(Daily Mail) Ohio police dispersed pepper spray at Black Lives Matter protesters after several aggressively approached and allegedly hurled rocks at them following the Jayland Walker grand jury decision.
BLM activists gathered on Copley Road in Akron on Wednesday to call for justice after a grand jury didn’t indict eight police officers, who shot and killed 25-year-old Walker in June 2022.
The state’s attorney general announced the officers wouldn’t be charged because Walker, who was shot with at least 46 bullets, was a threat to officers after shooting at them during a pursuit.
While Walker’s family claimed the protest was peaceful with several children involved, police said others were throwing rocks and bottles at officers moments before the officers pulled out the spray.
One video from the protest showed several activists becoming hostile toward police by flipping them off and shouting ‘f*** you’ while one man took off his shirt and yelled, ‘Imma die about this b****… imma burn this b**** down on my kids.’
Black Lives Matter activists were pepper sprayed by Akron, Ohio officers on Wednesday while protesting the Jayland Walker grand jury decision. Pictured: the protests on Wednesday
The activists gathered to protest the decision to not indict eight police officers, who shot and killed Walker in June 2022
Jayland Walker, 25, was shot dead by police in Ohio, with a medical examiner finding that he was shot or grazed 46 times when police fired a hail of bullets at him on June 27
The footage from the protest showed officers warning people to get out of the street and onto the sidewalks as several cars were parked in the streets.
Some officers were seen putting on gas masks as several protesters were shouting at them.
In another video, several protesters were seen getting close to officers as some chanted, ‘Hands up, don’t shoot.’
Later on, police were seen deploying pepper spray at the crowd while others screamed angry recalls.
Walker’s cousin, Demetrius Travis Sr., told Cleveland.com the protestors only started to wreck havoc when police arrived.
‘It was inexcusable and reckless of the mayor and the chief of police to disperse cops in riot and war gear, pepper-spraying and shooting off smoke bombs, with children involved, at a protest that was very peaceful,’ Travis said.
Akron Police Lt. Michael Miller said he wasn’t aware if police attempted to ‘declare an unlawful assembly’ before he used the pepper spray, according to the news outlet.
It’s unclear if any officers were injured.
While Walker’s family claimed the protest was peaceful with several children involved, police said others were throwing rocks and bottles at officers moments before the officers pulled out the spray
The footage from the protest showed officers warning people to get out of the street and onto the sidewalks as several cars were parked in the streets
In another video, several protesters were seen getting close to officers as some chanted, ‘Hands up, don’t shoot’
Protestors were seen calling for justice of Jayland following the grand jury decision
Several people stood with posters late Wednesday afternoon
Akron Police Lt. Michael Miller said he wasn’t aware if police attempted to ‘declare an unlawful assembly’ before he used the pepper spray, according to the news outlet
Police in #Akron, Ohio are deploying pepper spray after BLM & far-left rioters hurled projectiles at officers. The rioters are angry police weren’t indicted for shooting dead a black gunman last year following a car chase. pic.twitter.com/EoNsE6NJTP
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) April 20, 2023
“Go ahead, I dare you n—gers, I dare you n—gers, I’ma die about this bitch”
“Imma burn this bitch down, on my kids!”
A man rushes at @Akron_Police at the #BLM riot & threatens them. pic.twitter.com/7kM46yw2y3
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) April 20, 2023
