Local business owner raises more than $20,000 for Sade Robinson memorial
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A local business owner will help raise money for Sade Robinson’s memorial after Milwaukee County supervisors were forced to halt their plans.
Robinson was a 19-year-old woman who investigators say was killed while on a first date last April.
County supervisors say they wanted to honor Robinson’s memory, but many received racist emails regarding the installation and questions about taxpayers paying for this memorial and not others.
That's when Omar Shaikh stepped in.
"You know, I have a family myself. A son and two daughters and just got emotional,” said Shaikh, the co-owner of 3rd Street Market Hall and owner of Carnevor Steakhouse. “I was happy. I knew I could always fundraise. It’s not a whole lot of money to raise privately.”
Shaikh says while he believes taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for a memorial, it's important to support Robinson's family.
“Let’s show up and show support to the family and show them how much we care about our community, and we care about the people in our community,” said Shaikh. “You know, it really struck me when she said, 'I really want a memorial for my daughter. I don’t even know where all her body parts are.'” And that’s what really hit me because that’s such a disgusting, terrible thing for anyone to happen to.”
Maxwell Anderson, 33, was charged with first degree intentional homicide and mutilation of a corpse.
Shaikh says he decided to hold a fundraiser at his restaurant, Carnevor Steakhouse, to raise the money for the memorial. His tweet was seen more than 7,000 times on the social media platform X.
“People were reaching out and reaching out to donate left and right,” said Shaikh.
That's why he’s now hosting a fundraising event this Sunday, Feb. 16, at Venue 3 inside 3rd Street Market Hall. For a $50 donation, people can get a meal and unlimited drinks from noon to 3 p.m.
The cost to build the memorial would have been $7,000. Shaikh says he’s already raised over $20,000. He says any money not used for the memorial will go toward supporting Robinson's family and the racist emails are not a representation of Milwaukee as a community – this fundraiser is.
“Just trying to give them some moments of joy and try to take their mind off of things,” said Shaikh.