Wisconsin Protesters Request UN Investigation Into Death of Unarmed Man

MADISON, Wis. — Members of the protest group Young, Gifted and Black are calling for the United Nations to independently investigate a Wisconsin police officer who killed Tony Robinson, a 19-year-old unarmed man. The protesters insist there is no way the current investigation of the killing by the Wisconsin Department of Justice can be fair or accurate.

Protesters gathered outside the Madison Public Safety Building following the death of Tony Robinson

The Wisconsin Department of Justice finished its investigation last week, but their findings have not yet been made public. Protesters point out that state agents in charge of the probe are themselves former police officers, citing it as a primary reason why they are seeking an investigation from outside “authorities.”

Madison Police officer Matt Kenny shot Robinson in an apartment house near the Wisconsin Capitol building on March 6 during a response to an emergency call that Robinson was attacking others and acting erratically. Police say Robinson, who was unarmed, assaulted Kenny in the apartment, but have released no further details. Protests began immediately following the shooting, where many compared the killing to the death of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Mo.

Wisconsin state law requires outside agencies to investigate officer-involved deaths, prompting the investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The agency turned over its findings to District Attorney Ismael Ozanne in late March. Ozanne has yet to decide whether to file criminal charges against Kenny.

Madison Police also released a police dash-cam video of another incident in which officer Kenny shot and killed Ronald Brandon in 2007. Kenny was cleared of any wrongdoing. Police claim Brandon pointed a gun at the police prior to being killed. The video obtained by the Associated Press was redacted and did not show the actual shooting, but does appear to show Brandon pointing a gun at officers before he was shot.