Freedom Inc. labels all incarcerated Black individuals as political prisoners after Madison protest arrests

A spokesperson for the Wisconsin nonprofit Freedom Inc. declared that every Black person behind bars is a political prisoner following police clearance of an anti-police protest in Madison.

Freedom Inc., a government-funded nonprofit based in Wisconsin, announced that all Black people held in jail are political prisoners after police removed an anti-police protest encampment in Madison. The organization worked with the activist coalition Free the 350 Bail Fund to raise bail money, claiming to have secured release for 32 demonstrators by the next day. In a bail-fund video, a Freedom Inc. spokeswoman said Black communities are under continuous state attack and likened police to an occupying army.

The encampment, which started after the July 22 death of repeat offender Corey Ruiz, had blocked traffic, forced business closures and required emergency vehicles to detour until authorities dispersed it. Freedom Inc. also posted footage showing fire and vandalism at the protest while condemning the arrests. Government records indicate the nonprofit has received over $5 million in grants from the Department of Justice, the state of Wisconsin and city programs for various charitable initiatives.