Milwaukee, WI – Random Beatings Alarm Jewish Sherman Park Residents

Milwaukee, WI – Four street attacks in Milwaukee’s Sherman Park neighborhood have residents determined to help police catch those responsible and restore a sense of safety that was shattered when the random beatings began last weekend.

It took only a couple of days for members of Congregation Beth Jehudah to connect with other neighborhood organizations and meet Thursday with Milwaukee police to discuss the crimes that longtime resident Howard Karsh said have been viewed internally “as an insult to the community.”

Of the four attacks since last Friday, two of the victims are from the nearby Jewish neighborhood. One was on his way home from services at Congregation Beth Jehudah on Tuesday night when he was beaten.

The attack was similar to one Saturday when another Beth Jehudah member was beaten and kicked in front of his home.

Karsh said that since those victims were easily identifiable as Jews because of their Orthodox dress, there was some worry the attacks may have been hate crimes, but that nothing else about the attacks suggests that.

“There was no language, no cursing. It just seemed like a vicious outpouring of people who just wanted to hurt somebody,” he said.

Police said the other two victims were African-American.

“They are not specifically targeting anybody because of race or ethnicity,” said Capt. Patrick Mitchell. ” In that area of the city, I could see that could be a concern.”

Approximately 170 Jewish families live in an area bounded roughly between Burleigh St. and Keefe Ave. from north 49th to 55th streets, Karsh said. About 150 own their homes.

According to police, victims have said they were attacked by three to four males, about 15 to 20 years old.

The incidents were:

• Last Friday about 10:35 p.m. near N. 56th St. and W. Burleigh St., where a man in his 30s was repeatedly punched before the attackers fled.

• Last Friday about 11:05 p.m. near N. 50th St. and W. Chambers St., when a man in his 40s was punched repeatedly.

• Saturday about 8:30 p.m. in the 3200 block of N. 51st St., where a man in his 50s was approached and punched and kicked.

• Tuesday about 10 p.m., when a man in his 60s was approached near N. 50th and W. Chambers St. and repeatedly punched.

Police said all four suffered bruises and abrasions. One was treated and released at a hospital.

“Obviously the residents in the area have become more fearful since the incidents began,” Mitchell said. “That’s something we’re concerned about. We have our bicycle officers and foot patrol officers trying to make contact with as many residents as they can to reduce the level of fear.”

Karsh said members of the Jewish community have reached out to others in the general community through various organizations and agencies.

“There’s no value to being fearful without being able to do something about it,” he said. “We don’t want anybody in the interior community or exterior community to feel helpless. We’re not helpless. We do have a team with the city, with the Police Department, with everybody.”