MADISON, Wis. — Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway held a press conference Wednesday addressing the clearing of the encampment at Williamson and Baldwin Streets, nearly two weeks after Corey Ruiz was shot and killed by Madison police near that area. Police say Ruiz had a knife and injured an officer.
The city began clearing the encampment early Tuesday morning after it had been in place for about two weeks. Once police left Tuesday night, protesters moved back in.
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During the press conference, Rhodes-Conway said she had been seeking a peaceful resolution to provide emergency assistance for dozens of unhoused people at the site without the involvement of law enforcement, including offering resources to those asked to leave, which included bus tickets and hotel rooms.
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However, Rhodes-Conway said that tensions rose as the city workers' efforts to get people to disperse continued.
According to Rhodes-Conway, the clearing effort Tuesday was aimed at striking a compromise between people living in the encampment and neighbors and business owners on the block who said they were being negatively impacted. As the day progressed, a small group of people refused to leave.
Rhodes-Conway said that attempts were made to de-escalate the situation without police, but things got out of hand.
Over the last several days, 22 people were arrested and 10 received citations.
By Wednesday afternoon, the intersection of Williamson and Baldwin Streets was largely clear, about 12 hours after city workers and law enforcement had worked to clean up the site.
Rhodes-Conway said that the city's goal is to honor Ruiz while also protecting the interests of neighbors and businesses in the area.
Those wishing to retrieve personal belongings collected at Williamson and Baldwin streets can do so at the parking lot of Demetral Park until noon Wednesday. After that, starting Thursday, people looking to recover abandoned property will need to follow a process outlined here.
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