Questions Over deadly Police Shooting Spark Protest and Finger Pointing
Posted: Sep 26, 2014 1:45 AM CDT | Updated: Nov 5, 2014 3:51 PM CDT
Milwaukee-- Questions tonight after last night's protest in memory of Dontre Hamilton, the man who was fatally shot by police back in April.
Those questions pertain to the Milwaukee Police, and the chief's choice of not making any arrests, despite a three hour protest which caused headaches and some scares for commuters after they blocked traffic on city streets.
A couple dozen or so protester's started the march at red Arrow park, the same place Hamilton was shot to death at least 14 times by a Milwaukee police officer.
The march was in response to the investigation into the shooting death, and what some say has become a drawn out process.
The marchers made their way down Water street and eventually to the I-794 off-ramp, where the protesters were met by deputies from the Milwaukee Sheriff's Department. After threat of arrest if they did not turn back, the marchers turned back.
Sheriff David Clarke said at a Thursday afternoon press conference that \"All kinds of bad things could have happened,\" and that arrests were justified well before they made it to his jurisdiction, especially since the situation had turned volatile when at least one driver exited his vehicle out of rage for being blocked by protesters.
However, Chief Edward Flynn defends his decision to abstain from making arrests, saying that there is a certain element, \"with cameras'\" that were waiting for a confrontation.
But many, including common council president Michael Murphy says that despite feeling the Hamilton family pain, the protesters should have been arrested.
Alderman Bob Donovan wrote in a press release:\"That's infringing on hundreds if not thousands of other people's rights. What about them?\"
Meantime, the Hamilton family attorney, Jonathan Safran said that the family had spoken to the coalition behind the movement, about being more focused on decision makers like the Fire and Police Commission, the Police Department...and the District Attorney's Office in an effort to win the public support...instead of alienating it. Adding that \"They don't want to be affecting other people, they don't think others should be provided with any disrespect like the Hamilton family feels they have.\"
Alderman Russell Stamper says he's sensitive to the issue on both sides...but
thinks arrests \"would have been inappropriate considering the situation.\"
Meantime, the Hamilton family says they plan more events in the coming days. An effort to have a five month long investigation come to a conclusion, and for the public release of the name of the officer who shot Hamilton.