Rally decries fatal shooting of Mentally Ill Hmong Man by Milwaukee Police

More than 600 people marched about a mile in the cold Thursday to protest last month's fatal police shooting of a mentally ill man after he shot at officers entering his home. Lo Neng Kiatoukaysy, executive director of the Hmong American Friendship Association Inc., and one of the organizers of the protest, said the Hmong community has been outraged over the shooting of Tou Yang and rallied together as never before to voice concern and seek changes in how police deal with minorities and the mentally ill. Yang, 36, was shot at his west side home Jan. 20 following a three-hour standoff with police, who said they shot him after he fired at them. Earlier, a social worker had gone to the Hmong man's home to check on his three children, who had not been attending school or scheduled medical appointments, police said. Yang's uncle, Norman Kong, said Yang was a paranoid schizophrenic and was afraid that he, his children and other Hmong would be killed. Yang died Jan. 26 of multiple gunshot wounds. No police officers were injured. This month, a special prosecutor ruled that the shooting of Yang was justified. Police Chief Nannette Hegerty said Thursday that Racine County District Attorney Michael Nieskes said in a letter to her that the officers were "clearly in a dangerous and volatile situation" and fired only after being shot at by Yang.  Hegerty said the three officers involved have returned to duty. Kiatoukaysy said a delegation of Hmong met with Hegerty last week but were not satisfied with her response. The march was planned to show their concern and anger over Yang's death. Marchers carried placards with Yang's picture, targets with bullet holes and sentiments such as "Stop Police Brutality." They shouted "No justice, no peace" in English and Hmong. [more] and [more]

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• Pictured above: Xai Lee and other members of Milwaukee’s Hmong community on Thursday gather for a protest march outside the home of Tou Yang, a mentally ill man who was fatally shot by Milwaukee police on Jan. 20 after he fired on officers. The march ended at the Police Administration Building downtown.