While Akron waits for a grand jury decision on whether to indict eight police officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker, church officials and community members are also focusing on peace, prayer and police accountability.
AKRON, Ohio – after a car chase through the city’s North Hill neighborhood at about 12:30 a.m. June 27. His death led to weeks of protests in the city, and thrusted Akron into the national conversation regarding police brutality. The city has refused to release the identities of the eight officers involved in the pursuit.
More than two dozen people closed the road down to one lane and decorated a memorial tree with candles, glow sticks and burning incense. Cars drove down Wilbeth honking their horns in support as demonstrators shouted “Jayland’s life matters.”“We are still fighting for justice for Jayland. The momentum is not stopping,” she said. “We need justice. Jayland’s family needs justice.”
Rev. R. Stacey Jenkins, Senior Pastor at the House Of Prayer For All People Church in Akron, placed both of his hands on the front doors of City Hall in prayer.“We pray that every person who walks through these doors, God, will look to you,” he said. “God, we ask that we will have good representatives of our city.”
Windows on City Hall were boarded up Monday and a temporary gated perimeter surrounds the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center and Summit County Courthouse. On Tuesday, some downtown businesses also boarded their windows.
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