The shooting death of Corey Ruiz by the police in Madison, Wisconsin, got some attention when it happened on July 22 and the following day. But then it came out that he had allegedly cut one of the officers trying to detain him and had a record. Most of the news then moved on to other stories.
But what didn't move on - at least not yet - was what some referred to as the "Corey Ruiz Autonomous Zone" (CRAZ) or occupation that went up near where Ruiz was shot at the intersection at Baldwin and Williamson, and has been going on for more than a week. It's also extended out beyond the intersection, with all kinds of tents, things all over the streets including mattresses, and even grills set up to cook food. They even had porta-potties set up in the street.
Protestors are preparing for rain here on Willy and Baldwin Streets but show no signs of packing up following a statement from @SatyaForMadison last night. pic.twitter.com/8e4WRBGngW
— Laura Schulte (@SchulteLaura) July 31, 2026
I don’t usually enter the encampment this direction, but there are lots of boards with nails here to keep people out pic.twitter.com/shoLPfWxeY
— Laura Schulte (@SchulteLaura) July 29, 2026
But instead of taking it down, the city actually provided trucks to help block off the streets.
New as of yesterday afternoon, the city has placed a few trucks to help shield the intersection. pic.twitter.com/VtYRgjhPKY
— Laura Schulte (@SchulteLaura) July 28, 2026
But now the city is beginning to realize that it's an issue.
According to Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, this is "not sustainable."
"There is all-day food preparation taking place without refrigeration, sinks, and other basics." Rhodes-Conway said "Any time a street is blocked, it can impede fire and EMS response to our community."
There have also been "multiple complaints about people being threatened from both protesters and neighbors," according to the mayor.
"We are also hearing from Marquette neighborhood residents that they can't sleep, can't conduct business, are experiencing financial hardships, and can't safely move around the neighborhood." Rhodes-Conway said. "Those who also want real change after the police shooting of Corey Ruiz are increasingly failing to understand and losing patience with a protest tactic that seems misaligned with bringing the community together."
There are also homeless people living in the encampment.
The mayor said the occupation was "affecting public bus routes, makes it more difficult for community members to reach their jobs, and impedes fire and EMS response." She also explained it was "causing real, possibly irreparable, harm to local business owners and community services that remain shut down."
The mayor said this "occupation" must end.
What remains true is that this intersection is not a safe location for people to be sleeping in tents, nor for children to play alongside nail-studded blockades.
Here she explained that just the salt truck deployment to help block the area is probably costing the city "hundreds of thousands of dollars."
EXCLUSIVE: "I would expect just roughly that we are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars..."
— Elly Laliberte (@ellylalibertetv) July 31, 2026
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway addresses the financial impact of the encampment in her first TV interview since an MPD officer shot and killed a man last week.@WISCTV_News3 pic.twitter.com/WaHbeK9uX4
While the mayor is saying this must end, she so far hasn't ended it; she's asking them to "voluntarily" leave.
Madison needs hard conversations and work to realize a better future. We must have those conversations in a realistic, non-destructive way. That starts with voluntarily taking down the barricades and channeling our momentum towards a better Madison. https://t.co/T3jRUZ7iop
— Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway (@SatyaForMadison) August 1, 2026
Here's the thing. Whatever they think about the shooting, the activists don't have a right to block the street and wreak havoc in the neighborhood. We've seen how such things can deteriorate, as they did in Seattle when the city let it go.
The Democrat mayor needs to stop abetting and avoiding resolution, and deal with it.
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