Madison cancels summer events after police shooting kills Corey Ruiz
A police officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz in Madison, prompting the cancellation or early closure of several major summer events and renewed calls for police reform.
A Madison police officer shot and killed Corey Ruiz, identified as Black or Latino, during a brief altercation near a longtime food co-op in the city’s liberal neighborhood. The incident, the third police-involved shooting in that area since 2012, has intensified demands for police reforms and highlighted racial-justice concerns in the 70%-white city.
Protesters gathered hours after the shooting, leading to the cancellation of a Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra outdoor concert that typically draws about 30,000 attendees. The city also postponed the grand opening of a new public market and canceled AtwoodFest, a neighborhood festival scheduled for Saturday, citing the need to acknowledge the community’s pain.
The downtown farmers market, which serves roughly 20,000 shoppers each week, shut down four hours early in solidarity with demonstrators. Market organizers posted, "We mourn with our community and agree business cannot proceed as usual."
"Our community has spoken loud and clear: this is NOT business as usual," activist Clyde Mayberry wrote on Facebook.
"I appreciate you being here," Police Chief John Patterson said after protesters interrupted a news conference.
Civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Ruiz’s family, called for criminal charges against the officer. The city continues its investigation while local officials and community members navigate the fallout.