Protest recap from Saturday: After a destructive night on State Street in Madison, cleanup process begins
Milwaukee and Wisconsin have seen two days of protests following the death of George Floyd and other instances of police brutality.
Blog recap:Coverage of Friday's protest in Milwaukee
7 a.m. Sunday: After a destructive night on State Street in Madison, the cleanup begins
After a morning of peaceful protest Saturday at the steps of the state Capitol over the killing of George Floyd, disturbances and looting erupted in downtown Madison that lasted into early Sunday morning.
Several storefronts and properties on State Street were smashed or vandalized; a police car was set aflame. Tear gas and pepper spray were used on protestors.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway declared a state of emergency and established a curfew late Saturday as looting continued.
In Milwaukee, the curfew seems to have held. There were scattered reports of looting of small stores but no major incidents or confrontations with police.
A public clean up event was planned for State Street starting 7 a.m. Sunday, hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. Organizers had asked for 100 volunteers; more than 4,000 people have responded to the request. Participants were asked to bring their own gloves, brooms, garbage bags, and to wear masks.
“This is the first weekend many of these small businesses have had to open after struggling through COVID,” said Tiffany Kenney, executive director of Madison’s Central Business District and an organizer of the event. “This is devastating and may be the end for some of these shops.”
.— Allison Garfield
3:00 a.m.: Milwaukee streets quiet
The curfew seems to have held in Milwaukee. There were scattered reports of looting of small stores but no major incidents or confrontations with police.
A caravan of protesters made their way around the city but disbursed about 11 p.m.
Milwaukee Police did not report any arrests for curfew violations.
1:11 a.m.: Madison mayor declares emergency, imposes curfews
MADISON – Madison’s mayor declared a state of emergency and established a curfew late Saturday as looting continued into the night after a protest over police violence.
Shortly before midnight, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway put in place a curfew for downtown from 12:01 a.m. Sunday until 5 a.m. Protesters ignored it and disruptions continued along State Street.
Another curfew will be in effect starting at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, according her emergency declaration.
The state of emergency, which she said she was putting in place because of “civil commotion, disturbances, looting and rioting,” is to remain in effect until Wednesday. The mayor could lengthen or shorten it, her order says.
She signed the order three hours after telling reporters she had no plans to issue a curfew but would continue to monitor the upheaval in the capital city. About an hour after she said that, a protester set a police car on fire.
— Patrick Marley
12:54 a.m.: Giannis: Enough is enough
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo offered his thoughts on Twitter late Saturday.
"I really don’t know how to put into words exactly how I feel, but one thing I know for sure is that enough is enough! It’s time for change!" Giannis wrote, ending his message with the names George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery as hashtags.
Floyd died during an arrest after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes, igniting the firestorm of protests across the nation. Arbery was shot by two white men while jogging in Georgia in February; charges were not filed against the shooters until video came to light earlier this month.
12:15 a.m. Milwaukee police investigating non-fatal shooting
The Milwaukee Police Department Twitter account posted that MPD was investigating a non-fatal shooting that took place at approximately 10:07 p.m., on the 2700 block of W. Center Street. A 21-year-old man sustained non-life threatening injuries and, according to a follow-up tweet, walked into a local hospital for treatment. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are under investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or @StopCrimeMKE at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips App.
11:56 p.m.: Tear gas deployed at District 7 in Milwaukee
Police used tear gas to break up a crowd about 11:45 p.m. gathered near the District 7 police station 3626 W. Fond du Lac Ave. Dozens of people were gathered and refused orders to leave.
The protesters were part of a caravan that wound through the city for much of Saturday night. The Jet Beauty store at the intersection of W. Fond du Lac and W. Burleigh Avenues was looted.
A Racine County Sheriff's Department armored vehicle was positioned nearby, and a helicopter passed overhead.
Police arrived to disperse the crowd once they broke into Jet Beauty. After the tear gas was deployed, officers stood near the store armed with weapons that could fire rubber bullets or other projectiles.
