'The eyes of the country are upon us': Akron prepares for decision in Jayland Walker case
Akron clergy, business owners and community leaders gathered this morning at Alpha Phi Alpha Homes' Founders Hall ahead of an expected decision as early as today by the special grand jury reviewing the Jayland Walker case.
The 11 a.m. press conference was a call for peaceful protest before, and in the wake of, any decision made by the grand jury considering whether the eight police officers who fatally shot Walker last year should face criminal charges.
"The night of June 27 was an undeniable tragedy for the Walker family, and a tragedy that has impacted the entire Akron community," said the Rev. Michael Murphy of Prevail Church. Murphy is also the Akron Police Department's chaplain.
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"The path forward here is not divisive energy or destruction of property," Murphy said. "The eyes of the country are upon us. The lines of communication are open between the police, the community, the city administration in a way that we've never seen before."
Murphy said that a group of churches, mental health professionals and community leaders will be standing by to provide resources like grief counseling to community members when a decision is released. The list has yet to be released.
Acknowledging that the days following a decision by the grand jury will be difficult, Murphy expressed his belief that the Akron community can get through it together, though it will take time and collaboration.
"While we will always remember Jayland, let us not forget who we are, and that's agents of change and children of God. We stand as ambassadors of peace, as the Walker family has asked, we too ask the community to remember Akron is home to everyone, yours and mine, and we respectfully ask that if you plan to protest, please do so, but do so nonviolently," Murphy said.
Murphy said that he hadn't been in contact with the Walker family recently.
Robert DeJournett, the Walker family's pastor and Walker's second cousin, said no one had reached out to him about today's press conference.
"I heard they said that the Walker family was asking for peace," DeJournett said. "Nobody even talked to us. So if, I don't know who's saying what about the Walker family, but nobody has talked to me about anything. No one from the police, no one from the city or anything like that."
Community leaders speak
Michael Irby, president of 100 Black Men of Akron Inc., said his organization believes in the right to protest. He also said that the eyes of the cities youth are turned toward community leaders, and how those protests are conducted will have an impact on their behavior.
"What they see is what they'll be," said Irby. "As leaders of this community, during the protests, we need to make sure we are protesting in a safe way and a positive way.
Renea Woods Baylor, owner of The Tea Lady Inc., said she doesn't believe that it was Akron residents who caused damage to downtown businesses during last year's protests.
"It's up to all of us, even if you're out there protesting, to protect us as well," Baylor said. "We need the support of our city residents to help us protect our investment, not just in downtown, but within our own community. It really breaks my heart to be prepared for something bad to happen."
This article will be updated.
Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Calls for peace continue as Akron awaits decision in Jayland Walker case
