In an impassioned plea to his hometown, a city leader and native son speaks to the heart of Milwaukee, grappling with the thread of tragedies that have recently torn through the community. In a statement obtained by the City of Milwaukee website, the unnamed official mourned the loss of a 4-year-old child, fallen Milwaukee Police Officer Kendall Corder, and local entrepreneur Antwan Hogans—or 'Tweezy'.
The statement describes Tweezy as a man who embodied the spirit of Milwaukee, bridging gaps between diverse sectors of society, "No one loved Milwaukee more than Tweezy. He was the bridge between boardrooms and street corners — the rare soul who could speak to anyone and bring light anywhere," as mentioned on the City of Milwaukee website His sudden death underscores a wave of violence that has the city searching for solace, and solutions. The community, despite its challenges, showed a spark of hope when uniting to find a missing child—a unity the leader believes must become the norm, not an outlier.
While acknowledging efforts made by city officials such as installing cameras, passing policies, and funding violence prevention programs, the statement stresses an overarching need for city-wide engagement: "But let’s be honest: it’s not enough if only some of us care," as per the City of Milwaukee. The call is for the entire community, across all demographics and areas, to step up and work together to forge a safer Milwaukee. The leader asserts that only by working collectively can the city hope to celebrate more than it mourns.
In candid terms, the City of Milwaukee statement pushes for concerted action beyond moments of crisis, urging "the boardrooms, the neighborhoods, the barbershops, and the block parties to speak the same language: hope, respect, and action." Hope and prayer have their place, the statement conveys, but it is the people — through their persistent effort and collaboration — who can bring about the change desperately needed.
