Tony Robinson
A year after his death, family members and friends of Tony Robinson marched through the streets of Madison and gathered for a vigil outside the apartment where he was fatally shot by a white police officer.
Robinson, a 19-year-old black man, was killed on March 6 of last year during a confrontation in an apartment building stairwell near Madison’s downtown. The officer was responding to calls of someone running in an out of traffic and attacking people. The incident prompted several days of peaceful protests around the city, with thousands of high school student marching on downtown.
A crowd of about 200 people came together Sunday to reflect on Robinson’s death, and the impact it has had on the community since then. His aunt was among those who said the anniversary was a reminder to keep pushing forward and to strive to make a better community for all.
Doris King, a family friend, said the death is still painful because many people feel like nothing has been done. “The loss of Tony hit us really hard then, and we still feel the pain,” she said.
Officer Matt Kenny, who fatally shot Robinson, was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting. Robinson’s family has filed a civil lawsuit over his death.
Affiliate WIBA contributed to this report.