Hamilton family supporters gather at Red Arrow Park, march on city streets

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Dozens of supporters of the Dontre Hamilton family rallied at Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park on Friday afternoon, January 2nd.

The rally began around 2:30 p.m. -- and was set to kick off a march to the Federal Courthouse where Rev. Jesse Jackson would speak about the Hamilton case. The march began just before 3 p.m.

Reverend Jesse Jackson hopes to bring more attention to the death of Dontre Hamilton.

31-year-old Hamilton was shot and killed by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney on April 30th. Last week, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced Manney won’t face criminal charges in connection with Hamilton’s death.

Manney has been fired, but Jackson is seeking to get charges against the former officer.

The protesters took to Red Arrow Park with a palpable energy, it seems they're optimistic about the future.

Skaters at the park were rocked with chants and a mass of protesters wanting their voices to be heard. It's the attention locally and now nationally that supporters of Dontre Hamilton want.

"The more attention that comes to the fight, the bigger the opportunity that brings light to the issue and hopefully ultimately get charges pressed against this officer in this case and the city of Milwaukee police department," said Curtis Sails, Co-chairman for Coalition for Justice.

As they stood in solidarity, about 100 people rallied for justice for Dontre Hamilton prior to a press conference from Reverend Jesse Jackson.

"Looking forward to a new year and a new opportunity to fight for justice and justice in our city," said Sails.

The fury over the District Attorney's decision continues to fester, but with Reverend Jackson's recent involvement, a federal review is now underway -- an attitude of optimism was present.

"Our city, our state has not been effectively doing its job when it comes to investigating police forces, their patterns, and their practices and now we are taking it to a federal level and that's what we are doing today to bring attention to it," said Sails.

So the protesters took to the streets marching for Hamilton and issues that go beyond.

Supporters are hoping that if they get justice for Dontre, there could be the opportunity to re-open some of the other cases that they feel the District Attorney has gotten wrong, such as Corey Stingley and Darius Simmons.

"Those issues are not just the injustice but the economic injustice, the wage injustice, so many injustices that put us in the position to have to fight. But we have to fight collectively," said Nate Hamilton, Dontre Hamilton's brother.

The group of protesters plan to discuss their next plan of action after the march.

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