The Jet Beauty location was one of several businesses that sustained damage during the Sherman Park unrest of 2016. That disturbance also saw the burning of a gas station, auto parts store and BMO Harris bank branch.
— Bill Glauber and Elliot Hughes
11:32 p.m.: Shorewood enacts curfew until 7 a.m. Sunday
The Village of Shorewood issued a curfew, effective immediately, at 11 p.m., according to a Tweet from the Shorewood Police Department.
The curfew was set to last until 7 a.m. tomorrow.
The tweet clarified that all businesses should be closed during the curfew.
— Rory Linnane
11:26 p.m.: Madison sustains damage during night of protests
Wisconsin’s capital city exploded into looting and property destruction Saturday night, hours after a peaceful protest over the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Protesters on and around State Street smashed storefront windows, spray painted “I can’t breathe” and other slogans on sidewalks and set a police car on fire.
Officers repeatedly deployed tear gas and the smell of it hung over downtown throughout the night.
About an hour before the squad car was engulfed in flames, Madison Police Chief Victor Wahl said arrests were not planned Saturday night because police were outnumbered and did not want to escalate tensions. Later, Gov. Tony Evers activated the National Guard at the request of Dane County, his spokeswoman said.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhoades-Conway said about 8:30 p.m. that she was monitoring the situation but did not plan to put a curfew into effect, as Milwaukee did.
In one of the most destructive acts of the night, a group of protesters smashed up an empty police car and lit it on fire. One person climbed into the flaming squad car and rolled it down the street for a block before bailing out of it. It stayed near a liquor store, engulfed in flames.
A line of officers stood nearby but did not intervene. About half an hour later firefighters put out the flames and officers arrived on the scene.
— Molly Beck and Lawrence Andrea
11:08 p.m.: Malls beef up security as protest dies down in Milwaukee
It appears protests have died down in Milwaukee; many on 27th Street fled after the arrival of multiple police and sheriff vehicles, and at least one vehicle from the Racine sheriff.
A Cricket wireless vendor on Capitol Avenue was looted, with the store owner saying 10 teenagers smashed the glass and took cell phones.
Two local malls aren't taking chances, with both Mayfair in Wauwatosa and Brookfield Square in Brookfield guarding its entrances with security and police presence.
— Evan Casey, Elliot Hughes and Rory Linnane
10:11 p.m.: National Guard deployed at District 5
The National Guard has been deployed at the District 5 police station with five Humvees and a gathering of troops.
9:50 p.m.: Police car set on fire in Madison
In Madison, crowds destroyed a police car, set it on fire, drove it down the street. It then burst into greater flames in the middle of an intersection.
9:26 p.m.: Protesters ignoring 9 p.m. curfew
As was the case in Minneapolis on Friday night, Milwaukee protesters are ignoring the 9 p.m. curfew Saturday night, with some positioned across from the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, the location where protests began Friday. There is no visible police presence.
9:09 p.m.: Wauwatosa will enforce 9 p.m. curfew also
The city of Wauwatosa joined Milwaukee and Glendale in instituting a 9 p.m. curfew that it says it will enforce, until 7 a .m. Sunday morning.
"We certainly recognize the late notice for this curfew, and our officers will certainly use reasonable discretion as the curfew time frame begins," a follow-up tweet read. "Again, we appreciate the cooperation with ensuring everyone's safety.
9:04 p.m.: Madison mayor says a small group 'more interested in trouble than protest'
After protesters and police clashed in Madison, the city's mayor spoke to reporters Saturday night.
“I want to start by saying George Floyd should be alive tonight," Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said.
Police monitored event and deescalated situations earlier in the day, but now a relatively small group remains that was “more interested in trouble than protest," she said.
The mayor says she will continue to monitor the situation and no curfew is planned right now.
Sheri Carter, president of city council, said looting after peaceful protest is a “disgrace.”
Madison's police chief said he was not aware of any arrests that had been made, but added that video will be reviewed later to determine who should be arrested.
