Blog recap: Protest updates from Milwaukee, Madison for Tuesday, June 2
Journal Sentinel reporters are reporting on events and protests in Milwaukee and around Wisconsin related to the death of George Floyd and other instances of police brutality.
We'll be updating this story throughout the day.
1:20 a.m.: Police provide photos of Molotov cocktail, which did not ignite when thrown
Milwaukee police said the Molotov cocktail thrown at officers during a confrontation with protesters did not ignite.
The police department faced skepticism Tuesday evening after a spokeswoman released a statement saying Molotov cocktails were thrown, though reporters at the scene of the day’s most violent faceoff between police and protesters did not see any.
According to police, a person threw the device at uniformed officers at 8:08 p.m. at the intersection of North 6th Street and West McKinley Avenue. Police say people also threw rocks and glass at officers, who fired gas and rubber bullets at protesters and ordered them to disperse.
Police asked anyone with information about the incident to call Milwaukee Police at 414-935-7360 or Milwaukee Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.
1:03 a.m. A quiet night in Madison after a fourth day of protests
Downtown Madison saw its first quiet night Tuesday after a fourth day of protests, these in both intense heat and fierce thunderstorms.
At midnight, organizers announced the end of the protest, and participants dispersed with little fuss — a stark contrast to the past three nights, when mostly peaceful protests against police brutality and the death of George Floyd were followed by looting, violence and destruction around the Capitol.
At one point Tuesday evening, protestors were met by a group chanting “white power.” Organizers warned those marching to steer clear and remain apart of the peaceful protest.
The demonstration began at 1 p.m. in 90-degree heat and carried on for hours, through a thunderstorm and powerful winds. Protesters chanted: “The rain won’t stop us. Enough is enough.”
— Allison Garfield
11:41 p.m.: Caravan continues through Shorewood, Whitefish Bay
A caravan of cars and demonstrators was continuing north on North Oakland Avenue through Shorewood toward Whitefish Bay.
Unlike Monday night when police watched the protesters pass through Shorewood, few, if any, police were present as the group progressed north.
Motorists were driving all lanes of Oakland Avenue and many were honking their car horns.
The group continued despite the downpour of rain. The demonstrators have followed the same path north through Milwaukee toward Shorewood in recent days. On Sunday, police did not allow the group to enter Shorewood. On Monday, the caravan reached Bayshore Town Center.
11:20 p.m.: Madison curfew ends as City Council votes down mayor’s state of emergency order
Madison City Council voted down Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s state of emergency order in a 9-9 vote Tuesday evening.
One alder, Lindsay Lemmer, District 3, abstained from the vote.
Rhodes-Conway put in place the state-of-emergency order late Saturday night after destruction and violence took hold of State Street. The order imposed a three-night curfew, which was later extended to include Tuesday evening.
But the curfew — intended to last from 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to 5:30 a.m. Wednesday — ended as soon as City Council voted on the order.
The vote comes as Madison sees its fourth night of protests in the downtown area over the death of George Floyd. Looting and destruction on State Street and the Capitol building has followed almost every protest.
— Allison Garfield
11:09 p.m.: Caravan of marchers, cars continues north through Milwaukee in rain
A group of demonstrators, along with a caravan of cars, was traveling north on North Oakland Avenue as of 11:15 p.m.
10:50 p.m.: 150 take a knee for George Floyd in Brookfield Tuesday night
More than 150 people took a knee in the Goerke's Corners Park & Ride Tuesday in Brookfield to pay tribute to George Floyd, the black man who was killed while in custody last week in Minneapolis.
It was part of a movement that encouraged people to take a knee for nine minutes, about the time a police officer knelt on the neck of Floyd.
There were similar public demonstrations in Shorewood and Racine.
The group took a knee at 5:30 p.m., as an organizer read a list of African Americans who have been killed by police since July 2014 when Eric Garner, another black man who was killed when a New York City police officer put him in a chokehold. Garner had screamed, “I can’t breathe.” Floyd was heard on video screaming the same words.
Following the nine-minute tribute, the group marched across the street to The Corners of Brookfield town center where they chanted for about 30 minutes.
