Milwaukee, WI – Several hundred people turned out for multiple rallies over the weekend of July 20. Hundreds rallied outside the federal courthouse downtown Milwaukee to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, Darius Simmons and others. The rally was one of about 100 across the country over the weekend that called for Attorney General Eric Holder to press federal charges against George Zimmerman.

Many speakers at the rally demanded justice for Darius Simmons, a 13-year-old Black child killed by his racist neighbor John Spooner. The family's pastor, Steve Jerbi of the All People's Church, championed popular movements in their work toward justice stating, “Justice began when the community rose up and said this verdict will not be accepted. Justice began when Father Groppi and the commandos crossed that bridge,” said Jerbi, in reference to the Milwaukee civil rights leader Father James Groppi.

On July 21, even the pouring rain couldn't stop a rally of 50 people from forming in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on King Dr. Community members spoke in an open forum for over an hour in the cold rain before marching on the Fifth District police station.

Community members filled the police station, demanding to talk to the station commander about the death of Derek Williams, who was killed by Fifth District police officers in 2011. Police initially refused to talk to the protesters, but after loud chants of “No justice, no peace!” erupted, officers were forced to deal with the protesters.

On July 22, John Spooner was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Darius Simmons' family will now pursue a civil case against Milwaukee Police for their inhumane treatment of the grieving family members.

#MilwaukeeWI #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem #DerekWilliams #DariusSimmons

Milwaukee, WI – The movement to win justice for Darius Simmons, Derek Williams, Corey Stingley, and Bo Morrison has received a boost from the national attention and outrage over the “not guilty” verdict for Zimmerman. Last week over 300 people shut down major streets in downtown Milwaukee. In similar cases over the last two years, community members led by the Occupy Coalition (Occupy the Hood Milwaukee and Occupy Milwaukee) repeatedly rallied for Derek Williams, Darius Simmons, and other local victims of racist police and vigilante murder.

The verdict in the case of Trayvon Martin’s murder hit home for many in Milwaukee who witness similar verdicts in the cases of friends, family, and neighbors. Fueled by outrage, many are putting their energy into revitalizing the local movement to demand justice for the victims of police and vigilante murder in the Milwaukee area. The movement is currently focused on four local cases, all Black men and boys ages 13 to 22 killed by white adults.

Justice for Darius Simmons

This week, John Spooner, the murderer of thirteen-year-old Darius Simmons, is on trial in Milwaukee. Wisconsinites witnessed the Milwaukee Police Department go to great lengths to protect Spooner after he murdered the child, just as Sanford police officials went to great lengths to assist Zimmerman. Instead of immediately arresting the murderer, Milwaukee Police arrested Simmons' brother at the scene of the crime, detained the dead child’s mother for three hours, and searched their family home. At the same time, MPD allowed Spooner to go into his home (part of the murder scene) and “retrieve belongings.” Notorious Southside alderman Bob Donovan even suggested to Spooner that he take matters into his own hands, hours before Spooner shot Simmons to death. “There are other ways to deal with situations,” said Donovan, “that police couldn’t solve.”

In the first half of Spooner’s trial, he was convicted of first-degree homicide. The trial now moves to the second phase, in which Spooner’s lawyers will try to prove an insanity defense. But one thing is for sure, the massive national movement for Trayvon Martin and local movements for similar cases have magnified Simmons’ case and put a watchful eye on the court as Spooner is tried.

Justice for Corey Stingley

The most recent case to come to light is the strangling of sixteen-year-old Corey Stingley at a liquor store in Milwaukee county. Three white men reportedly accused Stingley of theft, and attempted to conduct a citizen’s arrest. While the three grown men detained Stingley he was strangled to death. No charges were brought against any of the men involved in his death. Corey’s father, Craig Stingley, led the Occupy Coalition rally on Sunday, carrying a portrait of his son.

“There’s no reason that the men who killed my son should still be out on these streets, no reason period. But they are, and that’s because this system is broken,” said Craig Stingley in an interview with WISN news.

Justice for Derek Williams

For two years the Occupy Coalition has rallied tirelessly alongside friends and family of Derek Williams to demand justice. They have helped expose a cover-up of his death that leads all the way to the Police Chief’s desk, and beyond.

After community pressure, the autopsy records were revised to show Williams suffocated after Milwaukee Police broke his neck. Persistent, militant rallies for Derek Williams led to a federal inquest into his death. The jury in the inquest recommended homicide charges against the three white police who refused, against protocol, to help Williams while he suffocated in the back of their squad car. Incredibly, the judge disregarded the jury’s advice and allowed the officers to walk right back to duty on Milwaukee streets, with no punishment whatsoever. The inquest, won through community pressure, did not bring justice for Derek, but it did expose the racist and corrupt nature of the so-called justice system.

