KALAMAZOO, Mich — A group of protesters has gathered at the Kalamazoo County Courthouse to stand in solidarity with those in Brooklyn Park, MN., protesting the death of Daunte Wright.
Just under 30 protestors gathered on the sidewalk in front of the Kalamazoo County Courthouse.
The organizers spoke with the city's mayor and public safety chief for around 40 minutes asking to see action.
"At this point, it is not if, it is a matter of when," said Quinton Bryant, one of the organizers of the protest.
That's what Quinton Bryant said if no action is taken in the city of Kalamazoo. He said he is speaking out to apply pressure to city leaders.
"First and foremost we are standing out here to stand in solidarity with the young man who was killed by police, Daunte Wright. We are also out here to let the community know that we are steady committed to leaning on the leaders of this town to do right by us," Bryant said.
#HAPPENING: Around 20 people are gathered outside of the #KalamazooCounty Courthouse to stand in solidarity with Brooklyn Park and the recent shooting. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/WBWzYadds4
— Lauren Kummer (@LaurenKummerTV) April 12, 2021
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley has spoken with organizers, who have agreed to protest peacefully.
Also in attendance was the City of Kalamazoo's Mayor David Anderson. Both of them said they denounce what happened in Minnesota.
"We need to keep talking so that we can be reassured in Kalamazoo. I believe that this man is doing this work. We need to believe that is not going to happen here in Kalamazoo. That is the reassurance," said David Anderson, the mayor of the city of Kalamazoo.
"The community, we have to come halfway so we can all be part of the collaboration. We are not pointing our finger at law enforcement. We are not pointing our finger at the residents. It is the community as a whole," said Chief Vernon Coakley withe Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.
Protestors have been out for about 30 minutes. They remain on the sidewalk and peaceful. @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/LSAgECP0Yq
— Lauren Kummer (@LaurenKummerTV) April 12, 2021
Chief Coakley said that includes training the officers and getting into the community to build relationships.
"We do want the chief to be a hero in this story of Kalamazoo. I don’t want anyone to think that we are against the chief or against police. We are against police brutality and policing that shouldn’t be going on in 2021," said Bryant.
Bryant said this work does not stop. They are going to continue to apply pressure to city leaders to make sure events like what happened in Minnesota don't happen in Kalamazoo.
Coakley warned those protesting to stay peaceful and know their first amendent rights in a video posted onKalamazoo Public Safety's YouTube page earlier today.