— Evan Casey
10 p.m.: Madison protesters continue after storms
After waiting out the high winds and rain, protesters in Madison emerged from underneath the grand staircase in front of the Capital around 9:30 p.m., just after the city's curfew went into effect, according to Isthmus reporter Dylan Brogan on Twitter.
After organizing again, the group looked to be preparing to head down State Street, but changed directions to march down Mifflin Street. The crowd of hundreds of people looked much more organized than Monday night, Brogan tweeted, and there seemed to be no issues, though the number did seem to be increasing as the storms passed.
— Laura Schulte
9:45 p.m.: Wisconsin's Catholic bishops release statement on George Floyd's death
In response to the death of George Floyd, Wisconsin’s Catholic bishops issued a letter Tuesday calling on parishes to address racism through a study guide and pastoral letter against racism.
“We ask our pastors and lay people to reach out personally to their fellow parishioners who face daily discrimination and who are experiencing so much sorrow and pain,” the bishops wrote.
“We must encounter and more authentically accompany them, listen to their stories, and learn from them, finding substantive ways to enact systemic change.”
The letter was signed by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, Madison Bishop Donald J. Hying, Green Bay Bishop David L. Ricken, La Crosse Bishop William P. Callahan and Superior Bishop James P. Powers.
They said they joined with their brother bishops and committee chairmen of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in expressing their anger and tremendous sorrow over not only Floyd’s death but the violence people of color have suffered from “vigilantes and unprincipled public authorities across our nation. These unjust acts have unfortunately plagued our state and nation for centuries.”
The Wisconsin bishops said everyone must respond with prayer, solidarity, and solace for the victims and their families. And they said the continuing brutality calls for even greater effort and action.
“We support and join with those who speak out against injustice and applaud efforts to peaceably protest against the murder of George Floyd and others who have been struck down by prejudice and abuse of power,” they wrote.
— Meg Jones
9:20 p.m.: Police say Molotov cocktails thrown at officers, do not specify location
Milwaukee police say people threw Molotov cocktails at officers.
Police also repeated an order to disperse.
A Milwaukee police spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a reporter's question asking to clarify where the Molotov cocktails were thrown. Reporters at the intersection of North 6th Street and West McKinley Avenue did not see protesters throw Molotov cocktails.
9 p.m.: Protesters continue to gather in Madison despite brewing storms
As the sky darkened and a storm rolled towards Madison, protesters still gathered on the lawn of the Capitol building with cases of water and signs. In front of the iconic "Forward" statue, which appeared to have been painted brown after being doused in red paint on Monday night, a woman spoke to the crowd, warning them about being peaceful and not staying out too late.
"After 1 a.m., we can't help you," she said.
Down from the Capitol, more protesters funneled into the center of the city, past boarded up windows and spray paint. But a group of muralists from OhYa Studio worked to beautify the otherwise stark scene. Colorful murals, bearing words phrases like "Stronger together" and "Create the world you want to live in," were being painted over the plywood.
One of the artists, Ray Mawst, said that it felt good to help out the store owners with his art. Emily Balsley, another artist with the studio, said that while the circumstances inspiring the murals is sad, she's happy to know that her art can be of service to the community.
— Laura Schulte
8:30 p.m.: Police say protesters were throwing rocks and glass at officers before they fired gas at crowd
Milwaukee police have released a statement saying protesters were throwing rocks and glass at officers at North 6th Street and West McKinley Avenue.
Police said they also arrested a person with a gun in the crowd.
They also asked everyone to disperse for unlawful assembly.
8 p.m.: Protesters largely disperse after police fire tear gas at crowd
At least two people were arrested Tuesday night as Milwaukee police and protesters had a dramatic standoff just west of the Milwaukee River.
After police fired several tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at protesters near North 6th Street and West McKinley Avenue, the crowd had largely dispersed as of 8 p.m.
The standoff between police and protesters apparently began when officers were attempting to arrest someone and a bike police officer went down. Police had formed a circle around the person they were arresting, and protesters gathered close.
About 100 officers in riot gear began advancing toward the crowd in a line. They chanted, "Move back!"
The protesters held their arms in the air and chanted, "We are peaceful!" Some tossed gas canisters back at police.
One person who moved toward police was also arrested.
