Posted on 12/21/2014 6:14:35 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
“No justice, no peace, no racist police.”
That was one of the chants the crowd of about 50 protesters shouted Saturday outside Madison Memorial High School and in the food court of West Towne Mall. The protesters gathered around 3:30 p.m. and marched from the high school to the mall, shutting down one direction of traffic on Mineral Point Road, and held a “die-in” in the mall food court.
“We are here because there are many injustices in our system,” said Brandi Grayson, one of the organizers of the protest, in the mall food court, over a megaphone.
Grayson is part of the Young Gifted and Black Coalition, which organized the event. The coalition was also involved with the protest that drew about 250 people to downtown Madison last month.
A similar protest and die-in was held last week at UW-Madison.
The Madison protests are among many nationwide responding to grand jury decisions on the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Both Brown and Garner, African-American men, died at the hands of white police officers.
Saturday’s protest was also meant to draw attention to Dane County’s racial disparities, which have been brought to light by recent studies, including last year’s “Race to Equity” report, prepared by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families.
Members of the coalition say they have three demands: reallocating $8 million from the 2014 county budget intended to study jail alternatives, the immediate release of people incarcerated for crimes of poverty, and an end to solitary confinement. The Cap Times recently ran a story on the Dane County jail’s solitary confinement policies, which Sheriff Dave Mahoney called, “inhumane.”
“We live in the worst state in the United States for black men, women, and children to live in, and that, my people, is a problem,” Grayson said to the crowd of protesters on Saturday.
Organizers also intended to draw attention to low-wage jobs and discriminatory hiring practices at the mall. They handed out a list of mall vendors that have UNICOR contracts (contracts to buy products manufactured in prisons), documented low wages and no full-time benefits, and companies with noted discriminatory hiring policies and labor practices.
As the protesters walked through the mall on one of the busiest shopping days of the season, carrying two white banners – each needing about 10 people to support its full length – and protest signs, they drew raised eyebrows and stony faces from some shoppers.
As they chanted, “No justice, no peace, no racist police” and “We must love and protect one another, we have nothing to lose but our chains,” they got a few rhythmic nods and fist pumps from onlookers, who consistently swelled into crowds around the group. Many were shooting cell phone videos and taking pictures.
“I think it’s pretty smart for them to come to the mall,” said Akayja Retelle, 18, who was sitting in the food court during the protest. “It’s giving people a bigger picture of what’s going on in the world.”
Jack Opel, also watching from the sidelines in the food court as protesters staged their “die-in,” agreed.
“It’s just striking,” he said, commenting on how accepting mall customers were of the protest. “People know this [issue] isn’t just something people made up. It seems authentic.”
Protesters staged their “die-in” by laying on the floor of the food court, blocking many of the vendors, for about 15 minutes.
Grayson said she got a few negative comments from shoppers, and there were surly faces around, but the protest was peaceful.
Police Chief Mike Koval said protesters have been “very transparent in telling us what they hope to do, what they hope to accomplish, in order for us to be able to facilitate their march and their rally.”
Koval said he had about 20 officers present, even though there were only about 50 protesters.
“We’d rather be overprepared than underprepared,” Koval said.
Grayson said the Young Gifted and Black Coalition plans to have a “weekly action,” but there are no definite plans for more protests in Madison.
NYPD lives matter
Will Sharpton go there and inspire them to kill the police? Al loves spreading terrorism
‘The People’s Republik of Madistan’ could only rouse 50 from their slumber?
My, how far the mighty Socialists have fallen! Back in MY day, they’d have blown up the Mall in protest!
Wimps. ;)
Someone needs to beat the piss out of these people.
Young and Gifted my ass:
> Members of the coalition say they have three demands: reallocating $8 million from the 2014 county budget intended to study jail alternatives, the immediate release of people incarcerated for crimes of poverty, and an end to solitary confinement.
But racist blacks are more than acceptable.
So are "reverse-racist", libtard whites (who apparently hate their own race)
OK. I think I got it. Now I understand.
The kids hanging out at West Towne Mall are from a very affluent part of town, black kids included.
This is probably the FIRST time they’ve EVER witnessed proof that the World isn’t revolving around THEM, LOL!
They could die in for the cops.
Don’t their lives matter?
We need to start pretending we can’t see these people and walk on them. Lay down in a crowded mall at Christmas? you’re gonna have footprints all over your sorry ass.
CC
They’ll get their “die-in,” but it won’t be the one they have in mind.
“Brandi”
snort
I am VERY familiar with the West Towne Mall. A Die-In in the Food Court will provide minimal disruption.
First, the court is pretty much set off from the main thoroughfares of the mall.
Second, most of the people who actually eat in the food court are teenager types who like mall style fast food and are willing to pay a premium for it. Gammon Road is loaded with restaurants of every type and price range, and the grounds of the mall have some of the old standbys (e.g. Chilis and Olive Garden. Grownups go there, or maybe one of those fake dining pubs on Mineral Point Road. I recommend the Indian Buffet on Odana, or Harold’s Chicken Shack near the Woodman’s.
Third, this is a larger than average food court. Fifty people play-acting in Madison loses its dramatic effect on such a large, winding stage, so they are likely to concentrate it for the newspaper photos and the iPhone shots. The kids there getting an Orange Julius will be unmoved.
Fourth, no creativity, as few make the connection between a garden variety upscale shopping mall and the injudicious use of police force in Missouri and New York City. They’re supposed to save that for the $15/hour wage or a general attack on free market economics.
“Race to Equity” ahahahaha
dont we have...a “Black” President???
these people are NUMBSKULLS!
Very glad my days of hanging out at the mall are long gone.
What these people don’t seem to understand is the cops are not racist. They kill more innocent white people than black.
Their just “jack boots”.
>>the immediate release of people incarcerated for crimes of poverty,
I’ve been poor. Didn’t commit any crimes of poverty, or any other crimes for that matter.
2 dead police. No justice, no peace officers.
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