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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Protesters marched through downtown Grand Rapids chanting and sometimes blocking traffic Friday night, demanding accountability for the police shooting death of Patrick Lyoya.
“Unless we all come together as people who love each other and human beings, what happened to Patrick in Grand Rapids is going to happen to someone in another city,” a protester told Fox News. named Dennis Boatwright.
“Ordinary people need to come out and hold our society accountable for its racist views,” Boatwright continued.
WATCH THE PROTEST:
Several rallies have taken place in downtown Grand Rapids since the fatal shooting of Lyoya by a police officer on April 4.
Protesters at times blocked traffic as they marched through downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan
(Fox News Digital/Lisa Bennatan)
MICHIGAN OFFICER WHO SHOT AND KILLED PATRICK LYOYA SHOULD BE PROSECUTED, SAYS LAWYER BEN CRUMP
The Grand Rapids officer pulled over Lyoya because his license plate did not match his car, police say. Lyoya got out of the car and began to leave the scene during the exchange, video released Wednesday by the city’s police department showed.
Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old man from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was shot dead by an officer on April 4.
(Grand Rapids Police Department)
After a brief chase on foot, the officer grabbed Lyoya and the two held on for about two and a half minutes, eventually struggling for the cop’s Taser. The officer shot Lyoya once in the head, killing him, according to Grand Rapids police.
After struggling with a Taser, the officer pulled out his handgun and shot Patrick Lyoya once in the head.
(Grand Rapids Police Department)
“We want equal justice. We want the police held accountable,” a protester named Angie told Fox News as she marched downtown.
Boatwright said “the policeman who killed Patrick, he should be charged.”
A protester holds a sign reading ‘This is an execution’ in front of a barricaded Grand Rapids police department
(Fox News Digital/Lisa Bennatan)
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A protester named Jackie said she wanted ‘justice for Patrick’ and ‘more training for the police’.
“There should be social workers. They should take courses on racism,” Jackie continued.
Another demonstration is expected on Saturday evening.
Fox Gt