-- Patrick Marley
8:42 p.m.: Windows broken in Madison protests
Protesters have begun breaking windows in Madison, with looting at the Madison art museum store.
8:09 p.m.: City of Glendale also issues curfew
The City of Glendale has issued a curfew from 9 p.m. Saturday until 8 a.m. Sunday and again from 9 p.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday, according to a notice posted on the city's website.
Authorities are asking people to stay inside. The city of Milwaukee also has a curfew that begins at 9 p.m. Saturday and continues until 7 a.m. Sunday. Milwaukee officials have not said if the curfew will continue Sunday night.
— Ashley Luthern
7:48 p.m.: Protesters stop outside home of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
Protesters in Milwaukee made a stop at the home of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.
Outside the house, protesters with megaphones discussed the recent death of Joel Acevedo, who was killed by off-duty MPD Officer Michael Mattioli.
Mattioli is currently free on $50,000 bail. A speaker encouraged those listening to bombard Barrett with calls and emails. Barrett has previously called for Mattioli's firing.
A speaker also criticized media coverage from Friday night’s protests, saying they wrapped up peacefully and a small group started looting afterwards. The speaker added that media coverage has been too carried away.
A Milwaukee police officer suffered a minor gunshot wound overnight during the unrest.
— Elliot Hughes
7:33 p.m.: Protesters continue march into Sherman Park, Washington Heights
Protesters in Milwaukee continued their hours-long march into Saturday evening, moving through the city's Sherman Park and Washington Heights neighborhoods.
The rolling protest — a mix of people in cars and on foot — was heading south around 7:30 p.m.
Demonstrators shouted "No justice, no peace" and "Black lives matter," as cars horns blared.
“It’s our job to fight for freedom," one protester said. "We experience trauma every day.”
— Ashley Luthern
7:26 p.m.: Scenes from protest in Appleton
More than 1,000 people protested in Appleton on Saturday.
7:11 p.m.: Tear gas fired in Madison
Smoke and gas are filling State Street and the area around the Capitol in Madison, as multiple businesses had been damaged.
Police had advanced back up State Street, periodically yelling “leave the area now.” Protesters threw water bottles and kicked tear gas canisters back at police.
6:36 p.m.: Protesters clash with police in Madison
After hours of peaceful demonstrations, protesters in Madison clashed with police, with people throwing rocks and smashing a store window and officers spraying tear gas.
The unrest broke out on State Street in downtown Madison. Several people entered the Urban Outfitters, which had its windows broken.
6:30 p.m.: Milwaukee police to enforce curfew
Milwaukee police say officers will enforce the curfew which begins at 9 p.m. Saturday and ends at 7 a.m. Sunday.
Anyone violating the curfew can be arrested and fined $691, according to Milwaukee police.
People who are going to work, government officials, social service workers and credentialed members of the press acting in their official capacity are exempt from the curfew.
5:55 p.m.: 'Ain't nothing changed' - Unrest reflects frustration in the failed promise of the American dream
The unrest that erupted in Milwaukee this weekend reflects the frustrations of a generation of black people disillusioned by the failed promise of an American Dream and raised in an era when technology lets them witness — and mobilize against — every injustice firsthand, said the Rev. Andrew Calhoun of Grace Fellowship Church in Milwaukee.
Calhoun, who has helped to broker listening circles bringing together Milwaukee teens and police officers, said many young people are suspicious of police and that the repeated killings of black people at the hand of officers, has reinforced their perceptions.
"For the whole of their lives, they've seen this unfold. ... And that has shaped their viewpoint and narrative," said Calhoun. "The news is coming at them 24-7. They're putting the pieces together. And (because of technology) they're able to communicate that across a wide spectrum."
At the same time, Calhoun said young black men and women who have gone on to college and beyond have come to believe they've been duped by a false narrative that promised them an even playing field where diversity was valued and education and hard work opened doors.