"Why can't we just walk?" asked Marquette University student Brady Connors. "We were on our knees with our hands up when the incident began."
Five armored vehicles were also on site.
— Bill Glauber
7:30 p.m.: Police fire gas, rubber bullets to disperse crowd at 6th & McKinley
Police stopped several hundred protesters on a march through downtown Milwaukee at North 6th Street and West McKinley Avenue and fired multiple canisters of gas, rubber bullets and a flash bang grenade.
Protesters must disperse or "they could be subject to riot control and arrest," an officer said through a loudspeaker.
A line of about 100 police officers in riot gear, wearing face shields and holding batons, were about a block away from the line of protesters.
As police fired tear gas, protesters were throwing back water bottles.
The protesters had headed over the McKinley Avenue bridge. Police may have been trying to stop the group from using the I-43 entrance there to walk onto the freeway.
— Bill Glauber
7 p.m.: Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County seeking volunteer peacekeepers for protests
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County are looking for volunteers to act as peace-keepers at Madison protests.
According to a Tuesday afternoon Facebook post by the president of the organization, Michael Johnson, the peace-keepers will be paid $12.83 an hour and will be responsible for "monitoring, supporting and helping to deescalate issues as they arise." Those who apply must be 21 or older, Johnson said in the post.
The organization is also willing to work with other nonprofit organizations that have experience in deescalation, the post said.
Volunteers for the position will be provided with certified deescalation training, provided by Anthony Cooper.
Those interested should send a resume and contact information to info@bgcdc.org.
— Laura Schulte
6:45 p.m.: Traffic stopped after protesters walk onto I-794
A group of protesters walked onto Interstate 794, but police quickly pushed them back to city streets.
The group was headed toward the Hoan Bridge when several Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputies responded to the stretch of freeway. A line of deputies directed the crowd to turn around, and they headed back down an on-ramp near North Broadway.
Half an hour later, traffic was at a standstill on I-794 east from North 13th Street to North James Lovell Street, and traffic was being diverted downtown. I-794 was closed at exit 1H.
6:10 p.m.: A few looters charged, many cited for curfew violation
During the weekend's protests in Milwaukee, police arrested dozens of people who disrupted the demonstrations with violence, graffiti and looting, and cited more who were out in violation of curfews but not engaged in crime or violence.
Some demonstrators who were heading home early Tuesday from Bayshore Town Center said that after being directed down Port Washington Road by suburban police, they met less accommodating officers as they neared Capitol Drive.
Police with shields used tear gas and an armored vehicle up the crowd and make more arrests, putting an adversarial coda on what had been a peaceful foray into the North Shore.
The exact number arrested over several days of protests is hard to come by. Whatever it is, the arrests put extra pressure on a justice system that officials had slimmed-down during the coronavirus pandemic, to keep the Milwaukee County Jail population at a minimum and reduce the odds of a major outbreak.
As of Tuesday, prosecutors were still sorting out the weekend's arrests, deciding which would result in criminal charges and who would be cited.
About a half-dozen people had been charged for offenses that appeared connected to the violence and looting that occurred around the times peaceful demonstrators were marching around the county.
— Bruce Vielmetti
5:20 p.m.: MCTS apologizes for abrupt service stoppage
After an unexpected suspension of bus service Monday night, the Milwaukee County Transit System on Tuesday urged riders to monitor RideMCTS.com/Alerts and the system’s social media accounts, especially late at night.
“We took this action, in consultation with public safety officials, to protect passengers and employees,” according to a tweet from MCTS.
A tweet at 9:42 p.m. Monday announced that MCTS had suspended all bus service for the night and that regular operation was expected to restart on Tuesday.
— Alison Dirr
5:15 p.m.: Demonstrators marched through Shorewood, Whitefish Bay peacefully Monday night, police say
Protesters who walked through Shorewood and Whitefish Bay in the early morning hours of June 2 “demonstrated in a peaceful and safe manner,” according to Whitefish Bay Police Chief Michael Young.
The group marched along Oakland Avenue in Shorewood to Whitefish Bay and eventually to Bayshore shopping center in Glendale. Young said the group entered Whitefish Bay around 12:15 a.m. and spent about 90 minutes in the village.
