Activists took to the streets Friday and caused a three-mile traffic jam which led to 74 arrests. They were protesting the April shooting of — you guessed it — a black man by a white police officer.
A single officer shot Dontre Hamilton 14 times after confronting the homeless man in Red Arrow Park on April 30. Police responded to a call placed by employees of a nearby Starbucks complaining that Hamilton was sleeping in the park.
In an initial visit, officers determined Hamilton was doing “nothing wrong.” However, Officer Christopher Manney was apparently unaware of that assessment when he responded to the call. Manny tried to pat down Hamilton, who resisted, and a scuffle ensued during which Manney repeatedly shot him.
Earlier this month, Hamilton’s family released the autopsy report that showed several bullets had hit Hamilton in a downward direction and at least one bullet hit Hamilton in the back. It also showed that Hamilton did not have drugs in his system at the time.
The local division of criminal investigation completed a report on the incident and gave it to Milwaukee County District Attorney, John Chisholm, three months after the shooting but Chisholm never acted on it.
As a result, local residents have been protesting against the seven months of inaction which lead to the arrests Friday.
