A coalition of communist, socialist, and left-wing activist organizations played a significant role in fueling nearly two weeks of protests and a large encampment in Madison, Wisconsin, following the fatal police shooting of homeless man Corey Ruiz. The demonstrations later escalated into clashes with police, street fires, and blocked intersections.
Among the prominent groups supporting the protests were the Madison chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Freedom Inc., a Madison-based nonprofit, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a Marxist-Leninist political organization. These groups organized demonstrations, maintained a protest encampment, and demanded the arresting officer's arrest, repeatedly labeling him a "killer cop."
Freedom Inc. also stated it facilitated the bail of dozens of protesters following recent arrests. National security experts suggest this mobilization reflects a broader trend of communist and socialist organizations using local law enforcement confrontations to build protest movements and advance political agendas.
Before its dismantling on Tuesday, the protest encampment had grown to include dozens of tents, portable toilets, food distribution areas, and memorial displays. Organizers also brought a raised-fist sculpture from Minneapolis to the site.
The initial protests began after Ruiz was fatally shot on July 22. Police reported that officers responded to theft reports when Ruiz fled on a bicycle. Authorities stated that after officers caught up with him, Ruiz pulled a knife, injured one officer during a struggle, and was then fatally shot by another.
Protesters accused law enforcement of excessive force, drawing parallels to the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The unrest culminated in late Tuesday and early Wednesday with reports of projectiles being thrown at city workers, five street fires, and clashes with officers, leading to at least 22 arrests. Police also recovered a handgun from a juvenile protester arrested on unrelated charges.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation, identified in previous reports as a key organizer in protest movements linked to Marxist tech entrepreneur Neville Roy Singham, used social media to mobilize supporters. The group repeatedly referred to the involved officer as a "killer cop," organized demonstrations, and pressured elected officials to secure the officer's arrest.
Following the encampment's removal, the Party for Socialism and Liberation posted a video showing officers clearing memorial items, accusing city officials of protecting the officer. The group stated the officer was "still walking free" and "still getting paid," identifying the officer by name. The post concluded, "You can destroy a memorial, but you cannot destroy a movement."
Hours after the group promoted an evening demonstration, protesters returned to the streets, resulting in further arrests, street fires, and blocked intersections. Madison police have not publicly identified the four officers involved in the encounter; all remain on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
Freedom Inc., an organization advocating for police abolition and defunding law enforcement, claimed to have bailed out 50 individuals from the Dane County Public Safety Building and blocked Doty Street in front of the jail during efforts to secure releases. Fox News Digital was unable to independently verify the claim and sought comment from the organization.
IRS filings show Freedom Inc. reported substantial revenue in 2023 and 2024, including significant government grants. The group has publicly advocated for abolishing police, defunding police and ICE, ending deportations, and closing detention facilities, stating that police and ICE disproportionately harm Black, Brown, immigrant, and working-class communities.
Freedom Inc. jointly published social media posts with other activist groups, calling for "Justice for Corey Ruiz" and "Community Control of the Police Now!" The organization also claimed responsibility for a "mass mobilization" that included protesters hanging a banner reading "Arrest the Killer Cop" on Madison City Hall and throwing balloons filled with red liquid at the building.
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway defended the city's response, stating officials first offered shelter and accommodations before clearing the encampment due to public safety concerns and its impact on businesses and the neighborhood. A Madison resident, Tom Beck, criticized the city's handling, suggesting officials allowed the encampment to become too entrenched before its removal.
The organizing efforts also drew support from Fight Back! News, which is affiliated with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Freedom Inc.'s organizing efforts extended nationally, with joint social media posts alongside the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.