MADISON, Wis. – Chaos erupted at a Madison Police Department press conference Thursday when a self-described community organizer seized the podium and launched into an extended rant against “Zionists,” imperialism, capitalism and police, while Chief John Patterson and other officials stood passively and allowed the disruption to continue for more than 12 minutes.
The briefing was meant to update the public on the July 22 fatal officer-involved shooting of Corey Ruiz, a man in his 30s who authorities say pulled a fixed-blade knife and injured an officer during a struggle while resisting arrest. Officers had been responding to reports of bicycle thefts and attempts to enter unlocked vehicles in the city’s Marquette neighborhood when Ruiz fled on a bike, leading to a confrontation at the intersection of Williamson and South Baldwin streets.
According to police, Ruiz either fell or was taken from his bicycle. A physical struggle followed in the street. Ruiz produced a knife, wounded an officer, and a Taser deployment failed. The injured officer then fired his weapon. Ruiz later died at a hospital. Video of the incident circulated widely online, showing officers yelling that the suspect had a knife.
At the subsequent press conference, activist Carlos LeMar Dixon of Milwaukee entered the room with supporters, interrupted Chief Patterson, and took control of the microphone. “Have no fear, the anti-Zionist is here,” Dixon declared, according to video of the event. He accused the city of corruption, rejected any official statements about justice or accountability, and proclaimed “zero power to Zionists, zero power to capitalists, zero power to colonialism.”A supporter nearby held a handmade sign reading “Corrupt Cops Deserve To Die Too!!! Fuck you Kill Peterson.”
Dixon continued speaking animatedly for an extended period while the police chief and other officials remained nearby without intervening to restore order. At points he threatened to “beat” someone in the crowd and scolded reporters for not questioning him instead of police leadership.
The takeover eventually devolved further as other attendees, including some local residents critical of the shooting but unhappy with Dixon’s approach, confronted the group. Shouting matches broke out, with activists turning on one another amid competing demands for attention and accountability. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway eventually left the room; Chief Patterson later attempted to answer questions once the disruption subsided.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation is leading the review of the shooting. The involved officers have been placed on administrative leave, standard procedure in such cases.
Critics of the department’s handling of the press conference have pointed to the episode as an example of officials ceding control of official proceedings to agitators rather than maintaining order during a sensitive briefing on a use-of-force incident involving a suspect who had already stabbed an officer.
Local residents who attended expressed frustration that legitimate questions about the shooting were drowned out by the prolonged interruption and subsequent infighting.The Madison Police Department has not issued a detailed public statement specifically addressing why the disruption was permitted to continue for so long. The investigation into the July 22 shooting remains ongoing.