Systematic change

Persistent community mobilization aims a spotlight on the corrupt and deadly police misconduct in MPD, on their political supporters, the police and fire commission, the sheriff’s office, and even the mayor’s office. With every injustice exposed, more community members are joining the coalition.

The Occupy Coalition joins community leaders and family members to fight for justice in the courts, but it is also demanding systematic change. Activists blame racist discrimination and national oppression for many of the tragedies perpetrated against African-American youth by Milwaukee police and racist vigilantes. But they are also targeting the city’s elite power structure for encouraging and protecting those who commit such crimes. Occupy leaders are discussing continued actions addressing the ineffective Police and Fire Commission, but this weekend, they plan to take to the streets again.

More actions planned

Carrying over the momentum from last weekend, this weekend will have three separate events. On Saturday, July 20, the Occupy Coalition will participate in the 100 cities rally called for by Al Sharpton. The rally will be held at noon in front of the Federal Courthouse at 517 E Wisconsin Ave. Also on Saturday, the “Cop Watch” Program will meet at Urban Underground at 2pm, 4850 W Fond Du Lac Ave.

On Sunday, the Occupy Coalition will lead another mass march beginning at 6pm by the Martin Luther King Jr. statue on MLK Drive, near Vine Street.

#MilwaukeeWI #OppressedNationalities #AntiRacism #OccupyMilwaukee #OccupyTheHood #TrayvonMartin #GeorgeZimmerman #InjusticeSystem #DerekWilliams #OccupyCoalition #DariusSimmons #CoreyStingley

Milwaukee, WI – Community members rallied in memory of Derek Williams, who was killed in the custody of the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) on July 6, 2011, two years ago to the day. Militant protests against MPD brutality and corruption have been happening regularly for over a year, and protesters routinely take over major streets for hours on end. This time however, the police response was far more aggressive, resulting in a heated confrontation on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

“They're sending more Black people to jail in this zip code, 53206, than any other zip code in the country. One day we're gonna shut this Fifth district police station down and turn it into a holocaust museum,” said rally organizer Brian Verdin, over a chorus of honks from passing cars.

In response to mass protests calling for “Justice for Derek Williams,” both a state and federal inquest was won and resulted in a jury recommending charges against three white police officers for the death of Williams, who was Black, in the back of an MPD squad car. The state jury found the police guilty of disobeying MPD policy for treatment of a detainee, which allowed Williams to suffocate in the squad car, and recommended charges against all three officers. But judges in both cases disregarded the jury's opinion and allowed all three police to return to duty with back pay, outraging the community.

Outside the Fifth District Police Station, Derek Williams’ aunt aimed her megaphone at dozens of police and said, “I want everyone to know I'm not stopping at the fed's decision. I told Chief Flynn I’m not stopping! The tears we shed were real, and the pain we felt watching the autopsy over and over was real. I could see where they peeled back his skin and there were marks on his back from kneeling on him and breaking his neck. And they can’t charge these officers for killing my nephew!”

After confronting the police department, the rally then marched towards the site where Williams was killed several blocks away, immediately taking the street. Paddy wagons swarmed the group a few blocks later, first attempting to arrest the Black women leading the march. Protesters de-arrested several people in the scuffle that followed, and baton-wielding police reinforcements arrived and began to violently push protesters back as they filmed five protest leaders get arrested, including a relative of Derek Williams.

The protests continued outside the Fifth District Station until the arrested were released, where one protester remarked, “Five protesters were arrested for violations such as ‘standing in roadway,’ yet not a single police officer has been held responsible for breaking the neck of Derek Williams and refusing to help him while he begged for help for over ten minutes, handcuffed and suffocating in the back of an MPD squad car.”

As the final arrested protester was released, the protest continued undeterred to the site of the Derek Williams memorial, once again taking the streets in defiance. At the site of the memorial, community members came out to join a prayer circle. Activists and family members spoke, vowing to continue the struggle until justice is done.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #Racism #InjusticeSystem #DerekWilliams

Milwaukee, WI – Dozens of people took to the downtown streets here, March 29, in response to Special Prosecutor John Franke's decision to not seek any charges against the Milwaukee police officers who killed Derek Williams.

A jury inquest recently recommended a misdemeanor charge for the officers responsible for Willams’ death.

