Via WISN in Milwaukee:
Protesters are interrupting the city/county tree lighting ceremony.
They are calling for justice in the death of Dontre Hamilton at Red Arrow Park.
Dontre Hamilton was shot and killed in the park by a Milwaukee police officer in April of last year. The officer was never charged.
According to official accounts, Hamilton had taken Officer Christopher Manney’s baton and started beating him with it until the cop opened fire on him.
Originally, the Hamilton family announced they would be at the holiday tree-lighting ceremony to hold a vigil for Dontre Hamilton. Unsurprisingly, the situation escalated. Five people, including Dontre Hamilton’s brother Nate–who has been the face of the local anti-police protests over the last year-and-a-half–have been arrested for disorderly conduct. Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County Supervisor Chris Abele were in attendance to throw on the light switch, which took place just a few minutes ago.
Reporter Ashley Sears, who was there to cover the ceremony, tweeted her account of the disruption:
Protesters next to kids performing @ Red Arrow park for tree lighting. #mke @fox6now pic.twitter.com/tl9q6VSLo1
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
Group chants "Dontre Hamilton" while kids' choir sings Christmas songs. #DontreHamilton @fox6now pic.twitter.com/CRLsbQPSTq
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
Police stand in the middle of protesters. @fox6now pic.twitter.com/48oXhzgcMW
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
Disgraceful. At least some in attendance did their best to curtail the disruptors.
Parents try drowning out protester chants with loud applause for kids singing. @fox6now #mke pic.twitter.com/qijmw4hnMU
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
Nate Hamilton and another arrested at tree lighting in Red Arrow @fox6now pic.twitter.com/XBQs5wzAzz
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
Yet the protests continued. Law enforcement stepped in to block the protesters, and Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn arrived at the scene.
Milwaukee Police stand in front of the stage. @fox6now pic.twitter.com/6zqUAGrzO3
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
The chants have stopped for now. Others hold signs. @fox6now pic.twitter.com/wOq1JqzblW
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
Things appear to have calmed down for the moment.
Or have they? Just as they did when they protested outside the GOP debate at the Milwaukee Theater last week, the demonstrators stomped on the American flag.
Woman confronts protester for standing on the flag. @fox6now #mke pic.twitter.com/ZH44BTrcSR
— Ashley Sears (@AshleySears6) November 19, 2015
By the way, that’s Governor Walker’s opponent in the last election, Mayor Barrett, speaking in the background and attempting to keep the audience distracted.
Flynn spoke to the press a short time ago and told them that the protesters had no permit for their demonstration nor for their loudspeakers. The police called it a “fear-inducing” situation for the children that were in attendance.
In their quest for social justice, it’s gotten to the point where some won’t allow the public to enjoy a traditionally happy family event. This is why we can’t have nice things.
Update, 6:20pm CT: It seems that the ceremony has ended without much further incident. More details to come if deemed necessary.
