On July 22, police say a homeless man was caught stealing a bike and breaking into cars. Officers stopped 38-year-old Corey Ruiz who resisted arrest, pulled a knife and stabbed a police officer. That officer reportedly shot and killed Ruiz, who apparently has a lengthy criminal history.
At a press conference last week, an activist named Carlos Dixon interrupted Madison Police Chief John Patterson, reported Fox News. The hijacked conference was covered by LiveNOW from FOX .
“You can stop talking because we don't want to hear anything you've been saying. You're going to say the same thing you all say every time a black body gets shot down in this city,” Dixon said. “I told these young people back here on my way here that we have the power, not that badge, not that weapon. We have the power.”
Dixon even asked the chief “What do you have to say about that?” before interrupting the answer, telling the chief he can’t talk because he said so.
But instead of arresting the protesters, one of whom had a sign that said "Corrupt cops deserve to die too," Patterson just gave up the mic.
“That's right. Give me this microphone then, excuse me,” Dixon stated.
Dixon went on to hold the press conference hostage, saying he was motivated by various left-wing causes.
“I represent APTAP (All Power to All People). Zero power to Zionists. Zero power to capitalists. Zero power to colonialism,” Dixon said.
According to Yahoo News, Dixon is an activist who is a write-in independent candidate for Wisconsin governor. He’s not even a Madison resident, as one source pointed out he is a Milwaukee real estate agent.
APTAP is a political rallying cry associated with civil rights activists wanting structural political change.
So far, no official statement has been given on why Pattison and the Madison Police Department handled the situation in that way.
Podcaster Matt Walsh notes Dixon wasn't even detained, much less arrested.
“His skin was too dark for disorderly conduct laws to apply to him, apparently,” Walsh says.
if police won't even defend their own station, he asks how can they defend Madisonians.
“It's one of the most pathetic displays you'll ever see from American law enforcement. Every single one of these officers should be terminated,” Walsh says.
