Reflecting on the 3rd Anniversary of the GRPD murder of Patrick Lyoya
Today is the 3 years since GRPD officer Christopher Schurr stopped Patrick Lyoya for a traffic violation and ended up sitting on top of him and shooting Patrick in the back of the head.
GRIID has written 56 articles about the GRPD killing of Patrick Lyoya, all of which are included below in chronological order. There have been few issues that I have written about so frequently since I began blogging in 2009, but the GRPD killing of Patrick Lyoya is a matter that we all need to think about and act on.
Some of the main issues I have addressed over the past 3 years are:
- The City of Grand Rapids and the GRPD have attempted to control the narrative about what happened to Patrick Lyoya, often wanting to blame Lyoya for not “cooperating with the cop who shot him in the back of the head. From the first Press Conference the City had, to the release of the body cam footage , to the City’s attempt to silence those demanding Justice for Patrick, over the past 3 years the City officials and the Chief Winstrom have not been willing to take responsibility for Patrick Lyoya’s death.
- The local news media has demonstrated a clear bias in reporting on what happened, the public response and the ongoing legal case of Christopher Schurr. There has been a concerted effort to sanitize who Christopher Schurr is. There have also been local news stories that center the voices of GR City officials at an event organized by the African Diaspora community. Then there are stories that provide favorable coverage of the cop who shot Patrick Lyoya.
- There have also been several FOIA requests related to the GRPD murder of Patrick Lyoya and how the GRPD has responded to those organizing to demand justice for Patrick Lyoya. In both cases, there were large sections of the FOIA documents redacted.
- There have been very few commercial media stories that center those demanding justice for Patrick Lyoya. GRIID has done more stories with organizers than what the local news agencies have. Such as:
- One issue that has been completely absent from the local news coverage is what I wrote earlier on in this case. My article, US State-sponsored violence caused Patrick Lyoya’s family to flee the Congo, then it murdered him on the streets of Grand Rapids, was a story that the commercial media should have told.
- Another important aspect of the public response to what happened Patrick Lyoya is a lack of conversation about possible legal outcome(s) regarding the trial of Christopher Schurr, along with developing plans for how the movement might respond. In June of 2022, I wrote an article entitled, We need to think about and develop strategies in the event that Officer Schurr is not charged or found guilty of killing Patrick Lyoya.
Lastly, I think it is worth pointing out that the police murder of civilians is so normalized in the US, especially when Black and Brown people are murdered. According to mapping violence, since 2022, the year that Patrick Lyoya was killed by the GRPD, there has been an average of 1300 civilians per year killed by cops, with a disproportionate number of those being Black and Brown civilians. While people are up in arms about what the Trump Administration is doing, we have to come to terms with the fact that for marginalized communities it is a shit show regardless of who sits in the White House. Why are there thousands of white people at rallies in Grand Rapids when their social security is being threatened, but cops killing Black people doesn’t get them to leave their homes?
Patrick Lyoya stories in chronological order:
GRPD shoots and kills 26 year old Black man: Deconstructing the PR Spin, also known as a Press Conference https://griid.org/2022/04/05/grpd-shoots-and-kills-26-year-old-black-man-deconstructing-the-pr-spin-also-known-as-a-press-conference/
US State-sponsored violence caused Patrick Lyoya’s family to flee the Congo, then it murdered him on the streets of Grand Rapids https://griid.org/2022/04/10/us-state-sponsored-violence-caused-patrick-lyoyas-family-to-flee-the-congo-then-it-murdered-him-on-the-streets-of-grand-rapids/
Government Officials have been overwhelmingly silent after a GRPD officer shot and killed Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids https://griid.org/2022/04/11/government-officials-have-been-overwhelmingly-silent-after-a-grpd-officer-shot-and-killed-patrick-lyoya-in-grand-rapids/
Managing Public Dissent: Grand Rapids City Officials continue to practice a Managerial form of racism on display during the City Commission meeting https://griid.org/2022/04/13/managing-public-dissent-grand-rapids-city-officials-continue-to-practice-a-managerial-form-of-racism-on-display-during-the-city-commission-meeting/
