Tag Archive | Racism

“This choice is the definition of injustice”

May22
Patrick Lyoya

MLBC Responds to Dismissal of Charges Against Christopher Schurr

Following the mistrial related to the second degree murder charge against former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced todaythat he will drop the case. 

“It is deeply disappointing that the family of Patrick Lyoya and our community will not see a verdict and receive closure in this case. My heart remains with the Lyoya family as they continue to carry an unimaginable burden, and my community as we work to forge a path forward. This moment is a stark reminder of the urgent need for every level of our community — from law enforcement to elected leaders to residents — to come together to demand accountability, improve procedures, and ensure real protection for communities that remain disproportionately vulnerable to violence and injustice. The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus stands united in this call and remains committed to supporting the work of local leaders as we continue to push for true systemic change and justice,” said state Rep. Kristian Grant (D-Grand Rapids). 

The initial trial against Schurr ended with the jury deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous verdict, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial after nearly four days of deliberation.  

“This choice is the definition of injustice,” said state Rep. Amos O’Neal,  (D-Saginaw), chair of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus. “This is just another example of how the system has failed Black and Brown people — we need reform in our criminal justice structure. I will continue my efforts to bring more justice within our state.” 

“The whole state has been watching this case,” said state Rep. Jason Hoskins (D-Southfield). “The frustration felt by everyone rings true throughout our communities across the state. We must stay committed to the ongoing work of strengthening accountability and building a justice system that serves everyone with fairness and integrity.”  

“We should not condone impunity, and that is what this decision is,” said state Rep. Jimmie Wilson, Jr. (D-Ypsilanti). “This is a failure on the part of our system. I am frustrated and disappointed with this decision that leaves many with heavy hearts and unanswered questions. I am holding the Lyoya family in my thoughts as they continue to navigate this unimaginable grief.”  

Across the nation, 456 people have been killed by police this year. This reality is particularly acute for Black individuals, who are almost three times more likely to be killed by police than white people in the U.S. 

“The decision to not retry is difficult and felt by many. My heart is with the Lyoya family as they continue to carry this tremendous loss. Moments like this call us to reflect, to listen and to keep pushing for a legal system that is fair, transparent and worthy of the trust our communities can place in it,” said state Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit). 

“When I heard the news, my stomach dropped,” said state Rep. Cynthia Neeley (D-Flint). “A man was killed, and his family and friends are not seeing the justice they deserve. This moment is a solemn one — for the Lyoya family, and for all who are seeking clarity and justice. We owe it to every family to keep pushing for a justice system that truly serves us all.” 

Urban League of West Michigan Statement on the Mistrial in the Case of Christopher Schurr

May9

The Urban League of West Michigan calls on the Kent County Prosecutor to swiftly retry the
murder case against former officer Christopher Schurr without delay.

On April 4, 2022, our community experienced a tragedy that forever changed the lives of the Lyoya family, the Grand Rapids Police Department, and the collective spirit of Grand Rapids. That day became a defining moment—testing our values, our institutions, and our commitment to justice.

The recent mistrial in the case of former police officer Christopher Schurr has laid bare a deep
and painful divide in our community. This fissure runs through the very foundation of a city
striving to become a place where all people, regardless of race, background, or circumstance, can
truly thrive.


For those who have long carried the burden of a criminal justice system that too often fails to
serve them, this mistrial is a devastating reminder of that reality. It represents not just a legal
failure but a profound moral one. Communities repeatedly asked to place their trust in the system
are once again left reeling—disillusioned, hurt, and retraumatized.


This is a grave injustice the Lyoya family must now bear—not only today, but for the rest of
their lives. It is a wound that also marks the conscience of every Grand Rapidian who believes in
the promise of justice. Until every system—education, health, housing, economic, and criminal
justice—works for all, our community cannot and will not thrive.


Let us not forget the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to
justice everywhere.” An injustice to one is, indeed, an injustice to all.


The Urban League of West Michigan calls on the Kent County Prosecutor to swiftly retry the
murder case against former officer Christopher Schurr without delay. Additionally, we invite the
City of Grand Rapids Office of Oversight and Public Accountability (OPA) to an immediate and
transparent dialogue with us and the broader community. This conversation should focus on a
thorough examination of the training, policies, practices, and procedures currently in place
within the Grand Rapids Police Department – particularly in instances where these actions result
in a loss of life.

Our city’s future depends on the courage to confront hard truths and the will to make meaningful
changes. Justice delayed is justice denied—not just for one family, but for all of us.

