Young, Gifted and Black Coalition

press release: A coalition of local activists has planned a rally and press conference for this Friday, May 13 to mark the one-year anniversary of the non-indictment of Madison Police Officer Matt Kenny in the killing of Tony Robinson. People will gather at Cathedral Park (404 E. Main St.) at 3:00 p.m. The press conference will begin at 3:30 p.m.  

“One year ago today, we were told that the seven fatal shots Matt Kenny fired into Tony’s body were a ‘lawful use of deadly force.’ Not only was Kenny not prosecuted, he is now training officers in the Madison Police Department,” (MPD) said T Banks, organizer with Freedom Inc.  

MPD is asking the city to fund the hiring of 40 additional police officers over the next four years, despite activists’ repeated calls for community control of the police in the year since Robinson’s murder. Doing so would cost our city an estimated $6 million annually.  

“We demand that the up to $6 million dollars that could be spent on adding 40 new police officers be directed to actually preventing the problems that lead to police contact and lifting up the Black community. We demand that OUR city funds be directed towards mental wellness services and Black-led economic development initiatives. No more cops, no more guns, no more reactive solutions,” said Banks.  

Robinson’s friends and family will be present at the rally, which is being organized by Freedom, Inc., Groundwork, No Dane County Jail Working Group, and the Young Gifted and Black Coalition. Together, they will be asking Madison to “Invest in Communities, Not Cops.”

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/fergusontomadison.

www.YGBCoalition.org