Sanitized language and deflection were the dominant themes of the Grand Rapids Release the Video Press Conference https://griid.org/2022/04/14/sanitized-language-and-deflection-were-the-dominant-themes-of-the-grand-rapids-release-the-video-press-conference/
Thoughts & Prayers: Don’t be fooled by safe responses from Elected Officials on the GRPD murder of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/04/14/thoughts-prayers-dont-be-fooled-by-safe-responses-from-elected-officials-on-the-grpd-murder-of-patrick-lyoya/
Deconstructing another statement from an elected official regarding Patrick Lyoya, who is also running as a State Representative later this year https://griid.org/2022/04/15/deconstructing-another-statement-from-an-elected-official-regarding-patrick-lyoya-who-is-also-running-as-a-state-representative-later-this-year/
Don’t be seduced by proposals to reform the GRPD: Now is the time to work towards Defunding the GRPD and the Abolition of Policing in Grand Rapids https://griid.org/2022/04/17/dont-be-seduced-by-proposals-to-reform-the-grpd-now-is-the-time-to-work-towards-defunding-the-grpd-and-the-abolition-of-policing-in-grand-rapids/
Don’t let GR City Officials dictate the terms of our resistance: Peaceful protest is code for non-disruptive actions https://griid.org/2022/04/18/dont-let-gr-city-officials-dictate-the-terms-of-our-resistance-peaceful-protest-is-code-for-non-disruptive-actions/
Politicians using the police shooting of Patrick Lyoya during an election year: Part III https://griid.org/2022/04/19/politicians-using-the-police-shooting-of-patrick-lyoya-during-an-election-year-part-iii/
A member of the Grand Rapids Public Safety Committee says that the Cop who killed Patrick Lyoya is also a victim https://griid.org/2022/04/21/a-member-of-the-grand-rapids-public-safety-committee-says-that-the-cop-who-killed-patrick-lyoya-is-also-a-victim/
Police Reforms will never stop the cops from murdering people in Grand Rapids https://griid.org/2022/04/25/police-reforms-will-never-stop-the-cops-from-murdering-people-in-grand-rapids/
Countering the narratives that are being created to defend Chris Schurr, the cop who killed Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/04/26/countering-the-narratives-that-are-being-created-to-defend-chris-schurr-the-cop-who-killed-patrick-lyoya/
Body Cameras did not prevent Patrick Lyoya from being killed and Body Camera Training legislation will not keep any of us safe https://griid.org/2022/04/29/body-cameras-did-not-prevent-patrick-lyoya-from-being-killed-and-body-camera-training-legislation-will-not-keep-any-of-us-safe/
We don’t need to hear the opinions of people who are responsible for the death of Patrick Lyoya: WOODTV8 story should have centered the voices of the African Diaspora Community https://griid.org/2022/05/02/we-dont-need-to-hear-the-opinions-of-people-who-are-responsible-for-the-death-of-patrick-lyoya-woodtv8-story-should-have-centered-the-voices-of-the-african-diaspora-community/
Half of the GRPD FOIA documents are redacted, others reveal that the police viewed Patrick Lyoya as dangerous even after he was shot https://griid.org/2022/05/05/half-of-the-grpd-foia-documents-are-redacted-others-reveal-that-the-police-viewed-patrick-lyoya-as-dangerous-even-after-he-was-shot/
City Manager Mark Washington says No interruptions to normal operations will be tolerated in the City of Grand Rapids, even when the GRPD killed Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/05/09/city-manager-mark-washington-says-no-interruptions-to-normal-operations-will-be-tolerated-in-the-city-of-grand-rapids-even-when-the-grpd-killed-patrick-lyoya/
While Grand Rapids City Commission meeting is shut down again, local commercial news media fail to center the demands of those who are protesting the GRPD killing of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/05/11/while-grand-rapids-city-commission-meeting-is-shut-down-again-local-commercial-news-media-fail-to-center-the-demands-of-those-who-are-protesting-the-grpd-killing-of-patrick-lyoya/
Mayor Bliss threatens to change public meeting rules, previous commission meeting disruptions, and the Justice for Patrick Lyoya Movement https://griid.org/2022/05/12/mayor-bliss-threatens-to-change-public-meeting-rules-previous-commission-meeting-disruptions-and-the-justice-for-patrick-lyoya-movement/
Perpetuating biased narratives about the murder of Patrick Lyoya and centering the voices of City Officials: Local Commercial News Coverage of graffiti at City Commissioner homes https://griid.org/2022/05/17/perpetuating-biased-narratives-about-the-murder-of-patrick-lyoya-and-centering-the-voices-of-city-officials-local-commercial-news-coverage-of-graffiti-at-city-commissioner-homes/
