AKRON, Ohio — Akron became a hotbed of protests this summer, following the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker by police officers. Activists said more than 75 people were arrested and are facing charges.
What You Need To Know
- Several local organizations launched a campaign demanding that the city of Akron drop criminal charges for more than 75 people arrested in relation to Jayland Walker protests
- Activists said they are facing charges that range from disorderly conduct to failure to disperse
- The groups claim the charges are unfounded and want protesters' records expunged
On Thursday, several local organizations including the Akron Bail Fund, the Akron Democratic Socialists of America, Serve the People Akron and The Freedom BLOC held a press conference to address the city.
They asked officials to expunge the records of all of the people who have been arrested during the Jayland Walker protests.
They said they believe that the charges, which they say range from disorderly conduct to failure to disperse and rioting, are unfounded.
During the press conference, several people spoke about how they say they were treated by law enforcement in Akron during these events.
They described mass arrests and the use of tear gas.
A 12-year-old claimed to have been put in handcuffs after his mother was arrested while leaving a protest on July 7.
“They had guns pointed to our faces. They put us in handcuffs and zip ties," the boy said. "I was arrested with no shoes on. They took my phone. I still haven’t got my phone. They took our car and our house keys, and we still don’t have them.”
“I’m 12 years old and I was handcuffed and Akron police zip-tied the rest of my friends.”
Along with the charges being expunged, organizers also requested that the city reimburse all fees and fines accrued from these incidents.