Latest news with #GrandRapidsCityCommission
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Decision not to retry former police officer sparks outrage among Grand Rapids residents
Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz 'No Justice, No Peace' and 'Justice for Patrick' chants were heard again in downtown Grand Rapids Thursday, as community members gathered to demand justice for Patrick Lyoya and accountability for Grand Rapids police. Dozens of demonstrators rallied with signs in hand at the doors of the Kent County Courthouse to share their frustration and anger against the decision by Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker not to seek a second trial against former Grand Rapids Police officer Christopher Schurr. Schurr was charged with second-degree murder and later fired from the police force after fatally shooting Lyoya, a Black Congolese refugee, in the back of the head while he was facing the ground following a traffic stop on April 4, 2022. The confrontation escalated into a struggle when Lyoya tried to flee after failing to produce a driver's license. During the announcement of his decision, Becker noted his decision was based on the fact that 'there was never a majority for a guilty verdict' among the 12 jurors, whom he interviewed after the mistrial was declared May 8. Thursday's 'emergency rally' was organized by organizations including the Grand Rapids Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression, demanding a retrial on the Schurr case. 'I'm going to be very clear in saying that if the Grand Rapids City Commission is not willing to listen to us and reform the police, there may be a time for us to escalate. That doesn't mean being violent, but it does mean maybe we need to disrupt the way that things are done in this city,' said Ivan Diaz, 27, a Michigan State senate candidate. The rally was just the latest outlet for members of the public to vent their anger. Days after the mistrial, community members gave passionate comments at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting, demanding justice for Lyoya and accountability over police actions. Additionally, on May 15, the NAACP organized a community listening session where residents expressed their experiences with police abuse and their outrage over the mistrial. 'I am going to keep showing up with everyone of you until we get the changes that we need. Because if we don't, one of us, or one of our family members or friends, we will continue to be at risk of becoming Mother Patrick, Mother Rowley, Mother Sammy,' Erykai Cage, 44, said during her speech. As the rally continued, more people began to approach the crowd, including Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand and Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack. However, only Womack stayed and took the microphone to address the public, while LaGrand limited himself to speaking to a few media members and some demonstrators around the crowd before leaving. 'What you have seen is supposed to be a trial. But what it has come down to is a test of our resilience. Does Grand Rapids go back to business as usual? Do the politicians who refuse to help change the policies and laws surrounding police and community relations, do they go back to business as usual? We have to be resilient,' Womack told the crowd. Womack's speech raised concerns among the audience about the absence of other politicians, with people asking why other commissioners weren't present. 'The only thing they care about is their careers. They do not care about anything else. And if you want to test me, you can say, 'Hey, maybe Commissioner Womack is just saying that.' Okay, then where the hell are they right now?' Womack said. Before the rally ended, the demonstrators chanted pro-Lyoya slogans and held up their signs. There was little police presence around the rally, and no counter protesters, so the gathering ended without incident. 'To me, this is personal because I'm a Black mother, and these children are, at the end of the day, somebody's children, and they are also members of my community. We're unheard. They [politicians] have everything that they wanted. This is what their decisions made, not ours,' Cage said. 'As long as I have breath in my body, I'm optimistic because I'm going to continue to do what I need to do in order to make sure that I see justice,' she finished. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Kent County Commissioner Robert S. Womack speaks to the press outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Grand Rapids Mayor LaGrand speaks to the press outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids on May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Demonstrators gathered outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids to rally against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Ivan Diaz, a Michigan State senate candidate, gives a speech outside the Kent County Courthouse in Grand Rapids against the decision not to retry Christopher Schurr. May 22, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Community members condemn Grand Rapids Police at city commission meeting
Micah Colby, 21, addresses the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Approximately 50 residents gathered at a Grand Rapids City Commission meeting Tuesday where some voiced calls for justice for Patrick Lyoya during public comments. The meeting followed last Thursday's mistrial of Christopher Schurr, the white ex-Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot Lyoya, a Black motorist, following a 2022 traffic stop. Schurr pulled Lyoya, a Congolese immigrant, over on April 4, 2022 for having a license plate that didn't match the car he was driving. When Lyoya couldn't produce a driver's license, Schurr attempted to place him under arrest, at which point Lyoya attempted to flee. A struggle ensued, which ended when the officer pulled out his handgun and fatally shot Lyoya in the back of the head. The mistrial followed nearly a week of deliberations. A round of intense comments from more than a dozen residents wanting justice for Lyoya and changes within the police department came after the city's budget agenda. 'In our city, the police are out of control. As of right now, the police have no accountability and unfortunately, you cannot have a militarized police force that thinks that they are allowed to use force in that way,' said Micah Colby, 21. 'Under the Trump administration, the funding and militarization of the police is dangerous,' Colby highlighted. As the comments in support of Lyola continued, some Schurr supporters in the back of the room scoffed at the speeches, generating some tension in the meeting. Jeff Osborne, a man wearing a Trump polo shirt with the phrase 'fight' emphasized his support for the police during his public commentary. 'The cop protected us from the mob during the protests. I just want to thank the boys in blue,' said Osborne. As the meeting progressed, community members criticized the police's actions and the lack of justice. 