MADISON WI LIVE: Protests erupt into violence, vandalism, and looting around State Street

MADISON WI LIVE: Protests erupt into violence, vandalism, and looting around State Street .

Protests in Madison, Wisconsin went from peaceful to violent on Saturday night, May 30, 2020. After the peaceful afternoon protests, the evening crowd turned violent, pelting police with bottles and rocks, while spray painting and vandalizing Capitol grounds, State Street, the Overture Center, and businesses in and around State Street.

These are my photos and videos documenting some of the clashes between the crowd and police.

Many shop windows were broken, and stores looted. Riley's liqour shop was looted. Empty shoe boxes were seen littered around State Street Brats. The huge concrete planters which adorn State Street, were tipped over.

Teargas and pepper gas were used on the crowds. Many of the participants, were from out of town (I randomly asked people where they were from). It appeared as though about 10-20 thugs were the primary instigators. Their technique was to get people to raise their hands with chants of "I can't breathe" and "hands up" to approach a police line, while the instigator thugs would use them as a human shield to throw rocks and bottles at the police line, over the front protestors (the instigators were behind the front line people). The police would then (at times) respond with bottles of teargas and pepper spray, hitting the front line of protestors, while the instigators hid behind a corner, or blended within the crowd. Windows were smashed with objects or just kicked in after they were fractured.

The police were watching with a drone, street cameras, and what appeared to be spotters on top of a building. State Street has been well know for its Halloween Parties which have been controlled by horse mounted police, and gas in the past, so they're well prepared with plenty of video evidence of what was doing on.

Most of the crowd was wearing masks, but there was no physical distancing. The police had full riot gear, including masks, helmets, clubs, and clear shields for rocks, bottles, and other flying debris. A few of the police were the designated pepper gas dispenser, while others had the cans of tear gas.

The evening was a clear, cool night with a light wind which went from the top of State Street near the Capitol, towards the UW campus. When canisters of the teargas were ignited, the large billowing cloud of gas would slowing billow down State Street. Many were hit with a stream of pepper gas, and were treated by groups in the crowd, who had carried a solution of either milk, or milk/water with baking soda to neutralize the effects of the gas. For those of you who have not experienced tear gas, it stings your eyes and makes it hard to breath.

As the evening progressed, the police took construction fence from the Capitol to set up a barricade on upper state street, and then set up another line a few blocks down. When any additional police came to reinforce the line of about officers (State Patrol and city police), they'd be pelted with rocks and bottles. The western line would waver every now and then. Later in the evening, a car was set on fire and burned for about 20 minutes before fire crew showed up to extinguish the fire.

Even before the evening was done, a GoFundMe site was set up for the affected businesses on State Street, and a call for community volunteers to show up Sunday morning starting at 7am to help clean up the destruction.

On Sunday morning, the clean-up was well underway, with much of the graffiti removed. Broken glass had been cleaned up and store windows boarded up. A huge community effort was very effective. It's clear that those who live here, care about their community.

On Sunday May 31st, 2020, a curfew was put in place for 9:30pm to 5:00am Monday morning. The National Guard has been called to help reinforce the police Sunday night.

This was the first week the City of Madison began to open up its restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first weekend many State Street bars and restaurants were opening. The workers of these businesses have had no work for months, so everyone was looking forward to opening and visiting these establishments. It was soon clear that street-side seating would need to be quickly removed around 5:30 to 6:00 pm when the crowds started turning violent.

#protest #madison #wisconsin
[Post Date: 5/31/2020 / Local Time: 8:22:28 PM / ]