Madison protests over Corey Ruiz shooting led by socialist groups

Key Points:

• A coalition of communist, socialist, and left-wing activist groups, including the Madison chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Freedom Inc., and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, organized nearly two weeks of protests and an encampment in Madison, Wisconsin, following the police shooting of homeless man Corey Ruiz.
• The protests, demanding the arrest of the officer involved and accusing police of excessive force, escalated into clashes with police, street fires, blocked intersections, and at least 22 arrests, including the recovery of a handgun from a juvenile protester.
• Freedom Inc. claimed to have bailed out dozens of arrested protesters and led significant mobilizations, advocating for police abolition and criminal justice reforms, while the Party for Socialism and Liberation used social media to galvanize support and condemn city officials for protecting the officer.
• The encampment included memorials and a raised-fist sculpture from Minneapolis' George Floyd Square, symbolizing solidarity with broader national movements against police violence, before city crews dismantled it citing public safety and neighborhood impact.
• Local officials, including Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, defended the city's response, stating shelter and accommodations were offered prior to clearing the encampment, while some residents criticized the delay in dismantling the protest site.