Madison faith leaders, activists call for accountability and healing after Corey Ruiz shooting

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Faith leaders, activists and Madison residents gathered at the Capitol Square Saturday evening to call for greater transparency in the investigation into the death of Corey Ruiz, more than two weeks after the deadly police shooting.

The event, titled “Standing Together for Justice and Human Dignity,” drew community members who shared their frustration and grief while discussing solutions to police violence.

Community mourns, demands answers

“His bike was still flipped over and there was blood on the ground,” community activist Ayomi Obuseh recounted from the day of the shooting .“Yellow tape seemed so thin. Here we are on Willy Street again.”

Obuseh pointed to a pattern of lives lost to police violence.

“Anger, profound sadness, and grief created a stone in my stomach yet I didn’t cry,” one speaker said. “Maybe it was because I was relieved it wasn’t my family. Maybe it was because it could be them tomorrow.”

The group is continuing to ask for the officer who shot Ruiz to be arrested. The Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the July 22 shooting.

Faith leader calls for unity

Reverend Dr. Marcus Allen, president of the African American Council of Churches, said bringing people together through faith can help during times of loss.

“How do we bring our community together? How do we stand together in this moment and not just for this moment, but all the other moments to come to really speak to the disparities that happen in the African American community and how do we find justice, equity and equality in all of that?” Allen said.

Allen said that connection can help turn pain into purpose.

“It must give us hope in the midst of all of this despair,” he said. “Hope in the midst of all this sadness and sorrow that we can look to something that’s beyond us and to be able to pick us up and allow us to have the voice to speak out against the injustices that are happening in our community and our streets.”

He also said justice in this situation would require a collective effort.

“Justice is not going to be achieved by one person, it is not going to be achieved by one group of people,” Allen said. “But all people have to stand together and come together and really look at the situation and look at the systemic situation of it.”

Mount Zion Baptist Church is offering free mental health services every Thursday for those struggling with loss.

Independent police monitor speaks out

Madison’s Independent Police Monitor, Meeka Glass, also spoke at the event following a physical altercation with officers earlier in the week. Glass said she was assaulted and said the incident highlights why the position was created.

“So while I am independent, I have eyes. I seen what happened to many of you out there. And that’s why I was out there. That is independent oversight. That is showing up for the community,” Glass said.

Glass said she wanted to document what was happening and to protect the community. The Office of the Independent Monitor is also investigating the July 22 shooting.

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