The funeral for Patrick Lyoya was held on Friday in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On April 13, the 26-year-old Congolese refugee was shot in the head by a white Grand Rapids police officer. During the funeral, the Rev. Al Sharpton called on the police department to release the name of the officer who shot Lyoya.
Rev. Al Sharpton: “Every time we are suspected of something, you put our name out there. How dare you hold the name of a man that killed this man? We want his name!”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump also spoke at Patrick Lyoya’s funeral.
Benjamin Crump: “See, you must understand that this is not just a legal issue. This is not just a civil rights issue. But truly, Peter, this is a human rights issue. Because world leaders can’t condemn Russian soldiers shooting unarmed citizens in the back of the head in the Ukraine but then refuse to condemn police officers shooting unarmed Black citizens here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. If it’s wrong that you do it in the Ukraine, then it’s wrong that you do it in Grand Rapids.”