"That is torn down completely when they see injustices happening every day," Calhoun said. "Then they start asking their parents and grandparents, and they start putting it together. And they say, 'ain't nothing changed.' "
- Annysa Johnson
4:18 p.m.: Milwaukee protest navigates through downtown peacefully
They walked down Milwaukee streets and made their voices heard, but Saturday's protesters in Milwaukee were able to operate without evident confrontation, either with police or motorists. Hundreds gathered to express their frustration with racial injustice following the death of George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, leading to a nationwide wave of protests.
The demonstration began at Veterans Park in Milwaukee.
"Yesterday's protest was beautiful and righteous," said one man who appeared to be one of the organizers and claimed to have been arrested Friday.
A group of demonstrators began chanting, "The whole damn system is guilty as hell," and many carried signs with messages such as "Black Lives Matter," "Nobody is Free Until Everybody is Free"' and quotations from Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
The group — which featured walkers, drivers and bicyclists headed downtown, down Wisconsin Avenue, passing City Hall in the process and navigating over the river, then circling back (waiting for a raised bridge to lower first).
Traffic ground to a halt with protesters walking in the street, but many cars honked in support. There was no outward law-enforcement visibility until protesters reached police headquarters downtown.
Officers in full gear guarded the outside of the building, and several city vehicles blocked access. Police vehicles also blocked freeway access at multiple locations, including as the crowd headed onto the Marquette University campus.
Denise Smith, 49, watched the protest go by as she waited for a bus at West Wisconsin Ave.
"It's just sad," she said, "to see this violent act among these police officers and people losing their lives. ...
"It makes us feel unsafe because we don't know which police officers we can trust."
Smith said she thinks the protest is necessary and doesn't agree with destroying things but also said she felt it was necessary to make a point that things aren't OK.
— Alison Dirr
4:13 p.m.: Woman struck by rubber bullets shows injuries
Angelia Shaw shows what she said were bruises suffered when rubber bullets were fired by police at protesters outside the District 5 police station early Saturday.
During a Saturday afternoon press conference, Mayor Tom Barrett and Police Chief Alfonso Morales refused to answer questions from journalists or protesters about whether police fired rubber bullets at protesters or whether they believed outside-of-state agitators were involved in the protests.
Protesters showed what they said were bruises from the bullets, round pink and purple round spots about an inch in diameter on their legs and one woman's sternum.
— Annysa Johnson
3:34 p.m.: Tony Robinson still fresh on mind of Madison protesters
Thousands of people gathered on the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol Saturday to protest the suffocating death of a Minneapolis man by the knee of a police officer – familiar pleas many here made five years ago on the same steps while grieving another death.
The name Tony Robinson was on the signs and lips of many who filled the streets of downtown Madison, surrounding the state Capitol in opposition to the death of George Floyd, who died Monday after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for almost eight minutes.
The incident has sparked protests and riots in the Twin Cities for days and across the country – including in Milwaukee where stores were looted and burned Friday night.
In Madison, Floyd’s death reminded many at Saturday’s protest of the death of Robinson in 2015 when a police officer shot and killed the black teenager after an altercation. Robinson was unarmed.
Tony Robinson’s death rocked the capital city and spurred a number of large protests in Madison in 2015 and pushed the city to a settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the teen’s family for $3.4 million.
As of Saturday afternoon, the crowd was peaceful save for a few chants yelling obscenities at state police officers who were sparse and keeping a far distance from the crowd.
— Molly Beck
3:22 p.m.: Images from Sheboygan protest
3:00 p.m.: Morales: ‘When the sun went down, things changed’
The hundreds of people who protested during the day Friday in Milwaukee did so peacefully and shared a powerful message, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Saturday.
“When the sun went down, things changed,” he said. “It was another entity — that of crime, unlawfulness, distastefulness and total immaturity.”
In all, 16 businesses across the city were looted and some were set on fire, Morales said.
“These businesses are from our community. These are businesses that grandma goes to get her medication. These are businesses that grandma walks to get her food. …These are family-owned businesses,” he said.
