MADISON, Wis. — Several people were arrested after fires were set and city of Madison staff had rocks and other items thrown at them as they worked to remove the protest encampment for Corey Ruiz on Tuesday morning, according to Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Madison police officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz following a struggle in the street. It had since grown into an encampment zone, which led local businesses to the verge of closing, according to city leaders. Meanwhile, protesters said they would not leave until there is justice for Ruiz.
WATCH: City crews begin dismantling Madison protest encampment for Corey Ruiz
Following a tense protest Monday night, the work to open the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin streets began early Tuesday morning and was led by non-law enforcement staff from multiple city agencies.
“Our goal was to clear the barricades, preserve personal belongings and memorial materials, and open the street up to normal traffic,” Rhodes-Conway said in a video statement Tuesday.
The mayor said that as city staff worked to clear the area, rocks and other items were thrown at city employees, and two fires were set, which led to law enforcement being called and a “small number of individuals” being arrested.
Carrie Riddle, who said she witnessed the removal efforts begin, said it happened very early in the morning, leading to confusion.
“They told these people it was 7 a.m.; it was 4:30 a.m.,” Riddle said. “They told them they’d give them time to pack up. There was no time.”
The mayor said about 50 unsheltered individuals who were on-site were given the option to stay in hotels and were offered transportation there, adding that a “significant majority decided to do so and around 10 people were also placed in hotel rooms yesterday.”
“There are many hard conversations to come, and I look forward to us coming together as a community to have them,” Rhodes-Conway said. “I ask that if you truly care about building a better future, you allow local businesses to stay open, residents to freely access their homes, and the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin streets to stay open. Let’s focus our energy on the hard work of sustainable change. Holding government accountable for progress should not mean harming the community we all share.”
The mayor said those with personal belongings left at the site can pick them up at Demetral Field.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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