6/2/22 - Area Pastors Call For Justice

Area pastors hold a news conference and request "Call for Justice Sunday"

(WXMI - Grand Rapids) - The Grand Rapids Association of Pastors held a news conference and says this Sunday, is known as Pentecost Sunday and they are suggesting it also be a "Call For Justice Sunday" as well. 

They are demanding further action in response to the death pf Patrick Lyoya. They said they are tired of waiting for the results of the investigation and have signed a letter calling for police accountability now. 

On Monday morning April 4, a Grand Rapids police officer shot Patrick Lyoya during a traffic stop near the intersection of Nelson and Griggs.

Since then, Michigan State Police and subsequently Kent County prosecutor Chris Becker have been investigating his death.

Rev. Christy Lipscomb, is a pastor and co-founder of City Life Church. She read the letter outlining their demands. 

The first demand, they said, is that Becker recuse himself from the investigation.

“We’re talking 58 days from the time in which Patrick’s life was taken,” said Dr. Willie Gholston III of First Community AME Church. “Now it’s in the prosecutor’s hands and he’s the one that is actually delaying what is transpiring.”

The group said they’ve asked him on several occasions to recuse himself. They’re also asking that an outside prosecutor take the investigation or Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The letter, which the association said is a joint multicultural effort for change, also demands:

• A federal investigation conducted into the deadly shooting and into the ‘history and culture’ of GRPD
• For the community to have a seat at the table during police union contract talks
• Proper funding and resources for the Civilian Appeal Board and the Office of Oversight and Public Accountability so that change is achieved
• The City and GRPD respect people’s constitutional right to protest

Since the fatal shootings, more than a dozen protests and demonstrations have occurred throughout the state.

The pastors said their call for change doesn’t just stem from the fatal shooting of Lyoya. It also stems from other incidents like Jilmar Ramos-Gomez in 2019, the marine veteran who was given over to ICE officials despite having multiple forms of identification showing that he was U.S. citizen, and the 2017 incident of the five Black boys who were stopped by GRPD and held at gunpoint after walking home from the KROC Center.

“What we’re calling for is systemic change so that our communities are safer and that life is valued at a deeper level,” said Rev. Adam Lipscomb of City Life Church. 

Since the shooting happened, the pastors said that they’ve repeatedly met with city commissioners, Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, and Police Chief Eric Winstrom about police accountability and gun reform.

They said their efforts to see change will not end until justice for Patrick and others is achieved.

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