'It's always the same thing. The thin blue line is a gang. It's all across the country. I've watched as they've celebrated behind barriers, under those thin blue line flags after they've killed black and brown bodies,' said Kenneth Cortez, 37. Towards the end of the meeting, when the commissioners were giving their final comments, they were disrupted by Lyoya supporters without escalating the situation. 'It is great comfort to me to have people up here who have a heart for justice and for trying to serve this community. It is very hard to not pretend we are perfect,' said Mayor David LaGrand before being interrupted by some residents when he was referring to Schurr. 'He [Shurr] murdered somebody,' was heard from the public. The meeting ended after LaGrand's comments without any incident. Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker has yet to decide whether he will seek a retrial of Schurr. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz The Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Micah Colby, 21, addresses the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Micah Colby, 21, addresses the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Attendees at the Grand Rapids City Commission meeting on May 13, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands of GR voters will soon have new polling spot after city commission vote
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids City Commission voted Tuesday to approve an ordinance that eliminates 15 voting precincts and will change the polling locations for thousands of voters. Following a public hearing Tuesday evening, commissioners passed the changes with a 6-1 vote. The only no vote came from 3rd Ward Commissioner Kelsey Perdue, who said she wanted to consider alternatives and was concerned the changes could have unintended consequences for parts of the community. 'My concern with this proposal is the disparate impact it will have on some parts of our community,' Perdue said in a morning meeting ahead of the evening vote, adding that she wants to know more about the 21,700 voters who will soon have a new polling location. 'I see a huge blind spot on who this will impact.' Grand Rapids commission mulls whether to change voting precincts Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp previously told News 8 that this past election, around 42,000 people voted in-person on Election Day, compared to the nearly 35,000 that voted absentee and the near 20,000 that voted early. He said those numbers sparked the proposed precinct changes. The ordinance decreases the number of precincts in the city from 74 to 59. Wards 1 and 2 will each have 20 precincts, while Ward 3 has 19. Of the 15 eliminated precincts, three are in Ward 1, five are in Ward 2 and seven are in Ward 3. With the changes, about 21,700 voters — 13% of all voters — will have a new polling location, according to a Tuesday morning presentation from the city clerk. Some of the precincts set to be consolidated already have the same polling location. Other combinations will mean some will vote in a new location. Pricier parking tickets, decreased property tax, 22 new jobs: What's in proposed GR budget Some precincts will not be combined but will have their polling location moved to another spot within the precinct. Polling locations that will no longer be used — whether due to those moves or due to precinct combinations — are Shawmut Hills and GRCC M-Tec in Ward 1, East Leonard and Aquinas College in Ward 2, and Sigsbee, Mulick Park, Adams Park Apartments and Boston Square Church in Ward 3. Before heading to the polls, voters should check their polling location at to see if it has changed. — News 8's Adriana Doria contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Grand Rapids commission mulls whether to change voting precincts
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Grand Rapids City Commission is considering a proposal from the city clerk that would change the number of voting precincts in the city. The proposal, passing in its first reading at Tuesday night's commission meeting, would decrease the number of precincts from 74 to 59. That is a total of 15 precincts eliminated: three in the 1st Ward, five in the 2nd Ward, and seven in the 3rd Ward. The commission voted 6-1 to move the proposal to a public hearing, which will be held on April 29. At that time, it can either be modified, passed or rejected. The one 'no' vote was from 3rd Ward Commissioner Kelsey Perdue, who told News 8 she feels the proposal is a threat to voter accessibility. Allendale schools asking for $88 million bond for improvements 'There are still a ton of Grand Rapidians that are really relying on the convenience on being able to show up on Election Day and cast their ballot and be a part of this participatory democracy,' Perdue said. 'Everyone across the city should be concerned about this, reducing voting sites, making it more difficult, making it more inconvenient is a threat to voter access for all.' A stark difference of opinion came from Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand, who was one of the six 'yes' voters to the proposal. 'More precincts, more places to vote does not necessarily mean better voter access,' LaGrand told News 8. 'I vote at Westminster Presbyterian Church. If you close that place down and open up five new basement operations in people's houses, you wouldn't have better access to voting, you'd have more locations, but they would be way worse than the current, very visible, very accessible one.' Grand Rapids City Clerk Joel Hondorp told News 8 that this past election, around 42,000 people voted in-person on Election Day, compared to the nearly 35,000 that voted absentee and the near 20,000 that voted early. Those two totaling more than those who voted on Election Day, which he said sparked the proposed precinct changes. 'A lot of voters know this, you go into your voting place and there are two precincts voting in the same building, well it makes a lot of sense to consolidate those precincts then and have one line not two so you don't get in the wrong line and miss your chance to vote,' LaGrand said. 'Making sure we have really accessible locations for people with disabilities that are really visible.' Grand Rapids Mayor LaGrand delivers first State of the City address But limiting precincts by either eliminating or combining them together is something commissioner Perdue said she feels will disproportionately impact disenfranchised communities, especially constituents in her ward. 'When you think about the people who rely a ton on that day of Election Day, voting is young voters, it is first-time voters, it is infrequent voters. We need to make sure we keep as many options open for them as possible, make it as easy to vote right now, not make it harder,' she said. Now that the proposal has passed the first reading, it will be brought up for final votes at the next commission meeting on April 29. From there, if it were to pass, the new plans would go into effect for the upcoming midterm election. 'I am going to go every ward and make sure that every location actually is a net improvement for voters and if we need to add some locations back in, I will make sure that and I and the other commissioners make that happen,' LaGrand said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
