Deontae Robinson (left), Donyae Robinson (center), and Sammie Smith (right) pose in front of one of their multiple childhood homes in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They had to move constantly because of mistaken police raids happening so frequently that they could not afford house repairs. (Tirzah Christopher/News21)Deontae Robinson, 27, is the lead ambassador for Black Leaders Organizing Communities (BLOC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His relationship with police started at the age of six when police officers mistakenly entered his family house by force to search for drugs.Christal Shipp owns a copy and print store called “Ctrl + C” in Mailwaukee, Wisconsin. After the 2016 Sherman Park riots, she believes that police-community relations has improved, with police officers frequently supporting the predominantly black and brown owned businesses in the Sherman Phoenix Marketplace. The marketplace is two minutes away from the nearest police station. (Tirzah Christopher/News21)Pamela McCreary poses in front of photos of all her customers since she opened up her business, At Peace Design, LLC at Sherman Phoenix Marketplace. Being a Wisconsin native, she does not believe true police reform will be a reality during her lifetime.Donyae Robinson, 24, is a Milwaukee native and works as the lead ambassador for Black Leaders Organizing Communities (BLOC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He believes that police reform is possible because we see the same problems in the same communities.Jim Palmer, the executive director for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, speaks with journalists in Madison, Wisconsin on June 30, 2022. Palmer, an outspoken supporter of police reforms, also has lobbied for legislation and proposed a “blueprint for change,” which called for such things as funding for crisis intervention programs and largely banning chokeholds. (Photo by Tirzah Christopher/News21)
Tirzah Sprigela Christopher 