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Black Activist Alleges Harassment From Madison Police

Chief Calls Accusations 'Inflammatory Rhetoric'

By
Light Brigading (CC-BY-NC)

A well-known local black activist is accusing the Madison Police Department of harassing her because of her leadership role in organizing protest rallies against police use of force. But the city police chief says traffic citations issued against Brandi Grayson are the result of “flagrant ordinance violations.”

Grayson, a co-founder of the group Young, Gifted and Black, has led numerous angry but peaceful demonstrations in Madison calling for changes in what the group calls the “over-policing” of Madison’s black residents.

She said police have issued her five traffic citations for violations during two July protests that blocked traffic on city streets. And this week, officers pulled her over for a broken headlight after trying to serve the citations at her home.

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“The Police Department has basically chosen me as the leader of Young, Gifted and Black and, as a result, I have been targeted via tickets, via police officers sitting outside of my house,” Grayson said.

In a lengthy news release, Grayson accused the Madison Police Department of “legalistic repression” designed to “squelch” and criminalize the group’s protests.

“When you talk about people living in poverty, what ends up happening is after you get one or two citations and you can’t afford to pay it, it becomes a criminal charge which basically entraps folks into the system,” she said.

Madison Police Chief Mike Koval issued a statement calling Grayson’s accusations “inflammatory rhetoric” and insists his officers have “treated her with dignity and respect,” despite the fact her group has been unwilling to work with police in holding their rallies in a manner that protects public safety.

Koval urged her to take her complaints about harassment to the Police and Fire Commission.