"We see this injustice happening all over:" Hundreds rally in Madison in support of Tony Robinson
MADISON (WITI) -- Hundreds filled Madison streets on Wednesday, March 11th in support of 19-year-old Tony Robinson -- the man shot and killed by Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny last Friday, March 6th. This, as another group rallied in support of Officer Kenny and other law enforcement officials.
Tony Robinson
Wednesday's demonstrations came on a "National Day of Action" in Madison. Protesters were expected to converge on Madison to demand fully-funded public schools, a living wage for every Wisconsin worker, and systemic change so that communities of color can live free of mass incarceration and violence against minorities involving police officers. This was also a demonstration against Governor Scott Walker's proposed budget.
"We want to talk about the solutions so we can start to build a better community," Jennifer Epps-Addison with Wisconsin Jobs Now said.
Twenty-eight states were expected to take part in "National Day of Action" events.
Members of Wisconsin Jobs Now, Young, Gifted, and Black, Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH), 9to5 Wisconsin, Concerned Citizens of Wausau, SEIU Local 1, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 998, Ferguson to Madison, AFSCME DC-48, United Wisconsin, the African-American Roundtable, the International Socialist Organization and the Teaching Assistants’ Association (TAA) were expected to take part in "National Day of Action" events in Madison Wednesday.
The Coalition for Justice, which has organized demonstrations in support of Dontre Hamilton and his family in Milwaukee was also in attendance. 31-year-old Hamilton was shot and killed by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney in Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee in April 2014.
"It's another family that's hurting. They lost somebody that they shouldn't have lost," Hamilton's brother, Nate Hamilton said in Madison Wednesday.
"Enough people showed up today to let the system know that we're tired," Hamilton's mother, Maria Hamilton said.
"We shouldn't be here," Nate Hamilton said.
"We want justice. We want the people who killed our children to go to jail," Maria Hamilton said.
Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny
Tony Robinson died Friday night in a confrontation with Officer Kenny -- who was answering a call about a man jumping in and out of traffic. Police say the officer forced his way into Robinson's apartment upon hearing a disturbance and once inside was assaulted and injured by Robinson.
Robinson had a criminal history. Wisconsin Circuit Court documents indicate Robinson pleaded guilty in December to an armed robbery that occurred last April.
Tony Robinson's name echoed in Worthington Park in Madison Wednesday afternoon as organizers say at least 2,000 showed up in support.
"Tony Robinson was shot. He was shot five times by a police officer and that reminded me of the situation where Dontre Hamilton was shot 14 times by a police officer in Milwaukee. We see this injustice happening all over our cities -- all over our nation," Coalition for Justice co-founder Curtis Sails said.
The incident last Friday began when authorities got a call that a male was yelling and jumping in front of cars, Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said.
A little later, the dispatcher says, “Apparently Tony hit one of his friends. No weapons seen.”Dispatchers identified him as Tony Robinson, according to 911 audio obtained by WKOW.
About four minutes later, the dispatcher says, “I got another call for the same suspect at . He tried to strangle another patron.”
About 30 seconds later, an unidentified officer says, “Shots fired, shots fired.”
When Officer Matt Kenny went to the apartment, he heard some commotion and forced his way in, Koval said.
“Once inside the home the subject involved in this incident — the same one allegedly out in traffic and that had battered someone — assaulted my officer,” Koval said.
Koval says Robinson attacked Officer Kenny.
After that, according to the chief, “The officer did draw his revolver and subsequently shot the subject.”
This officer-involved shooting has made Madison the latest epicenter of protests.
Tony Robinson's mother addressed the crowd of people assembled in support of her son Wednesday -- calling for justice for her son.
"Thank you so much for what you are doing. You are making my heart feel so much better in the fact that I lost my baby," Andrea Irwin said.
Tony Robinson's mom Andrea Irwin addresses the crowd in Madison
At Wednesday's rally, it was announced funeral services for Tony Robinson will take place this Saturday, March 14th at East High School on East Washington Avenue in Madison.
A visitation is scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and a service will begin at 4:00 p.m.
From Worthington Park, the group made its way to the Department of Corrections, where they chanted "Justice Now." Some stopped traffic in front of the DOC.
The group then marched down E. Washington Avenue -- making its way to a Burger King restaurant, where they said they were protesting against unfair wages.
Protesters at Burger King in Madison
Demonstrators then headed towards the Governor's mansion.
Madison Police Chief Mike Koval attended this rally and a rally in support of law enforcement Wednesday.
"Obviously our community is torn in half and everybody's grief-stricken. There's disappointment, there's outrage, there's resentment," Chief Koval said.
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