Community Gathers in Madison to Mourn and Reflect on Police Shooting Incident
On a somber Friday, a Madison church became a place of both mourning and reflection as people gathered to honor a man who lost his life in a police shooting. The tragic event occurred on July 22, and the community came together to remember Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man, at the Fountain of Life Covenant Church.
The service featured a eulogy by civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, who emphasized, “Corey matters,” prompting the attendees to stand in ovation. Sharpton’s words resonated with many, as he declared, “We’re not violent; we’re fighting violence. We’re not hateful. We’re fighting hate.”
Sharpton also highlighted the efforts of an interracial coalition of young activists who have shown “more morality and courage than the people sitting up in City Hall,” while criticizing city leaders for seeking “quiet” rather than genuine peace.
In response to Ruiz’s death, activists took to the streets and disrupted the Concert on the Square at the state Capitol. A makeshift memorial, which later evolved into an encampment, occupied multiple city blocks near the shooting site. However, the city dismantled the encampment on August 4, citing safety concerns and the impact on local residents and businesses. The Ruiz family, in a statement, clarified they did not endorse the encampment and urged for peace.
Currently, four Madison police officers are on leave pending an investigation by Wisconsin’s Department of Justice. The officer involved in the shooting, Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, was identified by the DOJ, which reported that Ruiz wielded a knife during an attempted arrest, injuring the officer.
Before Ruiz’s open-casket funeral, Sharpton shared his motivation for coming to Madison, stating that the bystander video of the incident moved him deeply. “This could be my brother,” he remarked. “This could be my nephew, and the fact that my name is Sharpton and their name is Ruiz means nothing to a cop that will unload and shoot multiple times.”
The incident has sparked widespread protests in Madison, with Sharpton expressing solidarity with those demanding accountability. “The way these activists have shown this city (what) the true spirit of what accountability and democracy is — they ought to be saluted, not attacked,” he said.
Ruiz leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter, Kah’liyah Aliomar, who shared her memories and feelings in the funeral program, reminiscing about seeing her father’s baby pictures and noting their resemblance. “Now all we have of you is your pictures and your letters and that’s not enough,” she wrote.
During the service, Ruiz’s mother, Elsa Ruiz, expressed her grief over losing her first-born son. She recounted his struggles with mental health and addiction and criticized the system for failing him. “The system let him down in more ways than one, and now the very people who were supposed to protect and serve have taken his life,” she said.
His sister, Veronica Ruiz, also spoke about her brother’s challenges, including his criminal record and experiences of incarceration. She criticized city officials for not offering condolences and lamented how his past was being used to justify his death.
Despite these challenges, remembrances of Ruiz highlighted his artistic personality and creative spirit. An obituary described him as a sharp dresser who enjoyed writing, drawing, and music, with his style evident in his tattoos and braided hair.
Corey Ruiz’s legal representation includes Ben Crump, a renowned attorney known for handling high-profile civil rights cases. Crump announced that they plan to release independent autopsy results in the “coming days.”