Police departments across the Milwaukee area have assisted each other over the last several days through a practice called mutual aid, which Young said allows police “to maximize resources in the interest of public safety.”
"Our department will continue to utilize increased staffing levels, mutual aid and all other available resources to protect and serve the village of Whitefish Bay,” he said. “Law enforcement will facilitate lawful protest but the potential for outliers to use current events as a cover for illegal activity will require constant diligence.”
— Jeff Rumage
4:50 p.m.: In one of largest marches yet, protesters reach downtown Milwaukee
In one of the largest marches yet, protesters have made their way from Bay View to downtown Milwaukee to demand justice for George Floyd.
On a scorching afternoon, protesters came prepared with water and snacks. Along the route, volunteers with Bell Ambulance and some Bay View restaurant staff handed out water bottles.
“People are rightfully upset,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said as he joined the marchers for a block on Milwaukee’s south side.
On the Bay View community center windows, a sign said: “Justice for George Floyd.”
In Milwaukee, marchers took a knee to honor Floyd, who was killed during an encounter with a former Minneapolis police officer.
Later, a group of Milwaukee police officers took a knee with a group of marchers.
4:30 p.m.: Barrett announces no Tuesday night curfew – at this time
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced Tuesday afternoon that – at this time – he would not be issuing a curfew for Tuesday night.
He cited “a notable reduction in illegal activity associated with public protests” and said he is optimistic that the reduction would continue Tuesday evening.
“At this time, I am not ordering a curfew for tonight, Tuesday, June 2,” he said in a statement. “However, if conditions warrant, I will, on short notice, institute a citywide curfew.”
He thanked public safety officials and said he respected the Milwaukee residents who peacefully demonstrated over the last few days.
He also said he hoped future protests would be lawful.
— Alison Dirr
12:25 p.m.: Mars Cheese Castle added 'I can't breathe' to its famous sign
Mars Cheese Castle, a Wisconsin landmark, added the words "I can't breathe" to its famous sign early this week.
The longtime store, deli and restaurant located just off of I-94 in Kenosha County is typically known for its Wisconsin cheese, sausage, gift boxes and Kringle — not its activism.
But early this week, the iconic Mars Cheese Castle displayed the words, "I can't breathe."
George Floyd died late last month after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly 10 minutes while he was handcuffed on the ground, crying that he couldn't breathe, calling for his mother and pleading for help. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office and an autopsy commissioned by Floyd's family have found Floyd's death was a homicide, and the 46-year-old's heart stopped beating while police restrained him and compressed his neck.
His killing has sparked outrage and protests nationwide.
— Mary Spicuzza
9:10 a.m.: Protest in Madison turn violent for third day
Boiling rage in the wake of another black man's death by police continues to spill over in the state's capital where black and white residents live in separate worlds, divided by some of the widest disparities in the nation.
The city's most popular business district looked like a war zone Tuesday morning following looting and destruction by a group of people who broke off from a mostly-peaceful protest to stomp out car windows, light Molotov cocktails, loot stores and beat two men with a crowbar.
Police left the crowd alone until about 1 a.m. when looting and concentrated violence began. Madison Police Chief Vic Wahl said one person fired a gun into the air during the mayhem.
At that point, the officers used tear gas to break up the crowd. It was the third straight night of peaceful protesting during the day and destruction and violence at night.
"For the third straight night, a number of individuals have come downtown not for the purpose of First Amendment expression, but to engage in violence, looting and property damage," Wahl wrote in his daily blog.
— Molly Beck
2 a.m. Protesters marching peacefully, slowly toward Milwaukee from Bayshore Town Center
Protesters who had made their way several miles north into Whitefish Bay and Glendale turned south back toward Milwaukee in the early morning hours Tuesday.
Protesters walked past Bayshore Town Center, where there was a heavy police presence, without incident, and turned south onto Port Washington Road.
Earlier, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy released a statement saying that late Saturday evening, about 60 cars attempted to gather at Bayshore Town Center around midnight but were turned away by a large police presence.
The city had received "credible threats" that people planned to destroy businesses and harm police officers. This prompted him to issue a 9 p.m. curfew, which expired Monday morning and was no longer in effect when protesters made their way past the outdoor shopping mall.
— Rory Linnane
