Hundreds rally over death in police custody
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People in Milwaukee are demanding changes in the city after Derek Williams' death in Milwaukee Police custody. Video by 620wtmj.com
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MILWAUKEE - Calling for the arrest of the Police Chief and the Mayor, hundreds of people gathered to demand action after the death of a suspect in police custody. Derek Williams' death was initially ruled to be of natural causes. But new evidence has led investigators to change the cause of death to homicide.
People gathered at 77th and Good Hope in Milwaukee Thursday night to speak out.
People at the meeting were angry and say they want justice.
With hugs and tears, members of the community tried to calm high emotions after watching the final moments of Williams' life.
"Derek begged and pleaded for his life. Not at any point of him being in the police car did Derek disrespect the officer," Williams' mother, Sonja Moore, told the crowd.
After more than a year since the incident, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner ruled Williams' death a homicide.
"We are here because Derick's death wasn't a natural death in the custody of the Milwaukee Police," Moore said.
Alderwoman Milele Coggs says the justice system needs to be repaired now. She's asking for the community to unite.
"We all know today it's the Williams family suffering. 30 years ago, the Lacey family was suffering," Coggs said, referring to another death in police custody in the 1980s. Coggs urged people to take action and protest. "I'm a believer that when you're taking on a bully, when you're taking on a giant, somebody gotta punch 'em in the face. Somebody gotta hit 'em in the gut. Or somebody gotta kick 'em in the ankle," Coggs told the crowd.
Hundreds of people attended last night's meeting. The Medical Examiner says the decision to rule Williams' death a homicide had nothing to do with the video.
The homicide ruling doesn't mean Williams was murdered. It just means the death was caused at the hands of another.
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