Grievances Mount as North Lake Correctional Facility Hunger Strike Continues through Fourth Day

Apr9
92792222_893035397787225_1224929191124795392_nAbout ten inmates are moving into day five of a hunger strike, demanding adequate nutrition and basic healthcare services currently being denied, as well as religious freedom. CALL on 4/9 TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANT PRISONERS’ HUNGER STRIKE:

Immigrants imprisoned at the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan continued their hunger strike on Wednesday amid escalating complaints of inhumane conditions, violations of Federal Bureau of Prison regulations, and discriminatory treatment by staff. A group of men began the hunger strike on Sunday, April 5th. At the close of their fourth day of hunger strike, strikers reported that Facility Administrator Donald Emerson is aware of the strike and has attempted negotiations with at least some of the men.

Initial reports of the strike cited inadequate nutrition, lack of medical attention, and unequal treatment by prison staff, who have a history of fomenting tension among those detained. Some of the men who’ve been on hunger strike are followers of the Hebrew Israelite faith and report that they have faced religious discrimination. One of the men also reported that staff “demonstrated a lot of racism.” Conditions at North Lake are described as “unbelievable to humankind.” “There’s no way somebody’s supposed to live like this,” one of the men said Wednesday.

The strikers’ mounting grievances come amid increasing concern about COVID-19 in prisons and jails and worry that the facilities cannot provide the space necessary to follow the six-foot social distancing recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prisoners in touch with No Detention Centers in Michigan have described incredibly close quarters and below-regulation cell sizes at the North Lake Correctional Facility, which is operated by the GEO Group, a private prison company that contracts with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The spouse of one of the men participating in the strike has expressed concern about the well-being of her husband and said that staff at North Lake are now wearing masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Her husband and other inmates have not been given the same protection. Strikers noted other inequities during their contact with outside supporters on Wednesday, including lack of commissary access. Prisoners across the country are turning to commissary purchases to get cleaning products and protective equipment to guard against COVID-19 infection.

No cases of COVID-19 have yet been confirmed at North Lake, but there were 380 cases confirmed across Michigan prisons as of Tuesday. These include 262 prisoners and 118 prison staff. An additional two prisoners have died, as have two employees.

On April 8, No Detention Centers in Michigan made this plea via Facebook:

On Sunday, April 5th, approximately ten people incarcerated at the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Michigan launched a hunger strike in response to unsafe conditions and the mistreatment they have experienced inside the Special Housing Unit, or SHU. Their concerns include inadequate food and lack of access to medical attention. North Lake is a private immigrant-only prison operated by the GEO Group through a contract with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

“The main thing is the food,” said one incarcerated person, who stated that their diet had not been meeting the protein requirements of the federal prison system. In addition, he described a lack of proper medical care and treatment after an assault last month. Prison staff have repeatedly exacerbated violence inside the facility.

The majority of those currently on strike inside the SHU are Black men who have expressed serious fears for their safety, describing an inhumane and chaotic environment in which they have suffered racial repression, including administrative segregation within the SHU for over a month after a conflict in which they had not been involved.

“We’re tired of the mistreatment and lack of protection,” one person told No Detention Centers in Michigan last month. “Incidents have occurred and will occur in the future; it’s inevitable.”

“Prison experiences are all unpleasant but this is next-level for so many reasons,” another person wrote. “I have been to six prior institutions, and I have yet to witness a facility like this one. To subject anybody to these living conditions is offensive, racist, and unfair. Are foreign citizens any less human than U.S. citizens?”

Although members of No Detention Centers in Michigan are not currently aware of any suspected cases of COVID-19 inside this facility, the hunger strike comes at a time of grave new dangers facing incarcerated populations worldwide, who are unable to practice social distancing or other steps needed to prevent the spread of the virus and maintain public health.

“The experiences we’ve been hearing about inside North Lake are a reminder that prisons aren’t safe for anyone,” said Jonas Higbee, a member of No Detention Centers in Michigan. “At a moment when COVID-19 is spreading rapidly throughout the Federal Bureau of Prisons as well as Michigan’s state prisons and jails, this is also clear evidence that the GEO Group is not able to protect the people in their custody during a crisis. GEO already has a long history of neglect and abuse, and when people are telling us that they’ve been fearing for their lives even before the COVID-19 emergency, it’s an indication that a quarantine inside a prison is not the answer to a pandemic. As we’ve been starting to see around the country, starting with the most medically vulnerable, the federal government needs to find a way to release people immediately.”