Speaking through silence: Dontre Hamilton supporters take different approach at City Hall
Speaking through silence: Dontre Hamilton supporters take different approach at City Hall
Speaking through silence: Dontre Hamilton supporters take different approach at City Hall
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Dontre Hamilton supporters met Thursday, January 22nd in Red Arrow Park, and then marched to the Fire and Police Commission meeting. They are demanding the Commission uphold Christopher Manney's termination. Manney was fired from the Milwaukee Police Department for his handling of Hamilton on April 30th, 2014, when Hamilton was shot and killed by Manney in Red Arrow Park. This time, Dontre Hamilton supporters took a different approach to getting their message across.
They've been demonstrating since the shooting in support of Dontre Hamilton's family. Some of those demonstrations have resulted in arrests.
Thursday, before the Fire and Police Commission, Hamilton supporters dedicated their time to Dontre. In a kind of demonstration we haven't yet seen, seven people went before the Commission -- standing silently for two minutes. The time symbolic with the 14 shots that killed Dontre Hamilton.
"These two minutes are for Dontre Hamilton," a supporter said at the meeting.
"Within that 14 minutes, they had a lot to think about. They had a lot to see," Dontre's brother Nate Hamilton said.
Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced in December Christopher Manney won’t face criminal charges in connection with Dontre Hamilton’s death.
Manney has been terminated from the Milwaukee Police Department for his handling of Dontre Hamilton — a termination he is appealing with the Fire and Police Commission. Hamilton supporters are encouraging the Commission to uphold that firing. The Fire and Police Commission will hear the appeal in February. Chief Flynn is expected to give testimony at that hearing.
Dontre Hamilton's family members did use their voices during Thursday's meeting.
"You all let Chris Manney kill Dontre. May God have mercy on all of you all. Dontre's blood is on this city's hands. I grieve no more," Dontre's mother, Maria Hamilton said.
"We are determined to stand to fight, and hold ourselves accountable for things we do in our community and we expect the same from our public officials," Nate Hamilton said.
The United States Attorney has announced the United States Department of Justice will undertake a federal review of this case to determine if, under federal civil rights law, there is a basis, both legal and factual, upon which a federal civil rights prosecution may be premised. This review will be conducted by the FBI, the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Civil Rights Division.
One of the family’s attorneys says they’ve had several discussions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and they believe that a federal investigation will prove their case and they hope to see charges.
Hamilton’s family attorney says a civil lawsuit is also currently in the works. Additionally, they are seeking a federal investigation into the patterns and practices of the Milwaukee Police Department.
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