Marchers chant, encourage peace during Madison’s sixth night of protests

MADISON, Wis. — Downtown Madison’s sixth night of protests over the death of George Floyd have remained peaceful, with Thursday night’s crowd consisting of hundreds of people.

Shortly after 10 p.m., protesters began to chant while marching toward East Washingon Avenue and briefly blocked incoming traffic.

“There is a lot of people trying to corrupt our movement,” said M. Adams, Co-Executive Director of Freedom Inc. “If you don’t see them in the streets with us, they are not here with us.”

The police presence responding to the protesters in downtown Madison has been relatively low, a strategy that Madison police have implemented for the past few nights.

Thursday night’s crowd is largely made up of youth, a demographic similar to Wednesday’s group. One of the protesters told News 3 Now that their goal is to wake up residents in the area so they can hear their message.

The westbound lanes of the Beltline also experienced more rolling closures Thursday afternoon due to another protest caravan.

The state Department of Transportation said closures began on the highway at Stoughton Road at about 4:15 p.m. before extending to Park Street and eventually Todd Drive. The roads were cleared at 6:03 p.m.

The caravan arrived outside the home of Madison Metropolitan School Board President Gloria Reyes to demand that police be removed from schools.

The caravan ended at the home of the Madison Metropolitan School Board President to demand police be taken out of schools. #News3Now pic.twitter.com/nJUqifJMYc

— Gabriella Bachara (@GabbyBachara) June 5, 2020

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