Religious leaders seek better relations with police

So they're on a first name basis when they're arrested? No. According to this article in today's Catholic Herald

The March killing of Wilber Javier Prado by Milwaukee Police Officer Alonso Glover has south side communities concerned.

Among the speakers at a community meeting to discuss these concerns was Matt Nelson, from Education for the People.

"We want a trial and charges for (Glover) ..."

Though presumably not in that order.

... and we want a civilian review board," he shouted over applause, "and the only reason we don't have these is because we haven't put pressure on (Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael) McCann to get them."

Nelson targeted McCann and Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Donohoo during his speech, suggesting that the former be fired.

Difficult, given that D.A. is an elected office.

Michelle Mendoza, leader for Citizen Action of Milwaukee, spoke like a prosecutor, detailing what might have happened the night Prado was killed.

Like a TV prosecutor, perhaps. In the real world, prosecutors have to detail their case based on the evidence they expect to present, not on what might have happened.

One woman, who chose to remain anonymous, replied, "We don't need to worry about firing McCann," she said, "What we need is to find someone who will represent us better than McCann has."

According to Rev. [Joseph] Jackson, that type of thinking is exactly how MICAH [Milwaukee Innercity Congregations Allied for Hope] plans to make Milwaukee a better place to live.

"Exactly"? Sounds like MICAH is going to recruit a candidate to run against McCann, doesn't it? Well, you need to apply those forty years of post-Vatican II experience to distinguishing the letter from the spirit of that sentence. Here's what he meant.

By working with political leaders rather than against them, offering negotiable solutions rather than rash demands, and by treating each situation as is appropriate, Rev. Jackson said, maintaining that MICAH has made its point clear, but has done so in a respectful manner.

I could see him discussing these issues with our district attorney over lunch at a nice restaurant.