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Protests Break Out For Dontre Hamilton In Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported:

Filled with frustration and resolve, a coalition of religious and civil rights leaders joined the family of Dontre Hamilton on Monday in demanding that a federal investigation into his fatal shooting move forward, along with a broader review of Milwaukee Police Department cases involving excessive force.

U.S. Attorney James Santelle issued a statement saying the U.S. Department of Justice would review the Hamilton case individually to determine whether federal civil rights laws were violated. Santelle did not address the issue of a larger “pattern-and-practice” investigation that would examine the entire department.

In 2011, federal officials began a preliminary review of whether the U.S. Department of Justice should sue the Milwaukee Police Department for a series of possible civil rights violations. Racial profiling, searches and seizures without probable cause, the targeting of minority populations for harassment, a poor citizen complaint process, excessive use of force, or excessive use of weapons or Tasers, all could warrant federal intervention.

The department has not disclosed the review’s status.

“It is time for the federal government and the Department of Justice to initiate the pattern-and-practice investigation of the Milwaukee Police Department, which we have been hearing about now for a number of years,” attorney Jonathan Safran told about 200 protesters who gathered for a news conference outside the federal courthouse. “Milwaukee has had more than its share of cases with claims of excessive force deaths and civil rights violations at the hands of Milwaukee and other law enforcement officers. When is this going to stop?”

 TMJ4 reported that there will be a federal investigation of the case

The U.S. Department of Justice will undertake a federal review of the Dontre Hamilton case, according to a press release sent Monday afternoon.

The release said they’ll review the case to determine whether, under federal civil rights laws, there is a legal and factual basis upon which a federal civil rights prosecution may occur.

The 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.

The family of Dontre Hamilton sought a federal investigation into the Red Arrow Park shooting following Monday morning’s announcement by Milwaukee Country District Attorney John Chisholm.

A press release from their attorney Jonathan Safran said they are “extremely disappointed” in Chisholm’s decision not to seek charges against former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney.

People took to the streets of Milwaukee, blocking business as usual . . .

 

 

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