Protests renew amid Congolese refugee murder in USA

Dozens of people gathered Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a new protest. The murder of Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese refugee, sparked calls for police reform.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, eastern USA, chanting “there is no justice in this nation” and “Justice for Patrick.”

The assassination of a 26-year-old Congolese-American galvanized anti-racism protests and calls for police reform.

On April 4, Patrick Lyoya was slain by a police officer during a traffic check in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Prior to the shooting, he seemed to be grappling on the ground for control of the officer’s taser, according to a video captured by his car’s passenger.

Nothing justifies the use of lethal force.

Lyoya’s killing is the latest in a long list of unarmed Black persons killed by police.

Patrick Lyoya’s parents stated that they left conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo only to have their “son shot” in the United States.

Attorney Ben Crump condemned what he termed a “unnecessary, unreasonable, excessive use of fatal force” by the officer, who “escalated a small traffic check into a lethal execution” at an emotional news conference.

He stated that there was nothing “to justify him going for his service handgun, taking it, placing it behind Patrick’s ear, and squeezing the fire. Blowing off his head.”

“If shooting citizens in the back of the head is wrong in Ukraine, then police shooting civilians in the back of the head is wrong here in Grand Rapids, Michigan,” he continued.

The Lyoya family’s attorneys are seeking to have the officer who opened fire identified, punished, and dismissed from the Police Department. He has been placed on paid leave in the meantime, awaiting the outcome of the state probe.

Congolese Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde denounced the killing as “cowardly” and demanded an inquiry. Patrick Lyoya leaves behind two children and a bereaved family.