Oshkosh, WI – 30 concerned community and family members gathered to call for justice for Isaiah Tucker, who was shot and killed by Oshkosh police officer Aaron Achterberg on July 31, 2017. The protest marked the four-year anniversary of his murder. No charges were ever filed in Isaiah’s case. The police department investigated themselves with other officers and determined that all instances of violence towards Tucker were justified.

This annual event was organized by United Action Oshkosh (UAO) and the Wisconsin Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression along with the Tucker family to publicly address ongoing concerns of wrongdoing by the hands of police.

After a full program of speakers and chants, there was a call to action to collectively file a mass complaint on behalf of Tucker and those who cared about him. For seven days, the public around the country is being rallied to call, email and continuously bring attention to this murder case with the demands that the officers involved be severely disciplined or fired for the intimidating and erroneous misconduct before, during, and after Tucker was killed. The event organizers are also demanding the implementation of a civilian-led Police Accountability Council (CPAC).

The seven days of action represent the seven-plus minutes Isaiah was stripped of all his clothes and pinned down by officers after he was found critically injured in the shed in which he was hiding.

Anyone who is interested in participating in this series of actions should do any one of the following and demand justice, transparency and accountability: Email Bob Vajgrt, the president of the Oshkosh Police and Fire Commission (PFC), at bobvajgrt1941@gmail.com; call the secretary of the PFC at 920-236-5110; or call the Oshkosh Police Department at 920-236-5700.

For a call or email script, any other information people may want about Isaiah’s murder or how they can help, or how to get involved with United Action Oshkosh or the Wisconsin Alliance, interested persons should visit their social media pages on Facebook or Instagram.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #UnitedActionOshkosh #IsaiahTucker #WisconsinAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression

Oshkosh, WI – Over a dozen protesters from many parts of eastern Wisconsin answered a call put out by United Action Oshkosh (UAO). People rallied on October 24 to demand justice for Isaiah Tucker and community control of the police.

Community members participated in a motorcade through an area of Oshkosh that typically does not see protests outside the standard political campaign yard signs. The area of town chosen to meet up was picked specifically to help bring confidence to the Black and brown residents who lived in that area.

Despite local COVID-19 cases spiking, making the northeastern part of Wisconsin a ‘hotspot’ and one of the worst places on the planet for new cases, people lined up in their cars decorated with signs and their megaphones in tow ready to make some noise. Safety was a number one factor for local organizers as they completely understand the dangers COVID-19 presents to their most vulnerable neighbors.

“We encourage social distancing and mask wearing. We have extra masks for people who do not have them and hand sanitizer for everyone. We ask that people who are not feeling well stay at home,” said Abby Ringel, of the Wisconsin Women’s Equity Coalition and a participant in the action. “We typically also have a few vehicles that travel with us and people that aren’t comfortable marching in the large group are encouraged to caravan with us.”

Staying in cars created barriers between others as well as the community members that either followed along or cheered them on.

Aside from demanding police accountability, local grassroots groups like Food Not Bombs and the Wisconsin Women’s Equity Coalition believe that working together directly in their actions while serving their communities is crucial.

“It is important for us to show solidarity with other communities because this is one fight. The problem is systemic and without widespread action, there will be no systemic change. It is important that we band together to have the greatest effect,” continued Ringel.

#OshkoshWI #PeoplesStruggles #PoliceBrutality #IsaiahTucker #CommunityControlOfThePolice

Oshkosh, WI – On the evening of August 1, encroaching thunderstorms couldn't dampen the passion of protesters as community activists, led by the group United Action Oshkosh (UAO), as they joined friends and family of Isaiah Tucker, a Black man shot and killed by Oshkosh police. The protest marched to the police station, almost a year after Isaiah’s murder, to demand justice.

Isaiah was killed by officer Aaron Achterberg and his accomplice officer Kyle Roberts as he tried to flee in a car. The cops fired 11 times into the vehicle as he drove away. The officers initially said he had tried to hit them, but once body camera footage was released the story was changed to them “feeling threatened.” The state justice department found the officers to be justified in their use of deadly force and they were reinstated without punishment.

Protesters carried signs with the names and faces of Black and brown people murdered by police since the death of Isaiah Tucker, calling out chants for the end of police brutality and racist discrimination.

At the station, the stories of the men and women killed were told by UAO member Lindsey Spietz, with their names then recited by the marchers. A brief moment of silence honoring them followed each name.

The march then circled back to its starting point where a few participants in the demonstration spoke.

Ryan Hamann of UAO told a story that occurred in 2018 where a white woman fled Oshkosh police in a vehicle and actually struck and dragged officers without lethal force being used against her. Mention was in made in his comments about the connections between police occupation of communities at home and military occupation of whole countries abroad. “Police kill Black and brown people here at home,” he said. “The military kill Black and brown people all over the world.”

Hamann then laid out what justice for Isaiah Tucker should look like, calling for the immediate termination of officers Achterberg and Roberts and the creation of an Oshkosh Police Accountability Council (OPAC), similar to what cities like Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago are fighting for.

The event ended with a powerful, emotional speech by Cassandra Tucker, Isaiah’s mother. She spoke of the callous way OPD kept her in the dark, of her sense of loss, her anger and despair, and her desire to see justice for her son. She joined in the call for the officers involved to be fired and for the formation of an Oshkosh Police Accountability Council.

“A significant impact of today for me was verbalizing the emotional loss and pain of one left behind after the death of a child to police violence,” she said. “No one wins in the aftermath of these crimes. The thing that brought peace to my soul was seeing people of all races, faith, and creeds standing together to demand change for a broken system.”

Before the protest, the OPD released this cold, tone-deaf statement: “The death of Isaiah Tucker has impacted our community. The Oshkosh Police Department wishes to continue to offer our sympathies to his family as they grieve their loss.”

This demonstration marks the beginning of the fight for community control of the police in Oshkosh. The struggle for justice for Isaiah and the family he left behind continues.

#OshkoshWI #PoliceBrutality #opac #IsaiahTucker #UnitedActionOshkoshUAO