An eyewitness account of the GRPD being on high alert in the past few weeks

I don’t usually like to post about myself, since I prefer to write about movement work in this community. Granted, I am part of some of that work and have been for more than four decades. Today’s post is meant to reflect my thoughts and feelings about the GRPD, especially in the past week.

In my post from last Friday, where I talked about how the GRPD acted during the Cosecha May Day march, I left out some information, which at the time didn’t seem as relevant. However, after thinking about it and having to deal with cops attempting to repress the actions of those involved in movement work, I really need to say some things.

First, during the first day of the Schurr trial, our friend and comrade Ky was arrested. While waiting for Ky to be bonded out last Tuesday, we came to find out that their bail was denied and they are still at the Kent County Jail until they go before a judge on May 7th. Ky has been targeted by the GRPD, like many local organizers, so I invite you to listen to an interview I did with Ky almost a year ago.

The day after I posted the interview with Ky, I wrote a post entitled, The criminalization of dissent in Grand Rapids. In that article I wrote:

It would be understandable, in light of the increased GRPD repression, for people to pull back on direct action. However, we also know that if we are committed to systemic change and collective liberation, we cannot afford to lessen our resistance. We do need to take care of each other and protect those that are the primary targets of this repression, but we must not diminish our resistance, no matter the cost.

Going back to the Cosecha May Day march that happened last week, where I mentioned that the GRPD threatened everyone with arrest if we walked in the streets and those driving in vehicles at the front or rear of the march. 

However, after I communicated this information to Cosecha organizers, one of the GRPD bike cops approached the motorhome that was originally slated to to in front of the march. I immediately walked over and asked the cop what he was doing. He responded by telling me to calm down. I responded by say, “Don’t tell me to calm down. Cops and ICE are arresting, detaining and deporting immigrants whenever they want to, so don’t don’t me to calm down when you are trying to get inside a vehicle that you damn well know is being driven by immigrants.”

You can see the picture of this GRPD cop at the beginning of this article, the one with the shitty smirk on his face.

Later in the May Day march, just after we disrupted traffic at the Wealth and Division intersection, the GRPD pulled myself and another police liaison off to the side “to talk”, when suddenly several of the GRPD bike cops put their bikes and bodies between us and the 150 marchers. You can see one of the GRPD bike cops pictured here who was part of the barrier between me and the rest of the marchers. Fortunately, I was not arrested, but this demonstrates how they are willing to threaten and arrest people who disrupt traffic for a few fucking minutes. A GRPD Captain was one of the cops who was “talking” to me, but the same GRPD bike cop with the shitting smirk was also present, with the same stupid smile on his face.

Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon, where I was downtown with 30 – 40 supporters of the Lyoya family, we were waiting to hear if the jury had made a decision. The whole time that those demanding Justice4Patrick were present, the GRPD and the Wyoming PD were present, most on bicycle. Sure enough, one of the GRPD bike cops was the same guy with the dumb ass grin on his face.

Not only has the GRPD been on high alert during this trial, they have increased surveillance, placed more cameras in the down, put up more barricades by the GRPD headquarters and overtly threatened to suppress any dissent. But damn, their TV show says they have regained the community’s trust! 

The GRPD arrested at least 2 more people after I left the protest in support of the Lyoya family at the 61st District Court House. The charges are most likely bogus, but these latest arrests just underscores the point of this point…….the criminalization of dissent!