Madison protesters occupy downtown blocks after police kill armed felon Corey Ruiz

A week after police fatally shot armed repeat offender Corey Ruiz, Black Lives Matter and Antifa groups have taken control of two blocks in downtown Madison, erecting barricades and referring to the site as the “Corey Ruiz Autonomous Zone.” The area, centered on the intersection of South Baldwin Street and Williamson Street—locally known as Willy Street—now hosts a Black Lives Matter fist statue, a makeshift community garden, and signs demanding justice for Ruiz.

City officials have responded by providing portable toilets, lawn chairs and even salt trucks to replace improvised barriers made from trash cans and pallets. Residents nearby report feeling trapped and describe the zone as a lawless encampment that disrupts local businesses and housing. Alder Davy Mayer indicated the city seeks a negotiated resolution without resorting to force, though no timeline has been set.

The protest has kept the downtown core of the state capital under nightly scrutiny, echoing earlier autonomous zones such as Seattle’s CHAZ. Ruiz’s criminal history, including multiple convictions for violent offenses, has become a flashpoint for the ongoing demonstrations.