Sykes Recognizes the One-Year Anniversary of the Shooting of Jayland Walker

Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement to recognize the one-year anniversary of the police shooting of Jayland Walker.

"One year ago today, eight Akron police officers used excessive force to kill Jayland Walker," said Sykes. “Despite pledges of investigations and change, justice still has not been delivered to him and his family. I again am calling for justice, action, and accountability from the Akron Police Department. More work must be done to both rebuild trust between the police and the community and to change policies and practices in place so that these regrettable situations can be prevented.”

On Tuesday, a delegation of over 100 people traveled from Akron to Washington, D.C. to rally in front of the federal Department of Justice. The demonstrators renewed calls for a federal investigation of the Akron Police Department. This follows an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) investigation into the shooting and an April decision by a special grand jury to not press state charges against the eight officers involved in the shooting.

“I salute my friends, neighbors, and those from around the country who came together in D.C. to demand justice,” said Sykes. “I join them to call on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to use his authority to investigate the patterns and practices of the Akron Police Department.”

More information about today’s rally in D.C. can be found here.