During a trying time of dealing with the death of a loved one, Tony Robinson’s family held their tears just long enough to thank the community Monday for continued support in the face of tragedy.
Robinson’s family showed gratitude for Madison’s widespread support but issued a plea for truth-seeking to clear what Robinson’s uncle Turin Carter called “negative air.”
Members of the Madison community have unified in peaceful protest since Friday, when 19-year-old Madison resident Tony Robinson was shot by Madison Police Department officer Matt Kenny following an altercation.
Demonstrations were organized that night and throughout the weekend. Carter thanked protesters for not judging his nephew on circulating rumors and encouraged all people, regardless of race, to show their support.
With media focusing on Robinson’s death and past, Carter addressed several rumors and ultimately said Robinson was not perfect, but they accepted him for who he was.
“Terrell [Tony] just wanted to be loved, honestly,” Carter said. “We don’t think Terrell’s a saint, we paint him as a human being, a 19 year old, who made a terrible mistake at one point, which is completely, completely disassociated from this act.”
He was referencing Robinson’s 2014 armed robbery conviction, to which he pleaded guilty, according to court records.
Carter spoke of Friday’s events as an example of a nationwide problem with law enforcement as a whole, not just with individual officers. He encouraged the community to get involved with the issue because “everyone should be able to relate” to it.
“This is a bigger issue than Tony,” Carter said. “This highlights a universal problem with law enforcement and how its procedures have been carried out … and specifically how it relates to the systematic targeting of young black males.”
Carter said he would like to see police enact policies requiring body cameras and tasers in the interest of having evidence of police activity and reducing the escalation of violence.
He pointed specifically to his nephew’s death and the alleged five shots fired that night, although MPD Police Chief Michael Koval could only confirm that more than one shot was fired.
“It takes one bullet from a trained gunman to take a life,” Carter said. “One bullet. And we know how many were fired.”
Carter said Robinson is now a champion for the community’s progress and hopes to incite an in-depth look at these and other issues with the justice system.
“Fellow Madisonians, our hands are stained with the blood of my nephew and we are all left to deal with the aftermath,” Carter said.
