A community police facility, named after a woman who fought for civil rights in Racine, was destroyed during violent protests early Monday.
Racine’s Thelma Orr Community Policing House was severely damaged, according to Police Chief Art Howell.
Demonstrators lit the house on fire at about 2 a.m. Monday, according to Patch.com.
Numerous businesses were also damaged, according to Chief Howell.
“We lost more than a building. It was a desecration of Thelma Orr’s memory,” he said. “Thelma Orr is beloved in this community for many, many, many, many reasons.”
Orr helped integrate Racine’s police force while working with the National Urban League in Racine.
“The community is outraged over this, and rightly so,” Howell added. “The people who are responsible for these acts will be addressed appropriately.”.
He made distinctions with the members of the community who were peacefully protesting, contrasting them to what he said was “the opportunist and criminals who have literally hijacked this cause and have gone from community to community to spread hate and commit crimes.”
“Some people have infiltrated some of the protests in order to harm police officers,” he added.
Mayor Cory Mason said the city would encourage individuals in Racine to hold a city-wide peaceful protest on their properties, with nine minutes of prayer, a lit candle or other reflection to reflect the time George Floyd was on the ground before he was killed by arresting police.
