Dontre Hamilton supporters rally as Fire & Police Commission meets

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Red Arrow Park's "Slice of Ice" opened for the season on Thursday, December 4th, but Dontre Hamilton supporters want to make sure what happened in the park last April stays in the forefront.

31-year-old Hamilton was shot and killed by Milwaukee police officer Christopher Manney. Manney has been terminated for his handling of Hamilton on that day -- a firing he is appealing.

It has been seven months since Dontre Hamilton was killed, and his family members and other supporters continue to await a decision out of the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office as to whether Christopher Manney should face criminal charges for Hamilton's death.

Hamilton's family members and supporters have been protesting since the shooting -- and another demonstration was planned for Thursday evening, as the Fire and Police Commission was set to meet.

The protests have been mostly peaceful -- and that's what Hamilton family members say they want.



About 100 people marched from Red Arrow Park to the Fire and Police Commission meeting on Thursday evening. That meeting was emotional, as Hamilton supporters addressed the crowd. They say they have two demands: one, that the Commission uphold the termination of Christopher Manney, and two, for an independent meeting with the Commission.

On Thursday evening, they learned that meeting cannot take place until a decision is made as to whether Manney should face criminal charges.

Some were upset Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn wasn't present at Thursday evening's meeting. We're told he is sick, and would have otherwise been there.

Since the shooting on April 30th, protesters have been allowed to march in the street in downtown Milwaukee without permits. Police are always present, but they haven't hampered the protests.

Last week, demonstrators entered Grand Avenue Mall, and then marched to the BMO Harris Bradley Center, where a few people tried to get inside during the Milwaukee Bucks game. A Milwaukee police officer and sergeant were injured.

"There`s a subset of this demonstration that is less interested in the Hamilton family message than it is in creating violence and vandalism to advance their own cause, and you go ahead and open websites and you`re going to see their demands for violence alright? So we are a little concerned about that," Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn said.

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