Milwaukee Journal Sentinel apologizes for use of 3-year-old's death in news quiz

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Updated: 4:37 p.m. on July 22, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – The Journal Sentinel issued a correction in Monday’s paper after a weekly news quiz included a question relating to the death of 3-year-old Brooklyn Harris.

“We apologize for our insensitivity, and regret that this occurred,” stated in page 2A.

Brooklyn Harris, 3, was shot and killed during a road rage incident back on July 13. On Saturday, the paper got backlash for this question posted in the Green Sheet.

“1. A 3-year-old girl was shot and killed last Saturday morning in Milwaukee. Where was she when it happened?”

It listed off four options. The paper posted an apology on Facebook over the weekend.

“It was an inappropriate question, but it was not made with bad intentions, but it shouldn’t have been put in the paper,” said George Stanley, Editor of the Journal Sentinel.

Stanley says the editor in charge of that section was on vacation.

On Monday, the Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee stormed into the Journal Sentinel building demanding answers.

“Your paper should have not disrespected this family, or made a mockery or make it some kind of game. It’s not a game when it comes to violence in the inner city,” said King Rick, Original Black Panthers of Milwaukee.

Stanley says he reached out to Harris’ mother and grandmother.

“I apologized and said the last thing we want to do is cause pain to your family,” said Stanley.

Harris’ funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.

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Posted: 9:08 p.m. on July 21, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel apologized on its Facebook page Sunday for placing a question in the weekly current-events test news quiz about the death of 3-year-old Brooklyn Harris. 

Harris was shot and killed during a road rage incident in the area of 42nd and West Townsend last weekend. She was in the backseat of a car her mother was driving. 

The first question on the news quiz in the Green Sheet of Saturday's print edition asked where Harris was when she was shot and killed. 

Hundreds of people on social media commented on or shared an image of the paper's quiz, questioning why the paper would use her death in the quiz, with some calling it "insensitive" and "disgusting."

On its Facebook page, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel stated, "In Saturday morning’s printed Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a weekly news quiz included a question relating to the circumstances of the tragic death of 3-year-old Brooklyn Harris. We apologize for our insensitivity, and regret that this occurred."

The editor of the paper also told CBS 58 he apologized to her family members and the paper plans to issue a correction in Monday's paper.

A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help with funeral costs for Brooklyn Harris. 



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