GRAND RAPID – Demonstrators in Great Rapids on Saturday continued the protest fatal police shooting of Patrick Leya, 26-year-an old Congolese refugee returning for fifth day in a row of marches.
Leia was shot and killed by a Grand Rapids police officer on April 4 during a traffic stop. The officer was not charged in shooting. Grand Rapids Police Department release footage of Leia on set on Wednesday.
hundreds joined in demonstrations, with some groups traveling from out of state to participate. Speakers at event begged group to remain peaceful.
“Not give them reasonBrianna Pearson said. one of in event organizers, as the police set up a barrier to prevent group from continuing on Ottawa Avenue towards Van Andel Arena.
Artist Kid Rock gave a concert at Van Andel Arena. At several intersections near the arena, police built barriers separating marchers from those who came to the concert.
AT times the protesters stopped and confronted the police officers, shouting and chanting at the police, but without physical altercations. took place.
group eventually moved further from the city center, to one the point comes to a stop at the crossroads of Fulton Street and Sheldon Avenue.
“All of you should be proud of yourself,” said Cortez Rice, a Black Lives Matter activist in Minneapolis. Rice pleaded with the marchers to continue the demonstrations. in in city.
“Keep gathering together,” he said. “Keep coming up with rules rules or regulations and requirements from outside people and they will change.”
DeAndre Jones, one of local activists who participated in protests, pleaded group ask the representatives of their states pass removal of legislation qualified immunity for police.
Qualified immunity protects state and federal officials, including law enforcement officials, from personal liability unless official clearly violated established law, according to the National Conference of State legislatures.
Jones led the crowd in chant “Justice for all.”
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As of 22:00, the demonstrations were peaceful. Some in the crowd marched with machine guns, remaining on perimeter of in group and guiding the marchers to remain off sidewalks.
The procession has stopped on several occasions for organizers give safety instructions and hand signals for continue, stop, leftcorrectly and slowly down.
group moved to the front of police headquarters in the city center before continuing through the city times traffic blocking on busy crossroads, like at Ottawa Avenue and Michigan Street, where the exit off I-196.
A motorcycle and a Honda Civic led demonstrators through the city’s rig pace for in group.
chants of “Justice for Patrick”, “Whose Streets, Our Streets” and “Black Lives Matter” were played during the march.
Around 9 pm some of protesters attempted to enter the Amway Grand Plaza next to city Centre. The security team faced group at the door. Protesters remained at the door chanting “That’s what community looks likebefore the other demonstrators pleaded group to move on. In a few minutes group continuation of the march down Monroe Ave.
By 10 pm group stopped marching. Some demonstrators began to dance near Rosa Parks Circle, playing music through the loudspeaker.
Similar marches have been place everyday in Grand Rapids from Tuesday.
In a video released by Grand Rapids Police on Wednesday, after a police officer pulled over Leya car Leya didn’t seem to obey with officer’s requests. The officer grabbed him and Leia resisted, video show.
The officer hit him with his knee several times and appeared on times briefly grab him by the neck. The couple fought over officer stun gun before the officer shot Leia in in head. Leya was face down on ground when he was shot.
Contact Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.
