A protest encampment that blocked off a Madison intersection for nearly two weeks was cleared for traffic on Tuesday, but the protest surrounding the death of Corey Ruiz continues.
THe encampment began as a memorial for Ruiz, who was shot and killed by Madison police at the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin streets.
Bianca Martin, the host of City Cast Madison shared with WTMJ’s Point Taken that protesters’ demands have been difficult to define because several groups were involved. Martin explained that because Ruiz was an unhoused person, “his community included lots of unhoused people.”
Mutual aid organizations were on-site providing services to community members, while protesters were on site with demands to “arrest the cop.”
Martin said traffic was moving near the intersection on Wednesday morning, though several police officers remained in the area.
“I went out around midnight after a late dinner and there was lots of smoke and riot police officers and riot gear and protesters who were like, ‘we’re not leaving the space,” Martin said. “Right now we’re back to business. There’s some normalcy.”
