MADISON (WKOW) -- A group of demonstrators held a block party at Hilldale Shopping Center before marching down University Avenue to the Wisconsin State Capitol Friday night.
Hilldale and Metcalfe'sclosed at 2:30 p.m. ahead of the planned protests, which were part of the "7 Shades of Black" week put together by the Madison-based Black Umbrella Group.
Friday was Day 4: "Ghetto Fabulous," where people showed that no matter what they were wearing, they are still professional.
"There's a lot of guilty souls right now because they're starting to awaken to the fact that black people have actually been underprivileged, have actually been cast in the shadows," said organizer Joquori Holland.
In a statement Friday evening, Hilldale said:
There is currently a peaceful and family friendly gathering being held at the property. We are happy to welcome this block party to Hilldale although would have been grateful to be involved in the organization of it so that we could prepare the site to receive a crowd and work to insure that all Covid-related standards of mass gatherings were met.
After rallying at Hilldale for several hours, the group then started down University avenue around 9:30 p.m. -- blocking traffic as they marched toward the Capitol, arriving right around 11 p.m.
The march stayed peaceful throughout, with protesters on foot at times chanting and those in cars honking horns.
Upon arrival at the Capitol, the group joined in with another group already having a demonstration.
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