Protesters chanted, “What’s his name? Derek Williams!” and “No justice, no peace! Jail racist police!” while marching straight down Wisconsin Avenue to the police station to demand the removal of Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn. Locked out of the building, the protest went to City Hall and all throughout downtown.

At the end of the protest, Milwaukee police were seen arresting three protesters, including a woman who used her car to help escort the elderly in the protest.

Federal charges against the officers are still possible.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #MilwaukeePoliceDepartment #DerekWilliams

Milwaukee, WI – Occupy the Hood-Milwaukee has called for a protest on March 29 following the news that the three white Milwaukee police who killed Derek Williams – a Black man – will not face state criminal charges. Two federal investigations are still ongoing.

“Our government is involved in a conspiracy and cover-up regarding Derek Williams and we will not tolerate it. The people are calling for an arrest and justice to be served to the Milwaukee police department,” said Khalil Coleman of Occupy the Hood.

The protest will be Friday, March 29 at 3:00 p.m. on 16th and Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Share on: https://www.facebook.com/events/344434579006479/?notif_t=plan_edited

#MilwaukeeWI #InJusticeSystem #PoliceBrutality #Racism #OccupyTheHood #DerekWilliams

Williams was an African American youth who died while he was in Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) custody. Within the first three days of the trial, seven of the 20 MPD officers who were called to testify plead the Fifth. A few of those seven officers agreed to testify only after they were promised immunity. The arresting officer and two other officers were not offered immunity.

Members of Derek Williams' family and other witnesses from the Riverwest neighborhood where Williams was arrested testified as well. In many cases the testimony from community members and family members contradicted that of the officers.

Officers claimed that Williams stated that he couldn't breathe one time, but others stated that he pleaded with officers many times about his inability to breathe. Towards the end of the inquest, in a disappointing move, the prosecutor and judge decided that felony unintentional homicide charges would not be considered if the jury called for a criminal trial. In the end, the jury decided to recommend misdemeanor ‘Failure to Render Aide’ charges. It was clear by both testimony and the video tape of Derek Williams in the squad car that officers did not act soon enough when it was apparent that he was in distress.

The day after the inquest, Occupy Milwaukee and other community organizers released statements denouncing the court's decision to consider only misdemeanor charges while at the same time acknowledging that it was good thing that the jury decided to press charges at all.

Occupy Milwaukee demanded that the special prosecutor uphold the jury's decision and also demanded that a full investigation into MPD be launched, the officers be fired regardless of the outcome of the criminal trial and that MPD be subject to more citizen oversight from now on. There has been no final decision from the prosecutor on whether or not formal charges will be pressed against the cops who are liked to Williams’ death.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #OccupyMilwaukee #MilwaukeePoliceDepartment #DerekWilliams

Schoen was fired by Police Chief Flynn in 2011, after he was caught on a police squad camera beating Jeanine Tracy, who had been arrested and handcuffed.

The commission meeting opened with commissioners standing by their decision to re-instate Schoen, citing his ‘good’ prior record. The community was completely appalled by this decision. 15 individuals, including Jeanine Tracy, testified in the public comment session of the meeting. The testimonies included everything from poems and personal stories to powerful condemnations of the MPD and Chief Flynn.

Chief Flynn was present during the meeting. He remained silent and was often texting on his phone. The crowd occasionally broke into chants and some carried signs. As a result of the meeting, the Commission agreed to revisit the reinstatement of Schoen in the next Commission meeting.

“The decision of Commission to reconsider their decision shows the power of organizing and taking the struggle to the streets. The people were in complete control of the commission meeting. It was absolutely beautiful,” states community activist Peter Adamczak.

The next Police and Fire Commission meeting will take place this Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 8:30 a.m. at Milwaukee City Hall. The City Hall is located at 200 East Wells Street.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #DerekWilliams #PoliceChiefFlynn #MPDOfficerRichardSchoen

Milwaukee, WI – Over 150 people took the streets here, Oct. 13, demanding justice for Derek Williams, a young Black man killed by the Milwaukee Police Department.

Originally covered up as a case of sickle cell anemia, protests since then have exposed this as a racist case of police brutality and murder. Williams' death is now seen on camera. Widely circulated on YouTube, Williams, gasping for breath, pleaded for help in the back of a police car for over eight minutes before dying as a police officer is heard saying, “You're breathing just fine,” and “You're just playing games.”

The spirited march, led by Occupy the Hood, brought in many community organizations and lasted for miles, marching directly down Center Street and past the death site of Williams before going to the notorious Milwaukee Fifth District Police Station. Protesters blocked streets all around the police station while holding a speak-out and prayer.