Morales also shared more about the 38-year-old officer who was shot and injured last night, describing him as a Milwaukee resident, born and raised, who is a “God-fearing individual.”
“This person that was shot, had he not been wearing a uniform, would be somebody that you would not think was a police officer,” Morales said. “This is a person, a human being that we want to represent the police department and the community.”
He said the city cannot have a repeat of what happened last night.
“We cannot operate like that in the city of Milwaukee. We as the Milwaukee Police Department for two years have been working so hard to rebuild trust,” Morales said, referring to his tenure as chief. “This is not the time to do that, we need to work together.”
Mayor Tom Barrett said the Wisconsin National Guard is coming to the city not to patrol the streets, but to protect community and cultural institutions, like childcare centers, churches and fire stations.
With the Guard’s help, Milwaukee police can focus on the policing the neighborhoods they know well, he said.
“What we're trying to do is to free (city police) up to do that job, because again they were out-manned last night and we can't allow that to happen.”
— Ashley Luthern
2:55 p.m.: District 1 police station in Milwaukee on lockdown
Police are waiting outside the District 1 police station after the building was put on lockdown during the unrest in Milwaukee.
2:47 p.m.: Crowley supports National Guard in Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said Saturday that he supports the Wisconsin National Guard assisting police in Milwaukee.
“I encourage the community to express their first amendment rights around the injustice at hand. I see you,” Crowley said in a statement. “Everyone deserves to be heard, and everyone deserves to be safe."
He urged people to protest peacefully.
"I support our local law enforcement officials' request to Governor Evers to use the resources available to them during this time. I am also calling on everyone to remain peaceful tonight."
— Mary Spicuzza
2:39 p.m.: Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa closed for the day
Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, which reopened along with several area shopping centers in mid-May, is closed all day Saturday for staff and shoppers alike.
A mall spokesperson said the decision is a precautionary maneuver as a result of community unrest in the Milwaukee area. It's not yet determined if Mayfair will reopen Sunday, but the mall does anticipate making that call by morning and will be keeping its website fully updated.
The mall closed in March after the establishment of Wisconsin's stay-at-home order and partially reopened May 18.
— JR Radcliffe
2:19 p.m.: Barrett announces curfew tonight in Milwaukee
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has announced a 9 p.m. curfew for the city tonight. Barrett did not say if the curfew will extend past tonight.
“We have to get control of our city tonight," Barrett said. "We will have the curfew tonight, the National Guard tonight, and then we can reevaluate tomorrow. I think we want to be as prudent as we can be. We want to make sure that we're doing everything we can to protect the people who live in this community.”
— Ashley Luthern
2:11 p.m.: Crowd in Madison estimated at 1,000
About 1,000 people are protesting in Madison, now marching down both sides of East Washington Avenue, a major thoroughfare in the city.
Nearly a dozen people carried a large banner reading "Community Control Over Police," as the massive crowd chanted George Floyd's name.
Earlier, the crowd sang "Glory" by John Legend and Common.
1:56 p.m.: U.S. attorney says feds ready to help in Milwaukee
U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger, the top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, said federal law enforcement stands ready to help state and local authorities responding to any further violence.
"Federal law imposes stiff penalties for commercial arson and other crimes," Krueger said in a news release Saturday. "I encourage everyone to act in peace so that our nation can promote healing rather than suffer new wounds."
He acknowledged "the vast majority" of protesters in Milwaukee Friday were peaceful.
Krueger said the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI have made the investigation of George Floyd's death "a top priority" and he cited the Major Cities Chiefs Association's statement, which said Floyd’s death is “deeply disturbing and should be of concern to all Americans."
— Ashley Luthern
1:39 p.m.: Evers authorizes National Guard to respond in Milwaukee
Gov. Tony Evers has authorized the Wisconsin National Guard to help respond to protests in Milwaukee, saying 125 guard members were made immediately available to local law enforcement.
Evers made the decision at the request of Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, according to release sent out by the governor’s office.
