Dontre Hamilton supporters to join Rev. Jesse Jackson in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Rev. Jesse Jackson and his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition will be in Milwaukee on Friday, January 2nd. A rally is planned for Friday afternoon. Demonstrators will meet in downtown Milwaukee's Red Arrow Park in support of Dontre Hamilton.

31-year-old Hamilton was shot and killed by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney on April 30th. Last week, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced Manney won't face criminal charges in connection with Hamilton's death.

Manney has been terminated from the Milwaukee Police Department for his handling of Dontre Hamilton in Red Arrow Park April 30th -- a termination he is appealing with the Fire and Police Commission.

The United States Attorney has announced the United States Department of Justice will undertake a federal review of this case to determine if, under federal civil rights law, there is a basis, both legal and factual, upon which a federal civil rights prosecution may be premised. This review will be conducted by the FBI, the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the Civil Rights Division.

One of the family’s attorneys says they’ve had several discussions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and they believe that a federal investigation will prove their case and they hope to see charges.

Hamilton’s family attorney says a civil lawsuit is also currently in the works.

Last Saturday, December 27th, Dontre Hamilton's family members and members of the Coalition for Justice made a trip to Chicago to join Rev. Jackson and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition for a rally. Rev. Jackson has promised to work with the family and help shine a national spotlight on the case.

Rainbow/PUSH is a non-profit organization formed as a merger of two non-profit organizations founded by Jackson — Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition. The organizations pursue social justice, civil rights and political activism.

The Coalition for Justice has been organizing demonstrations since Hamilton was shot and killed. Most of those demonstrations have taken place in Red Arrow Park and in downtown Milwaukee. On a couple of occasions, protesters have been arrested after making their way to Milwaukee County's freeway system.

The most recent arrests came last Friday, December 26th when members of "Occupy the Hood" hosted a demonstration, gathering near 26th and Burleigh.

Seventy-four protesters were arrested when they made their way to I-43 on December 19th.

This past Monday, December 29th -- one week after Chisholm announced his decision, a group of protesters held a news conference, saying they believe they're being punished and intimidated just for exercising their First Amendment rights.

This Friday's rally is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. at Red Arrow Park. The group will then march to the FEderal Building to join Rev. Jackson and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition for a joint press conference. Then, the group will head back to Red Arrow Park.

The following message has been posted on Facebook:

Jonathan Safran, Dontre Hamilton's family's attorney has issued this statement ahead of Friday's rally:

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