Patrick Lyoya supporters march in Grand Rapids after mistrial
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — After gathering outside the Kent County courthouse in downtown Grand Rapids Thursday evening, protesters took to the streets to march. It comes after a in the murder case against former police officer Christopher Schurr.
An active group of demonstrators chanted things like 'Justice for Patrick' and 'All Black lives matter.' Someone beat a drum and some passing vehicles honked their horns. People held signs that read things like 'Convict Schurr,' 'No justice, no peace' and 'Justice for Patrick.' At one point, the group put their fists up as a song played.
They marched from the courthouse to the Grand Rapids Police Department headquarters and back. They sometimes encountered GRPD and Michigan State Police officers on bicycles, who told them to stay on the sidewalk.
Lyoya family after case is declared mistrial: 'We will keep fighting until we get justice'
One supporter said the group had planned to rally after a verdict was reached, but even though there's no verdict, people came anyway to show their support for the Lyoya family after the mistrial.
'I was very angry, I was very upset. I guess, in a way, I'll take this over an acquittal as long as a retrial does happen. In my opinion, I think this case is very cut and dry. I think this officer deserves to be punished for killing Patrick Lyoya. But I just hope that this process doesn't take another three years,' said supporter Aly Bates.
No decision yet on whether to retry Christopher Schurr
As Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack stood in front of a classic American flag, he asked people to recall the flag Schurr demonstrators had been carrying the last two weeks outside the courthouse.
'What color was that flag? Blue, white and black. That flag is sometimes also at the Grand Rapids Police Department. That means when they killed Patrick Lyoya, they're not doing it under the American flag that we're all united under — they're doing it under the blue, white and black flag.'
He called for the removal of 'Thin Blue Line' flags on all taxpayer-funded city property.
'If there is any flag being flown in any city property besides the United States flag, then the red, black and green flag should be there, the LGBTQ flag should be there … every flag that represents the cloth of our humanity here should be in that city building,' Womack said.
'If there is any flag being flown at that police station other than the taxpayers' flag, it's got to go,' he said, while leading a chant. 'It's got to go! It's got to go!'
West Michigan pastors after mistrial: 'Justice must not be selective'
'We have to dismantle their train of thought because every building and every police officer's gun is paid for by your tax dollars,' Womack added. 'Have they forgot who they work for?'
Emotions have been high all week as jury deliberations continued. On , officers intervened and one person was taken into custody as demonstrators got loud outside the courthouse.
After 4 p.m., a person was arrested outside of the Kent County courthouse in Grand Rapids. News 8 was told that this person was an anti-Lyoya heckler.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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