Voice for the Badge finally breaks their silence over the GRPD murder of Patrick Lyoya with the One Bad Apple Theory https://griid.org/2022/05/18/voice-for-the-badge-finally-breaks-their-silence-over-the-grpd-murder-of-patrick-lyoya-with-the-one-bad-apple-theory/
There is more than one reason why the Kent County Prosecutor should recuse himself in the case of the GRPD killing of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/05/22/there-is-more-than-one-reason-why-the-kent-county-prosecutor-should-recuse-himself-in-the-case-of-the-grpd-killing-of-patrick-lyoya/
MLive article on Officer Christopher Schurr normalizes White Supremacy and White Saviorism https://griid.org/2022/05/23/mlive-article-on-officer-christopher-schurr-normalizes-white-supremacy-and-white-saviorism/
The Grand Rapids Office of Oversight and Public Accountability is receiving $750,000 from the Kellogg Foundation despite their ongoing complicity in the GRPD murder of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/05/24/the-grand-rapids-office-of-oversight-and-public-accountability-is-receiving-750000-from-the-kellogg-foundation-despite-their-ongoing-complicity-in-the-grpd-murder-of-patrick-lyoya/
Is the family of Patrick Lyoya being used for political purposes again? https://griid.org/2022/05/26/is-the-family-patrick-lyoya-being-used-for-political-purposes-again/
What I learned at the Press Conference hosted by the Grand Rapids Association of Pastors, speaking out on the GRPD killing of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/06/01/what-i-learned-at-the-press-conference-hosted-by-the-grand-rapids-association-of-pastors-speaking-out-on-the-grpd-killing-of-patrick-lyoya/
We need to think about and develop strategies in the event that Officer Schurr is not charged or found guilty of killing Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/06/07/we-need-to-think-about-and-develop-strategies-in-the-event-that-officer-schurr-is-not-charged-or-found-guilty-of-killing-patrick-lyoya/
Reactions and responses to the news that GRPD cop Christopher Schurr is being charged with second-degree murder https://griid.org/2022/06/10/reactions-and-responses-to-the-news-that-grpd-cop-christopher-schurr-is-being-charged-with-second-degree-murder/
The Grand Rapids lawyers defending the killer cop, Christopher Schurr, already want to control the narrative about the murder of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/06/12/the-grand-rapids-lawyers-defending-the-killer-cop-christopher-schurr-already-want-to-control-the-narrative-about-the-murder-of-patrick-lyoya/
Once again the Grand Rapids commercial news media presents a narrative that favors the ex-GRPD cop who killed Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/06/22/once-again-the-grand-rapids-commercial-news-media-presents-a-narrative-that-favors-the-ex-grpd-cop-who-killed-patrick-lyoya/
The Ferguson Effect, handling protesters and other fallacies at the GRPD Press Conference on Friday https://griid.org/2022/06/26/the-ferguson-effect-handling-protesters-and-other-fallacies-at-the-grpd-press-conference-on-friday/
While well intentioned, MLive editorial is decades late and still relies heavily on the GRPD for reporting on Public Safety https://griid.org/2022/07/25/while-well-intentioned-mlive-editorial-is-decades-late-and-still-relies-heavily-on-the-grpd-for-reporting-on-public-safety/
Deconstructing the new sanctity of life policy from the GRPD https://griid.org/2022/07/27/deconstructing-the-new-sanctity-of-life-policy-from-the-grpd/
The awful response I received from Sen. Peters about the GRPD murder of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/08/22/the-awful-response-i-received-from-sen-peters-about-the-grpd-murder-of-patrick-lyoya/
Free Speech, Hate Speech and the attempt by the Grand Rapids City Government to silence dissent https://griid.org/2022/08/25/free-speech-hate-speech-and-the-attempt-by-the-grand-rapids-city-government-to-silence-dissent/
According to the Grand Rapids Police Officer’s Association, it is a waste of tax payer money for a Black person to seek justice in this city https://griid.org/2022/09/06/according-to-the-grand-rapids-police-officers-association-it-is-a-waste-of-tax-payer-money-for-a-black-person-to-seek-justice-in-this-city/
The Black Freedom Struggle and the Justice4Patrick Movement in Grand Rapids https://griid.org/2022/09/19/the-black-freedom-struggle-and-the-justice4patrick-movement-in-grand-rapids/
The ongoing court case and Grand Rapids news media coverage of the ex-cop who murdered Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/09/25/the-ongoing-court-case-and-grand-rapids-news-media-coverage-of-the-ex-cop-who-murdered-patrick-lyoya/
