GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Tensions ran high Thursday evening as protesters gathered outside the Kent County courthouse in downtown Grand Rapids, responding to the recent declaration of a mistrial in the murder case of former police officer Christopher Schurr. Demonstrators, many of whom had planned to rally regardless of the verdict, took to the streets to show their support for the family of Patrick Lyoya, the unarmed Black man fatally shot by Schurr in April 2022.
Chants of “Justice for Patrick” and “All Black Lives Matter” echoed through the streets as the crowd, some carrying signs with slogans like “Convict Schurr” and “No justice, no peace,” marched from the courthouse to the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) headquarters and back. A drumbeat punctuated the air as passing vehicles honked their horns in solidarity. At one point, the demonstrators raised their fists in unison as a song played, underscoring their collective frustration and demand for accountability.
As the march unfolded, the demonstrators encountered law enforcement officers from both the GRPD and Michigan State Police, who were present on bicycles. Officers instructed the protesters to stay on the sidewalks as they moved through the city streets. Despite this, the atmosphere remained charged, with protesters determined to make their voices heard.
A key figure in the rally, local supporter Aly Bates, expressed a mix of anger and cautious hope. “I was very angry, I was very upset,” Bates said. “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.”
Bates’ sentiments reflect the broader frustration felt by many in the crowd who are seeking justice for Lyoya, a case that has sparked a national conversation about police accountability and the treatment of Black individuals by law enforcement.
Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack also addressed the crowd, calling attention to the symbolism of a flag that had been carried by Schurr’s supporters in recent weeks. He noted that the blue, white, and black flag, often associated with law enforcement, was sometimes flown at the GRPD headquarters. “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,” Womack said.
Womack went on to call for the removal of any non-U.S. flags from government buildings, suggesting that only the U.S. flag, along with other flags representing marginalized communities, should be displayed. “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, leading a chant of “It’s got to go! It’s got to go!”
The rally came amid ongoing deliberations in the Schurr case, with emotions running high over the past week. On Tuesday, tensions escalated outside the courthouse, leading to an arrest when demonstrators became loud and disruptive. Authorities confirmed that a person was taken into custody for causing a disturbance, identified as an anti-Lyoya heckler.
As the legal proceedings continue and the prospect of a retrial looms, the protests in Grand Rapids show no signs of waning. For many, the call for justice for Patrick Lyoya remains as urgent as ever, with the community demanding accountability and change from the law enforcement system.