The group demanded the firing of Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn. The group also demands a real Fire and Police Commission. The current commission, criticized by the NAACP as a “rubber stamp” for police decisions, watched the video of Williams’ death and determined the police didn't do anything wrong.

In addition to the Derek Williams cover-up, two officers involved in the killing have also been part of an investigation regarding illegal cavity searches in Milwaukee's Black community. These officers, Gregory Kuspa and Jeffrey Cline, have now been charged with felonies. In one instance, an officer held a gun to a man's head as two more held his arms and a third choked him while jamming a hand into his anus, supposedly searching for evidence.

Ruthie, a grandmother of Derek Williams, was at the demonstration. “The event today was about justice. Nobody deserves to die like that. This has been going on for years.”

Join the Facebook group and donate and learn more here. Stay tuned for the online petition and more upcoming events.

A Citizens’ Tribunal will take place Monday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 until 8:00 p.m. at the DNR Building, 2300 N. Martin Luther King Drive.

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #Racism #OccupyTheHood #MilwaukeePoliceDepartment #DerekWilliams

Milwaukee, WI – On Oct. 7, dozens of people came together to challenge Police Chief Flynn and the Milwaukee Police Department on the murder of 22-year old Derek Williams.

This event, as well as others, comes in the wake of the release of new autopsy and video evidence that led to a homicide investigation of Milwaukee Police's District Five. Milwaukee Chief of Police Edward Flynn responded to the investigation, saying police would not be prosecuted and the officers involved would likely not be fired for their involvement Williams’ killing.

Many of those present at the event were family of Williams. Levi Mcdonald, Williams’ cousin, said, “I'm here to challenge injustice in Milwaukee and across the country. Someone needs to be held responsible for the death of Derek Williams. You cannot have a homicide without someone being held accountable. We want the officers prosecuted, and for Chief Flynn to resign.”

“The police will continue to do whatever we allow them to do,” he added.

Taking the microphone, another relative, Michelle McDonald, holding back tears, said, “All we want is justice. We love Derek and miss him and know we'll get justice and peace as long as we keep working together.”

In a show of defiance, organizers marched into the streets for nearly 20 blocks despite not having a permit, as the police eventually gave way and cleared traffic for those attending. The march route concluded, in the street, at the location of a recent homicide shooting in the community on 9th and Arlington.

Students from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee came out in a showing of solidarity. Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organizer Tiffany Strong said, “I'm here to stand in solidarity with those who have been the subject of police repression and brutality in this city. We cannot ignore acts like this, and by building a united movement, we'll see justice served.”

#MilwaukeeWI #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PoliceBrutality #policeKilling #UniversityOfWisconsinMilwaukee #MilwaukeePoliceDepartment #DerekWilliams #PoliceChiefFlynn

Milwaukee, WI – 50 people chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Chief Flynn has got to go!” outside the Third District Police station on 49th Street and Lisbon in Milwaukee, Sept. 28, during rush hour. They were protesting the death of Derek Williams while in police custody .

Williams' death in July 2011 was originally ruled as due to natural causes. The medical examiner had to re-examine the case following an expose in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. After reviewing the video tapes from the police squad that show Williams begging for help as he suffocated over an eight minute period, the examiner changed his ruling to homicide. Since the tapes were made public, calls have grown for an independent investigation and for justice for Derek Williams. On Sept. 27, over 400 people gathered at the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters hall to console the Williams family and to call for justice.

At the Sept. 28 protest, Brian Verdin reiterated the demand for the resignation of Police Chief Flynn, District Attorney Chisholm and the police lieutenant (not named) who saw the tape last year and did nothing. A group of the protesters walked out into the traffic along the crosswalk on North Avenue with signs demanding justice for Derek Williams while others gathered in front of the police station or distributed leaflets about upcoming protests. After about two minutes they cleared the crosswalk and let the traffic pass. Many drivers honked in support. Channel 4 went live at 6:00 p.m. or so. Channel 12 followed the protesting crowd as it took a walk around several blocks of the neighborhood calling for the neighbors to join them. Channel 6 also covered the protest.

Occupy Milwaukee members joined the protesters, who ranged in age from 2 to 85 years. Lucille Berien,a long time activist, said that this case reminded her of other cases, like Ernest Lacey, who died in similar circumstances roughly 30 years ago. She added, “Things need to change.”

#MilwaukeeWI #PoliceBrutality #InjusticeSystem #DerekWilliams #PoliceChiefFlynn