Feelings of disgust and determination are prevalent in Akron as the community calls for answers over the death of Jayland Walker, who was shot as many as 60 times by Akron police more than a week ago.
Protests over the weekend prompted Akron鈥檚 mayor Dan Horrigan to , which was lifted Wednesday morning. About 50 people were arrested for charges of rioting and failure to disperse on Sunday, and local groups were at the jail Tuesday evening to deliver bail money they鈥檇 raised.
Protesters also wereby authorities from the sheriff鈥檚 office Tuesday night as they demonstrated outside the Summit County Jail.
, a 25-year-old Black man, after a vehicle and foot pursuit in the early hours of June 27. Police have said Walker shot a gun while he was driving. During the foot pursuit, eight officers shot him after 鈥渁ctions by the suspect caused the officers to perceive he posed a deadly threat to them,鈥� according to police.
Walker was unarmed when he was killed, . The Summit County Medical Examiner鈥檚 office found more than 60 gunshot wounds on Walker鈥檚 body.
As the shooting is under investigation, community members are demanding both answers and accountability from the police. And now, instead of protesting, some residents are taking a different tack 鈥� demanding answers directly from public officials, said the Rev. Ray Greene Jr., a local organizer.
鈥淲e鈥檙e ready to put pressure on the right people," Greene said. "Instead of just marching down the street, yelling and screaming, we鈥檙e coming to see individuals that鈥檚 in charge with this happening. We need answers from the mayor, the public safety director, the prosecutor, city council.鈥�
Greene is the executive director of Freedom BLOC, a local Black-led civil engagement group. The group , which include firing and then prosecuting the eight officers who shot Walker.
The officers are currently on paid administrative leave, which resident Edmikia Minter also takes issue with.
鈥淵ou can see that he was unarmed, and they did not care," she said. "So, I don鈥檛 feel like they should be getting paid with our tax dollars and stuff.鈥�
Greene also wants the city to reform the department鈥檚 protocols for high-speed chases and traffic violations.
鈥淲hy are we high-speed chasing? This is 2022. We got cameras on the streetlights so you can see everywhere he鈥檚 going. Just go back, get the camera footage, and give him a ticket to him at his house. Send it to him in the mail,鈥� Greene said. 鈥淲e want to end high-speed chases and end the practice of pulling people over for traffic violations.鈥�
That鈥檚 also been heavy on the mind of Akron resident Ali Coker.
鈥淗e was the same age as me," Coker said of Walker. "I feel hurt in a sense that it could have been me. I have a tail light out on my car right now. There鈥檚 no telling how that stop would have went for me.鈥�
Freedom BLOC is also asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Akron Police Department, much like it did in Cleveland following the 鈥� another police pursuit that resulted in the death of two unarmed Black people.
Akron officials have declined to comment on Freedom BLOC鈥檚 demands. A protest is planned ahead of Monday鈥檚 city council meeting, where organizers plan to call for police reform.
Ultimately, Minter hopes that police and community members can work together on changing tactics and outcomes.
鈥淲e know all officers are not bad officers," she said. "We know that 鈥� But it鈥檚 hard to trust them when we鈥檝e got stuff like this happening. Help us help y鈥檃ll, how about that?鈥�
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