MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A police raid in Wisconsin’s progressive capital this week put a spotlight on lingering and deep racial divisions, prompting cancellations and other changes to popular summer events as protesters said they were determined to keep up public pressure for change in Madison.
Corey Ruiz, who identifies as black or Latino in Wisconsin court filings, was shot and killed by a Madison police officer Wednesday after a brief standoff at an intersection in the city’s most liberal neighborhood, yards from a popular 52-year-old grocery co-op.
It’s the third time since 2012 that Madison police have shot and killed someone in the same neighborhood. The shooting has sparked renewed calls for police reform and forced the city to once again reckon with calls from the black community to address issues of racial justice.
Pressure from protesters, and sympathy for their cause, has also led to the cancellation or disruption of many of Madison’s signature summer events.
“Our community has spoken loud and clear: this is NOT business as usual,” black activist Clyde Mayberry posted on Facebook Friday amid a series of cancellations. “Your decisions have helped this city continue to acknowledge pain, loss and call for accountability.”
Protesters took to the streets hours after the shooting, disrupting a popular Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra outdoor concert at the state Capitol that draws about 30,000 each week during the summer.
The scene captures a familiar divide in Madison, a city that is more diverse than the state overall, but still 70% white.
The protesters, many of whom were black, stood over white concertgoers seated at tables near the stage that cost up to $1,800 a night to rent.
The concert organizers canceled the event.
Threats of a protest Thursday prompted the city to postpone the grand opening of a new public market just blocks from where the shooting occurred. A popular neighborhood festival near the shooting called AtwoodFest, scheduled to begin Saturday, was also canceled in the face of possible protests.
“Our community and our Marquette neighbors witnessed another horrific officer-involved shooting just blocks from our festival grounds, leaving us in deep pain and justified anger,” festival organizers wrote. “In recognition of what has happened all too often in our community and our country as a whole, this year’s Heartbeat of the Neighborhood AtwoodFest has been canceled.”
And on Saturday, the popular downtown farmers market that draws about 20,000 people each week around the Capitol building closed nearly four hours earlier than usual in solidarity with the protesters.
“We mourn with our community,” market organizers posted on social media. “And we agree – business cannot continue as usual.”
A handful of protesters showed up at the Capitol as vendors were breaking into their booths around 10 a.m.
“No one should think that this is just another Saturday,” said Reba Bergmann, who sat with Lilly Nimmer holding a sign that read “Justice for Corey.”
“It’s not that normal life,” Nimmer said. “We have to be crazier. We have to stand up for what we believe in.”
Charles Ault, 30, supported the decision to close early.
“It’s important to keep the focus on the real tragedy, which is that someone was killed,” said Ault, who was shopping at the market. “To miss some time in the market, it’s sad, but that’s not what’s important.”
But Rodney Hathaway, who was visiting Madison from Milwaukee, was caught off guard by the market’s early closing.
“It’s funny,” he said. “This is people’s way of life. It’s just unfortunate. We have such a short summer season for these people to sell their wares.”
The investigation into the shooting continues. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Ruiz family, said Friday at a news conference at the Capitol that the officer who fired the shots should face criminal charges.
Madison Police Chief John Patterson, who is white, has tried to calm tensions, even allowing protesters to march past a news conference he was holding with the mayor inside police department headquarters on Thursday.
Patterson took questions from angry protesters, one of whom held a sign just feet from the chief that said “corrupt cops deserve to die too.” After a protester insulted Patterson, the chief calmly replied, “I appreciate you being here.” By SCOTT BAUER Associated Press
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