Peaceful Protesters Take to the Streets of Downtown Grand Rapids to Demand Justice for Patrick Lyoya

 

Author: Aly Bates @alytheeactivist                                                                                     Full Image Gallery Here

Yesterday afternoon a group of determined community members flooded the streets of downtown Grand Rapids united in the name of justice for Patrick Lyoya. A 26 year old Congolese refugee who lost his life at the hands of former Grand Rapids Police Officer, Christopher Schurr. The march organized by the Comrades Collective began at Fish Ladder Park around 2:30 PM, drawing a crowd of a little over 50 people, including Patrick’s parents and brothers. 

Before taking to the streets organizers made sure to hold a moment of silence to honor not only Patrick Lyoya but also Tiffany Parnell, a local activist and revolutionary who tragically passed away in December of 2023. Moving northbound towards the 6th street bridge, marchers could be heard chanting things like “This is what community looks like'' and “No cops at traffic stops.” accompanied by meaningful signage and  the sound of cowbells ringing.

With protest safety present on the ground and following along in vehicles, the peaceful demonstration began to cross the 6th street bridge but came to  a stop once one of the safety vehicles got pulled over by officers of the Grand Rapids Police Department. This prompted protest safety personnel to surround the vehicle to ensure the safety of the driver during the traffic stop. Despite the absence of clear justification, the driver received a ticket and was threatened with arrest. 

Undeterred by the Police’s presence, the march continued down the bridge and onto the Riveredge Trail where the march came to a halt, occupying the space and asserting the purpose of their presence to onlookers at the 6th street park. The organizers, cognizant of the family’s wishes, proceeded to lead the march through the parking lot and down Monroe Ave, heading towards the 196 overpass. However, the group was stopped once again by GRPD officers near the intersection of Monroe Ave and Townbridge St, this time resulting in the arrest of another safety vehicle driver. With at least 10 police cruisers present, many bystanders expressed their outrage and concern for the situation, some even mentioning how one of the officers present had their hand on their firearm. All of this is taking place as officers are seen searching through the vehicle before having it impounded. 

Despite encountering another interruption from the local police department, protesters remained resilient. With permission from the family to continue the march in the streets the crowd proceeded down Monroe pushing towards the direction of the Devos Hall and pausing at the Rosa Parks Circle for a well deserved break to hydrate with water provided by organizers. After the break the march reconvened up Breonna Taylor Way towards the Grand Rapids Police Department Headquarters where they were stopped for a third time by GRPD officers.

Emphasizing the escalating tension between Police officers and peaceful demonstrators practicing their first amendment rights, officers once again made threats of arrests, this time directed towards those marching in the streets. Rallying in front of the police department organizers of the Comrades Collective took the opportunity to educate the crowd on the significance of the Justice for Patrick Movement, highlighting their demands for accountability and further pushing the message of “No cops at traffic stops''.

As the protest drew to a close, the march concluded right where it began, at Fish Ladder Park, with organizers making closing remarks, thanking the community for their unwavering support, a sentiment that was echoed by the Lyoya family. Despite the challenges faced throughout the march the spirit of justice and solidarity overpowered any hurdles from the police stressing the importance of continuing the fight for justice for Patrick Lyoya

As activists dispersed making sure participants left safely, they proceeded to the Kent County Jail to await the release of their comrade who was arrested during the protest. After approximately four hours in holding, they were reunited with their fellow activists, embodying the unity and resilience that defines their fight for justice.

The protest serves as a stark reminder of how much of an impact police violence has on communities everywhere. But despite those impacts, the power of community members coming together in the pursuit of justice will always prevail. As the fight for justice is far from over with Patrick Lyoya’s killer, Christopher Schurr having yet to go to trial for second degree murder, the legacy of Patrick Lyoya continues to live on, inspiring unity and determination to confront injustice within the Grand Rapids community.