While hearing began today in the case against the GRPD cop who murdered Patrick Lyoya, a public protest was held outside the court house demanding justice https://griid.org/2022/10/27/while-hearing-began-today-in-the-case-against-the-grpd-cop-who-murdered-patrick-lyoya-a-public-protest-was-held-outside-the-court-house-demanding-justice/
Witness testimony and character assassination: Local news coverage of the court hearing of Chris Schurr, the man who shot and killed Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2022/10/28/witness-testimony-and-character-assassination-local-news-coverage-of-the-court-hearing-of-chris-schurr-the-man-who-shot-and-killed-patrick-lyoya/
Solidarity for a Murderer: Thoughts and Prayers from the Grand Rapids Cop Union https://griid.org/2022/11/01/solidarity-for-a-murderer-thoughts-and-prayers-from-the-grand-rapids-cop-union/
GRPD Podcast is the latest tool in an ongoing effort to control the narrative around policing in Grand Rapids https://griid.org/2022/12/01/grpd-podcast-is-the-latest-tool-in-an-ongoing-effort-to-control-the-narrative-around-policing-in-grand-rapids/
Grabbing a cop’s taser is becoming a popular legal justification for police shooting of Black people https://griid.org/2022/12/05/grabbing-a-cops-taser-is-becoming-a-popular-legal-justification-for-police-shooting-of-black-people/
Patrick Lyoya was one of 1,181 civilians that were killed by cops in the US in 2022 https://griid.org/2023/01/08/patrick-lyoya-was-one-of-1181-civilians-that-were-killed-by-cops-in-the-us-in-2022/
Legal briefs, the use of force laws, the function of policing, and media framing in the ongoing case of an ex-cop who murdered Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2023/01/12/legal-briefs-the-use-of-force-laws-the-function-of-policing-and-media-framing-in-the-ongoing-case-of-an-ex-cop-who-murdered-patrick-lyoya/
The audacity of lawyers: Postponing the trial for the cop that murdered Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2023/02/12/the-audacity-of-lawyers-postponing-the-trial-for-the-cop-that-murdered-patrick-lyoya/
On the one year anniversary of the GRPD killing of Patrick Lyoya: GRIID Interview with a member of the Comrades Collective https://griid.org/2023/03/29/on-the-one-year-anniversary-of-the-grpd-killing-of-patrick-lyoya-griid-interview-with-a-member-of-the-comrades-collective/
“It was like a funeral procession”: Comrades Collective organized a Justice4Patrick caravan in the neighborhood where the GRPD killed the Congolese immigrant https://griid.org/2023/04/03/it-was-like-a-funeral-procession-comrades-collective-organized-a-justice4patrick-caravan-in-the-neighborhood-where-the-grpd-killed-the-congolese-immigrant/
Those in power have been telling us behind closed doors not make any noise about the murder of Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2023/09/01/those-in-power-have-been-telling-us-behind-closed-doors-not-make-any-noise-about-the-murder-of-patrick-lyoya/
Organizers hold space for Patrick Lyoya during candlelight vigil on the 2nd anniversary of his murder https://griid.org/2024/04/05/organizers-hold-space-for-patrick-lyoya-during-candlelight-vigil-on-the-2nd-anniversary-of-his-murder/
The GRPD detained one, arrested a second person, then disrupted traffic for more than 30 minutes in order to prevent a march demanding justice for Patrick Lyoya https://griid.org/2024/04/07/the-grpd-detained-one-arrested-a-second-person-then-disrupted-traffic-for-more-than-30-minutes-in-order-to-prevent-a-march-demanding-justice-for-patrick-lyoya/
Local commercial news coverage of the 2nd anniversary of Patrick Lyoya’s murder and the organized events by grassroots activists https://griid.org/2024/04/08/local-commercial-news-coverage-of-the-2nd-anniversary-of-patrick-lyoyas-murder-and-the-organized-events-by-grassroots-activists-is-superficial-at-best/
GRIID Interview with Jose Rodriguez: Police repression happens when activists want to hold the GRPD accountable https://griid.org/2024/05/06/griid-interview-with-jose-rodriguez-police-repression-happens-when-activists-want-to-hold-the-grpd-accountable/
GRIID Interview with Ky: Police repression happens especially when activists want to hold the GRPD accountable https://griid.org/2024/05/20/griid-interview-with-ky-police-repression-happens-especially-when-activists-want-to-hold-the-grpd-accountable/
GRPD Chief Winstrom just lied to a reporter from MLive https://griid.org/2024/05/24/grpd-chief-winstrom-just-lied-to-a-reporter-from-mlive/
FOIA request took more than a year to get regarding GRPD surveillance and arrests of those protesting Patrick Lyoya’s murder https://griid.org/2024/09/10/foia-request-took-more-than-a-year-to-get-regarding-grpd-surveillance-and-arrests-of-those-protesting-patrick-lyoyas-murder/
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