Community members say they are sick of marching & want action taken following violent incidents

Featured photo: Community members recently gathered at the BLM (Black Lives Matter) zone, located on MLK and 5^th Street, after the shooting of Patrick Lyoya by Grand Rapids Police officers and an alleged violent attack on John Fleming, a Flint man.

Written by Tanya Terry

Members of the Flint and Genesee County community were asked to stand in solidarity after the shooting of Patrick Lyoya by Grand Rapids Police officers and asked to demand accountability. People of all races across the nation cried out following the death of Lyoya, who arrived in the United States as a refugee with his family fleeing violence.

“The brutal killing of Mr. Patrick Lyoya by Grand Rapids Police officers is a constant reminder of why we have to fight this system that has never worked for us,” said an email sent by DeWaun E. Robinson, president of Black Lives Matter Flint.

Community members who gathered together also said they were seeking justice for John Fleming, a Flint man.

Fleming was a suspect for retail fraud after he said he did not have to show his receipt when he reentered the Walmart on Corunna Road in order to get change for bus fare.

Officials said Fleming was released by Flint Township Police after officers verified he had not stolen from the store.

However, Fleming is alleging when he went to Hurley Medical Center to be treated for injuries that occurred while he was handcuffed by Flint Township Police, he was violently assaulted.

A video that was circulated on social media appears to show a group of officers pushing Fleming to the floor in the hospital’s doorway and appears to show one Genesee County Sheriff’s paramedic deputy punching Fleming several times.

At the BLM (Black Lives Matter) zone, located on MLK and 5^th Street, Robinson said the gathering was also a call to elected officials to make necessary policy changes.

“A lot of times we get left in the dust,” he continued. “They get elected to these offices and they don’t ever do the work or we don’t know what they contributed to. So, we don’t see them until it’s time to elect them again, and that type of stuff is unacceptable.”

“As a white mother with brown children, when my youngest boy who looks more African American than my oldest boy said he was going to Florida for spring break, you know how elated and happy I was as a single mom struggling, working two jobs, in poverty still-at the threshold,” said Sharon Campbell.”…But you know what I thought in a few seconds after that? As soon as my brown looking son crosses them southern lines and he’s got a blunt and he gets pulled over, guess what’s going to happen to him? Kapoow!”

Jasmine Burrell identified herself as Fleming’s sister. Burrell said her brother is an entrepreneur, a father of two kids and was at Walmart shopping for his business.

She said it shouldn’t take a person dying for the community and media to gather.

Burrell added: “Our Black folks shouldn’t have to die before we get attention.”