Posted on August 10, 2011

Police: No Hate Crimes at State Fair

Nick Iannelli, 620 WTMJ, August 9, 2011

West Allis police have released new information on the incident at the Wisconsin State Fair on opening night during which large groups of people caused widespread violence.

The police department issued a statement with details of arrests, saying “None of these incidents possessed elements that would compel the pursuance of a ‘hate crime’ prosecution.”

Witnesses reported attacks on the opening night of the fair that seemed to be racially motivated with young African Americans beating up white fair goers, but police say at this point there is not enough evidence to support such claims.

The report lists only a handful of arrests but there were more than two dozen so the investigation is ongoing.

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