Hate crimes appear to be on the rise in Milwaukee as the FBI is investigating more than five dozen cases since Jan. 1. | Photo by Matt Popovich on Unsplash
Hate crimes appear to be on the rise in Milwaukee as the FBI is investigating more than five dozen cases since Jan. 1. | Photo by Matt Popovich on Unsplash
The number of hate crimes in Milwaukee appear to be on the rise, with the FBI reporting more than 70 cases being reported this year.
TMJ4 reports a West Allis family is among those that have been victimized, with Reginald Wilkerson insisting since February he and his family have come out of their home “to find their tires slashed, windows broken, and graphic notes left behind.”
As for the notes, Wilkerson said one of them said, “go back to the north side [expletive],” TMJ4 reported.
To protect his daughter, Wilkerson said, she “had to go somewhere else. It's sick to know someone's watching you that much."
Wilkerson added the FBI is now investigating the case as a hate crime and the family has installed cameras around their property.
"I just wanna make sure like the next person doesn't have to go through this stuff,” he told TMJ4. “You don't have to spend money [on cameras] because somebody has an opinion on your color. It shouldn't be tolerated. It's not OK."
While the FBI has been tight-lipped about its investigation, West Allis Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher told TMJ4 an investigation is underway.
"The case remains under investigation, but I do not have updates to share at this time,” he said. “The first incident was reported to the WAPD on 02/04/22, there was not a delay in reporting the incidents to law enforcement."
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