Milwaukee Police Arrested Six For Disorderly Conduct During The Red Arrow Park Christmas Tree Lighting Event

Police arrested six including the brother of Dontre Hamilton after using loud bullhorns to disrupt the annual City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 20, 2015

Milwaukee, WI - On Thursday, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn confirmed that Nathan "Nate" Hamilton, the brother of deceased Dontre Hamilton and five other people were taken into custody for disorderly conduct after using bullhorns just after 5:15 p.m. to disrupt the annual City of Milwaukee and County Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Red Arrow Park. Chief Flynn said, that Nathan Hamilton and his group didn't have a permit to assemble for a vigil and disrupted the tree lighting event, which 500 people attended. The tree lighting event organizers had a permit. 

Hamilton and the Coalition for Justice held a planned vigil for Dontre Hamilton at Red Arrow Park in conjunction with the tree lighting event.

Police have been very tolerant with Hamilton's exercise of free speech and his group protesting and closing down streets in wake of Dontre Hamilton's homicide in April 30, 2014 at Red Arrow Park by former Milwaukee Police Officer Christopher Manney. Manney was fired, but was able to get disability pay for stress. The U.S.DOJ decided not to charge Manney for violating Hamilton's civil rights resulting in homicide. Chief Flynn says, the Hamilton family and the Coalition for Justice group don't like the decision made by the DOJ not to charge Manney.

Hamilton and the protesters disregarded the rights of those people at the tree lighting event and were arrested, according to Police Chief Flynn. Those arrested were identified as Nathan Hamilton Jr., 34, Jennifer L. Epps-Addison, 33, Vaun "Van" L. Mayes, 28, Corey J. Kirkwood, 29, Emmanuel M. Blackmon, 33, and James A. Finlayson, 57. Kirkwood allegedly burned a U.S. flag last week during the Republican candidates debate for the nomination for president held in Milwaukee. A video surfaced showing Kirkwood igniting the flag.

Three of those arrested, Hamilton Jr., Blackmon and Finlayson were transferred to Milwaukee Police District 2 Station for booking and expected to be moved to the Milwaukee Criminal Justice Facility (County Jail). The other three were booked at the jail.