The Guard will help Milwaukee in its response to “agitators that have disrupted peaceful protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer,” the release stated.
Evers, Crowley and Barrett released the following statement:
“It is critical that people are able to peacefully express their anger and frustration about systemic racism and injustice, in Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin, and our Nation. This limited authorization of citizen soldiers from the Wisconsin National Guard will help protect people who are exercising their First Amendment rights and ensure the safety of the public.”
— Ashley Luthern
1:17 p.m.: Protesters speak out in Milwaukee
As the demonstration in Milwaukee got underway, several people spoke out about why they came to the event.
"At the end of the day, I see a lot of different types of people here, but we talk about community, when you guys go home you do not go to the same community that I go to," said one man, noting the racially diverse crowd.
"...This is about people who look like me, people that are brown," he said, adding: "I want everybody to understand this is bigger than you. I'm not for a silent protest, I'm not for breaking anything, but let our voices be heard. We've been silent enough. We haven't been talking enough."
Protesters also had packs of bottled water available for the march, which is expected to head downtown toward City Hall.
12:55 p.m.: Milwaukee demonstration begins at Veterans Park
Dozens of people have gathered at Veterans Park on Milwaukee's lakefront for a rally and march in honor of George Floyd.
Several people carried signs reading “Justice 4 Floyd” and “Black Lives Matter.” Cars passing nearby on Lincoln Memorial Drive honked.
One of the early speakers said he was arrested during Friday's protests.
“Yesterday’s protest was beautiful and righteous,” the man said.
The crowd continued to grow.
— Alison Dirr
12:35 p.m.: 'I don't want our neighborhood to look like this'
Alonzo Grayson spent his Saturday morning with a broom in his hand helping clean up broken glass in front of the Walgreens near Martin Luther King Drive and Locust Street after it had been vandalized and looted overnight when a protest turned violent.
“This is my neighborhood, man, I’ve been here all of my life,” Grayson said.
For most of the day on Friday the protests in Milwaukee were peaceful. Late Friday, violent unrest broke out outside of the District 5 police station — and on Saturday morning the cleanup began.
“I feel for both sides,” Grayson said. “I know the protest was supposed to stay peaceful. Opportunists come and try to get some free shit and it’s not about that.”
Grayson was part of the group protesting at the scene near the police station.
“We just really wanted to stop traffic and make people pay attention,” Grayson said. “That’s basically what it was but then everybody started setting shit on fire. ... It kind of set us back instead of moving us forward.”
Grayson said he was cleaning up to try to right the wrong that had happened.
“Nobody wants to live like this,” Grayson said. “I don’t want our neighborhood to look like this, man.”
Eddie Groves lives on Vel Phillips Avenue, four houses away from the police station. He has lived there for more 30 years and had heard gunshots in the neighborhood before.
“But it never got this bad,” Groves said.
Groves said he stayed in his house when the rioting started and heard what he thought were gunshots.
“It was very noisy, a lot of cars going around the block driving crazy,” Groves said.
Groves said protesters should have found a different way to express their feelings.
“They didn’t have to tear the city up,” Groves said. “There’s enough going on with the (coronavirus) going on. ...It’s OK to have a march. But stop the violence because two wrongs don’t make a right. And they did more damage to what they’re marching for.”
— Ricardo Torres
12:25 p.m.: Madison protesters on the move; Milwaukee protest starts at 1 p.m.
Protesters in Madison are moving away from the Capitol, singing and chanting as they go. Hundreds have gathered there to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Some have spray painted the sidewalks and steps of the Capitol.
In Milwaukee, a protest is expected to start at 1 p.m. Demonstrators have planned to meet at Veteran's Park on the lakefront before making their way downtown to City Hall.
12:15 p.m.: Milwaukee police make about 50 arrests overnight
More than a dozen businesses were damaged and about 50 people were arrested overnight Friday, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said Saturday in a news release.
