AKRON, Ohio — In the wake of the death of Jayland Walker, about 200 people attended an event Tuesday night designed to foster unity in the Akron community.
Walker is the 25-year-old Black man Akron police shot and killed in late June after they attempted to stop him for a broken light.
Police said Walker was unarmed when he was shot about 60 times by eight officers, kicking off two weeks of protests and rallies around the city, with some becoming violent.
The unity event was held in North Akron at the Remedy Church, one of the hosts, along with Love Akron, Until Freedom, Akron NAACP and the House of the Lord.
The event began with prayer and song, with musicians performing on a stage in front of a large blue screen with the word “heaven.”
Several members of the faith community spoke, incorporating a theme of unity into their messages.
The Remedy Church Pastors Deante and Lesa Lavender led the event, delivering a sermon about unity, and introducing the other speakers.
“Ninety shots on a young man is not only a lack of integrity, it is inhumane,” Deante Lavender said.
Even so, he said, those who fired their weapons are still part of this community.
“The goal is not to take up arms,” Lavender said. “It is to lock arms.”
Spoken word artist Tierra Kahli delivered a poem, while Rev. Ray Greene of the Freedom Bloc spoke, also preaching a message of unity.
“Leave here today with a message of love to talk to your neighbor and be unified,” Greene said.
Many of the speakers directly addressed the Walker family, extending their condolences.
Pastor Bryndon Glass shared a story about how, as a child, he and his friends knew when it was time to come home because the streetlights came on. Glass connected the streetlights coming on to the Black community returning to church.
Akron NAACP President Judi Hill also spoke, saying “we are better together.”
“We have to walk side by side with those who look like us and those who don't,” she said. “But who are all walking the path of justice for everyone.”
Kemp Boyd, executive director of Love Akron, acknowledged Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan and Police Chief Steve Mylett were in the audience. Boyd’s message of unity aligned with the other speakers.
Jayland Walker’s cousin, Roddray Walker Jr., delivered an emotional message.
“We must unite in times like these to mobilize our efforts to change the outcomes,” he said. “We need our brothers and sisters and allies in the streets protesting nonviolently.”
Walker said he had many memories with his cousin, as they shared the same birthdays. Growing up they practiced wrestling moves and played video games together.
In the summer, they were experts at catching lighting bugs in the yard, practicing trap and release, he said, except they caught the bugs in the yard and released them in the house.
Walker, like other speakers, emphasized the church.
“We’ve got to come together,” he said. “We’ve got to come back home.”
Bishop Joey Johnson, senior pastor of the House of the Lord, asked those gathered to stretch their hands toward the Walkers, as if praying.
He said when everyone is gone, the Walker family will need power to lift them up and comfort them.
Akron Civic Theatre. Calling hours will begin at 10 a.m. The Akron Civic Theatre is located at 182 S. Main St. in downtown Akron.