After many days of peaceful protest and public appeals by the family of Tony Robinson to keep demonstrations nonviolent, tension ran high in the City County Building Tuesday night as community members shouted and cried for swift change to the city’s policing.
Members of Madison’s Common Council heard testimonies stacked one after the other during the time allotted for public comment. Speakers included those from the Young, Gifted and Black Coalition, members of city committees and even teenagers who showed their fear of law enforcement after hearing of their peer’s death.
Brandi Grayson, lead organizer and co-founder of Madison’s YGB, decried Madison’s image as liberal or progressive, calling attention to the difference between intent and impact in regard to racial disparities.
This theme carried throughout the night, with testimony from differing demographics all pointing to the same conclusion—that Madison is one of the worst cities in the country when it comes to racial inequities in law enforcement, incarceration and many other areas, as outlined in 2013’s Race to Equity report for Dane County.
Eric Upchurch, one of several leaders of YGB, hoped the council would see Tony Robinson’s shooting as an effect of Madison’s lack of involvement with changing policies in regard to the aforementioned problems.
“It is a symptom of an underlying cause, a very deep and ugly underlying cause,” Upchurch said. “The fact remains that an unarmed boy was shot a number of times, and I cannot see any reason other than the deep-seated racism that permeates our system, that permeates our policies and that permeates the implementation of those policies.”
With many comments directed solely at Madison Police Department Chief Mike Koval, who sat stoically throughout the night, protesters drew some criticism for negative words aimed at Madison’s law enforcement.
A regular Common Council attendee, Rosemary Lee, opened public comment with dissenting remarks for the protesters who, by her account, have disrespected MPD.
“I am … very disgusted at all the allegations, innuendos and second-guessing [by Madison citizens] of the events of that tragic killing,” Lee said. “I think every one of us should shut our mouths about [Tony Robinson’s death] … Let’s leave it to the experts.”
But speakers disregarded Lee’s comments, promising a very strong push by disparaged community members to local government for change. Upchurch urged the Council and all other city committees to take up the issue and review police policy.
“I pray to God that none of you sleep at all until you actively address and see the results in that addressing of these racial disparities,” Upchurch said.
Grayson made sure her thoughts on the slow-moving politics of the matter were heard throughout the night, cheering for her peers and leaving the Council meeting on a note that did not convey complacency.
“We’ll see how long it stays peaceful,” Grayson said as she left.
