A coalition of communist, socialist and left-wing activist organizations helped drive nearly two weeks of protests and a sprawling encampment in Madison, Wis., following the fatal police shooting of homeless man Corey Ruiz, with the demonstrations later escalating into clashes with police, street fires and blocked intersections.Among the most prominent groups backing the protests are the Madison chapter of the openly communist Party for Socialism and Liberation, Freedom Inc., a Madison-based "social justice" nonprofit, and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, a Marxist-Leninist political organization, all of which have publicly backed the protests.Together, the groups have organized demonstrations, maintained a sprawling protest encampment, demanding the officer's arrest and repeatedly referring to him as a "killer cop." Freedom Inc.also publicly said it bailed out dozens of protesters following recent arrests.Footage of protesters marching through Madison with scenes of overnight unrest that followed demonstrations over the fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz.
(REUTERS/Jim Vondruska)600 GROUPS WITH $2B IN REVENUE MOBILIZE 3,000 MAY DAY PROTESTS IN A 'RED-BLUE' ALLIANCE, PROBE FINDSThe mobilization reflects a broader pattern in which communist and socialist organizations have used local confrontations with law enforcement to build protest movements and advance broader political agendas, national security experts say.Before city crews dismantled the encampment Tuesday morning, it had expanded to include dozens of tents, four portable toilets, food distribution areas and memorial displays.Organizers also brought a raised-fist sculpture from Minneapolis' George Floyd Square to the encampment.The initial demonstrations erupted after Ruiz was fatally shot on July 22 after police said officers responded to reports of theft before Ruiz fled on a bicycle.
After several officers caught up with him, authorities said Ruiz pulled a knife, injured one officer during a stru...