By Karen Stokes
Officer Matt Kenny and Tony Robinson
Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Dontre Hamilton and now Tony Robinson, were all total strangers but what connects them is they were all unarmed Black men shot by another man who happened to be white.
Tony Robinson 19, was fatally shot Friday night after police were investigating a call that a young man was jumping in and out of traffic and had assaulted someone.
Officer Matt Kenny forced his way into an apartment where Robinson went and shot Robinson after he allegedly assaulted the officer.
Peaceful protesters convened on the state Capitol for days with crowds as large as 2000 to protest the shooting.
Posts on social media are circulating that groups hailing from Chicago, Milwaukee, students from UWMadison, UW-Milwaukee and Madison high school students will be gathering and participating in rallies.
Another group of protesters are planning a rally in support of the Madison Police Department at a law enforcement memorial.
Police Chief Michael Koval stated in his blog in a message to the community, “Reconciliation cannot begin without my stating “I am sorry,” and I don’t think I can say this enough… Remember, we live here, we work here, we go to church here and we all want the best of what life has to offer our families.
The police are the public and the public are the police.”
Governor Scott Walker met with the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County CEO Michael Johnson, a leader in Madison’s Black community who has been working as a liaison for the Robinson family, reported ABC News.
Scott Walker’s spokesperson could not be reached for a comment.
According to CNN, this was not the first fatal shooting Officer Matt Kenny has been involved in.
Kenny 45, a 12-year veteran of the Madison Police Department shot and killed another man in the line of duty.
Eight years ago, police answered a 911 call concerning a drunk man on a porch holding a gun, the police arrived, the man, Ronald Brandon pointed a gun at them.
Kenny shot him dead. Kenny was unaware that the gun was not real, but a pellet gun.
Investigators ruled the shooting a “suicide by cop” and Kenny was awarded the medal of valor.
This latest shooting of an unarmed Black man by the police has garnered national attention and sparked outrage in the state of Wisconsin.
“I realize that officers of the law put their lives on the line everyday with sometimes only split second decisions to make.
But are those decisions, especially the ones to “shoot to kill” being made from a place of procedure or pride and power? More man power should be invested in psychological, diversity and alternative combat methods.”
Rosalind Britton 54, Milwaukee
“I’m not against police officers, I’m against these killings of unarmed men.
I’m against white police officers killing unarmed Black men.
I am ticked off that not enough people are ticked off about what’s happening. “Jim Muraco 44, West Allis
Agents for the Wisconsin Department of Justice are investigating the shooting.