The daylong protests in Milwaukee Friday had been peaceful with hundreds marching around the city. But about 11:30 p.m. Friday, violent unrest broke out around the District 5 Police Station, near Locust Street and King Drive.
"Instead of protesting in the honor of Mr. George Floyd and Mr. Joel Acevedo, many individuals, used this as an opportunity to damage property, destroy businesses, commit robbery, fire shots, and steal property for their personal gain," Morales said in the release.
An officer was shot and injured in the line of duty and "thank God the officer’s injury was non-life threatening," the chief said.
"If you decide to protest, please do so peacefully," he said in the release. "The Milwaukee Police Department will continue to protect our residents’ right to assemble and freedom of speech; however, we will arrest those who victimize people and vandalize property."
Morales is expected to speak with reporters early this afternoon.
— Ashley Luthern
11:48 a.m.: Milwaukee council decries violence
Milwaukee Common Council President Cavalier Johnson praised those who have protested peacefully following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, but he condemned the violence and looting that erupted in the city overnight.
"I completely sympathize with the folks who were out there protesting peacefully and the message that they were trying to get across — speaking out against injustices of yet another person of color, an African American man, killed at the hands of law enforcement in the United States," said Johnson, who is African American. "That story is old, and it's tired."
But he warned that the looting and violence that erupted late Friday night and early Saturday hurts, rather than helps, the community.
"That takes away from the message that folks are trying to get across when they protest peacefully about these things," Johnson said. "You know, the story then goes from 'Hey, yeah, we're giving our voice about this injustice that happened,' to 'Hey, did you see the see the windows that are busted out at the Walgreens?'"
Johnson said he drove Saturday morning past the Walgreens on North King Drive in Milwaukee's Harambee neighborhood that was looted and set on fire.
"I thought to myself, 'Hey, you know, senior citizens who live in this neighborhood, they go to the store to get their prescriptions," he said. "When these actions happen they end up hurting other folks in our community. And that's not right."
Johnson urged people to stand up against violence but to protest peacefully.
"We want to give credence to the people that are protesting peacefully and keeping on message, keeping on point, speaking out about injustice," he said. "But calling out the folks that do this, that take away from that message. This is unconstructive. This doesn't help. In fact, it just hurts other vulnerable people who are in our community."
— Mary Spicuzza
8:00 a.m.: Milwaukee police officer shot during protests; sustains minor injury
A Milwaukee police officer suffered a nonfatal gunshot wound early Saturday as protests erupted near the 5th District precinct on West Locust Street.
In a statement, police described the injury as minor.
According to police, the officer was shot around 3:30 a.m. while responding to the area of 200 W. Locust St. The officer is 38 years old and has four years with the department.
Police asked for anyone with information to call Milwaukee police at (414) 935-7360 or Milwaukee Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS, where they can receive a cash reward for information leading up to the suspect's arrest.
— Annysa Johnson
7:55 a.m: Protests expected to continue Saturday; police investigating report that officer was shot
More protests are planned for Milwaukee and Madison Saturday, just hours after demonstrations in Milwaukee escalated to violence overnight, with police using tear gas to disperse crowds and several stores vandalized and looted.
Milwaukee police had no information immediately available this morning on arrests.
"Right now, we're still working to get those additional details," said spokeswoman Sgt. Sheronda Grant.
Chief Alfonso Morales is expected to hold a briefing this morning.
Demonstrators in Wisconsin and across the country have taken to the streets in recent days to protest law enforcement's treatment of George Floyd in Minneapolis and other black individuals who've been killed while in police custody.
A Milwaukee protest is expected to start at 1 p.m. at Veteran's Park, according to an announcement on Facebook.
Madison's event, according to its Facebook page, will begin at noon at the Capitol with a moment of silence. After several speakers, there will be a "gathering space for dialogue."
Video of the death of Floyd, 46, after being knelt on by a police officer while he gasped out "I can't breathe," stirred deep outrage across the nation, spawning nights of riots in Minneapolis. Late Friday, there were clashes with police in cities across the nation.
— Annysa Johnson