Hundreds protest police shooting in Grand Rapids of Patrick Leya

GRAND RAPID – Demonstrators in Grand Rapids had a message for police during Wednesday’s march: Enough, and accountability need now.

Hundreds marched through the downtown on Wednesday night hours after the local police department released the footage of an officer fatally shot Patrick Leuille, a 26-year-old Congolese refugee, during an April 4 stopover.

For many who let’s go, Leya death was sign that the police are being reformed and accountability pledge in 2020 in commemoration of in murder of George Floyd in Police in Minneapolis didn’t matter.

“I don’t think the establishment will ever listen us”said Brian Foster, a black man. who attended demonstrations. “His in them best interest not to. It in them best interest in continuing this war against my people gone forever.”

Speakers at event called for police accountability in commemoration of Leuyi death.

“We need justice. We need change. We can’t keep doing this,” Brianna Pearson said. “This shit is exhausting, man. I know of all of all I know I’m crying talking about this shit.”

More: Grand Rapids police release video of officer fatally shoots Patrick Ley

“No matter what of Colour of his skin, this man should weren’t killed,” DeAndre Jones said. of “Black Lives Matter”, “No Justice No Peace” and “Name That Killer” screamed in front of GRPD headquarters.

Name of the officer who the shot Leia was not released, he was not charged. GRPD chief Eric Windstrom told the officer: who white, was placed on paid administrative leave.

After the speakers addressed the crowd, they marched through the station, walking around several blocks, including down a street named after Breonna Taylor.

They kept up signs with the inscriptions: “Silence is violence” and “No justice, no peace.”

The protest looked peaceful. Some businesses through street wooden boards were installed in expectation of potential violence, but how of 20:30, no one was in sight.

Man who said he knew the victim, Jimmy Barwan, was speaking to the crowd.

“Whose streets? Our streets! the crowd chanted before the march.

There was little visible police presence during the demonstration. City of Grand Rapids salt trucks used to cordon off off certain roads to vehicles bye march took place.

The demonstrators continued to march until approximately 9:30 pm, stopping at Veterans Memorial Park near the city center. The speakers said they would return on Thursday before calling on everyone in attendance to find buddy before leaving and walk one.

Leia was pulled out over for mismatched license plate near an intersection of Nelson Avenue and Griggs Street on April 4, according to police.

In a video released by the police of incident, Leya receives out of in car and officer gets out and tells him to get back in in car. The officer asks for his driver’s license and then keeps asking if Leia speaks English because of possible language barrier.

Then Leia appears. run around the car the officer chases and knocks him down on front lawn of a house.

They struggle and an officer can be heard telling Leia to “stop” and “let go of Taser.

After about 90 seconds, the officer lies on upper of Lei, who face down on earth, still screaming for let him go of Taser” and continues to fire at him.

No charges filed against The officer. Kent County Attorney Chris Becker. office pending for Michigan State Police investigation of complete shooting before deciding whether to file charges.

BUT news conference with Leuyi family is an set for 13:30 Thursday at the local church.

Contact Arpan Lobo at alobo@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo.