Leamanczyk
MILWAUKEE - Ald. Michael McGee, of Milwaukee's 6th District, is coming under fire for comments made during his father's talk show on WNOV radio.
Ald. McGee was discussing the dangerous problem of reckless, speeding drivers on city streets. The discussion was prompted by the death of 12-year-old Melissa Bavier, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident in McGee's district.
McGee made an outrageous proposal. The alderman said groups of teenagers should throw bricks at cars.
"It's getting to the point that I really want to organize some of these young guys in the community," McGee said. " When they see people speeding recklessly and swerving down the hood, man, just start brickin' em, for real. And start bricking these cars, man, guerilla style… And they are going to learn that you can't drive down certain blocks and feel that they can be reckless."
Sheriff David Clarke blasted McGee when he heard the idea, saying, "The next intelligent thing that comes out of Alderman McGee's mouth will be the first."
Mayor Tom Barrett said he hadn't heard the radio comments but dismissed the idea of vigilante justice. "I know you don't respond to lawlessness with lawlessness. What people should be doing is contacting police, working with the police."
McGee said he stands by his statement but says he's not trying to incite violence or vigilantism. "What I really said is, I want to send a psychological message to all those people speeding recklessly through the neighborhoods to not do that," he explained.
|
On Demand |

