Here & Now

Officer Not Charged In Robinson Shooting

THE OTHER BIG STORY IN WISCONSIN THIS WEEK, THE DECISION BY THE DANE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NOT TO THE CHARGE THE OFFICER IN THE POLICE SHOOTING OF 19 YEAR OLD TONY ROBINSON. THE MADISON MAYOR SAYS THE DECISION CLOSES ONE CHAPTER IN THIS TRAGEDY, BUT IT WILL NOT, HE SAYS, BE THE LAST WORD. MANY IN THE CITY ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE MOVING FORWARD. FOR ITS PART ROBINSON’S FAMILY PLANS A CIVIL SUIT OVER WHAT THEY CALL A MURDER.

ISMAEL OZANNE:
I CONCLUDE THAT THIS TRAGIC AND UNFORTUNATE DEATH WAS THE RESULT OF A LAWFUL USE OF DEADLY POLICE FORCE. AND THAT NO CHARGES SHOULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST OFFICER KENNY IN THE DEATH OF TONY ROBINSON JR.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
THAT RULING, ON THE PART OF THE D.A., LEFT TONY ROBINSON’S GRIEVING MOTHER, EVEN SADDER.

ANDREA IRWIN:
I DIDN’T — COULDN’T DO ANYTHING BUT CRY.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
THE D.A. PREFACED HIS FINAL CHARGING VERDICT BY SAYING, HE UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN OF UNJUSTIFIED PROFILING.

ISMAEL OZANNE:
I AM THE SON OF A BLACK WOMAN, WHO STILL WORRIES ABOUT MY SAFETY, FROM THE BIAS OF PRIVILEGE AND VIOLENCE THAT ACCOMPANIES IT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
HOWEVER HE SAID HIS DECISION WAS BASED ON THE FACTS FROM THE INVESTIGATION, OF THE NIGHT THAT MADISON POLICE OFFICER MATT KENNY SHOT AND KILLED THE YOUNG BLACK MAN. OZANNE REVIEWED REAMS OF EVIDENCE, INCLUDING 9-1-1 CALLS THE TEEN’S FRIENDS PLACED BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED.

ISMAEL OZANNE:
TONY’S BEHAVIOR WAS AGGRESSIVE, VIOLENT.

ANDREA IRWIN:
HIS FRIENDS WERE CALLING FOR HELP. HE NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. HE WASN’T OKAY. HE WASN’T EXPERIENCED WITH WHAT HE HAD DONE, AND HE WAS NOT IN A RIGHT PLACE AND THEY WANTED HELP FOR HIM.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
THE D.A. SAID THE TEENAGER WAS HIGH ON DRUGS. AND ASSAULTED OFFICER KENNY, WHO TOLD INVESTIGATORS, WHEN ROBINSON KEPT COMING AT HIM, HE OPENED FIRE.

ISMAEL OZANNE:
HE WAS AFRAID HE WOULD BE STRUCK AGAIN AND LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THAT HIS FIREARM WOULD BE TAKEN AND USED TO SHOOT HIM. THERE WERE 7 SHOTS FIRED. ALL 7 SHOTS HIT TONY ROBINSON JR AT CLOSE RANGE.

JIM PALMER:
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE APPLIED THE SPECIFIC FACTS TO THE LAW, AND HIS DECISION WAS PROPER.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
A DECISION, THAT AGAIN, SERVES TO HEIGHTEN ANDREA IRWIN’S DESPAIR.

ANDREA IRWIN:
MY SON WASN’T WHAT THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE HIM OUT TO SEEM SOME VIOLENT — HE WASN’T, HE WAS INEXPERIENCED. HE WAS ON A SUBSTANCE THAT WAS NOT– IT TOOK HIM AWAY OF BEING WHO HE WAS. AND HE NEEDED HELP. MY BABY WAS A GOOD BOY.

MAN:
AND WE SAY TOGETHER, WHAT’S HIS NAME?

CROWD:
TONY ROBINSON.

MAN:
WHAT’S HIS NAME?

CROWD:
TONY ROBINSON.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
IN TURN, THE DESPAIR OF A COMMUNITY IN SEARCH OF CHANGE AND REPAIR SPOKE HIS NAME.

MAN:
WHAT’S HIS NAME?

CROWD:
TONY ROBINSON.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
OVER TWO DAYS FOLLOWING THE CHARGING DECISION SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE MARCHED THE CITY STREETS CALLING FOR JUSTICE, AND RACIAL EQUITY.

WOMAN (SINGING):
I AIN’T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME AROUND.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
TONY ROBINSON’S FAMILY STRICKEN BUT LEADING THE WAY. THE ASSEMBLY WAS OF YOUNG AND OLD, BLACK AND WHITE.

NAOMI MAKESA:
I SEEK JUSTICE. I SEEK PEACE. I SEEK EQUALITY. I JUST WANT ALL LIVES TO MATTER AND, RIGHT NOW, BLACK LIVES DON’T MATTER.

PATRICK ROBBINS:
I’M HERE TO PROTEST SO I DO THINK CHANGE CAN BE WROUGHT AND I THING CHANGES ARE BEING WROUGHT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:
CHANGES COMING IN MEANINGFUL MEASURE FROM A COALITION OF CLERGY, FAITH LEADERS FROM ALL WALKS, JOINING THE PEOPLE.

EVERETT MITCHELL:
WE PRAY FOR PEACE. WE PRAY FOR NON-VIOLENCE BUT WE PRAY FOR PASSION THAT WILL LEAD TO DIRECT ACTION. IT IS IN YOUR WONDERFUL SPIRIT THAT WE PRAY AND WE ASK IT ALL. LET THE PEOPLE SAY TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY AMEN.

CROWD:
AMEN.