AKRON, Ohio — Demonstrators made their voices heard for a second day in Akron on Tuesday, after learning there will be no state charges against any of the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Jayland Walker.

What You Need To Know

  • Demonstrations continued for a second day in Akron following the special grand jury's decision in the Jayland Walker case

  • Akron activist Imokhai Okolo was among the protesters

  • Okolo was nominated for Akron's new Citizen Police Oversight Board, but his nomination was blocked

Hundreds of people took to the streets in downtown Akron, including Akron activist, Imokhai Okolo. The 27-year-old attorney said he is passionate about bringing his community together to make meaningful change.

“That’s why I am here today, here to build community with folks and figure out how we can all contribute to the solution,” he said.

Okolo was nominated for Akron's new Citizen Police Oversight Board, but his nomination was blocked.

“I think that is just a perfect example of how individuals in this community are restricting voices or excluding voices from the table, voices who don’t agree with them and aren’t willing to sort of conpitulate to their sort of vision for the City of Akron.” 

Okolo said young, Black men like himself and Walker are often misunderstood because of the color of their skin.

“We’re viewed somehow as angry individuals all of the time. We are just viewed from a different lens cause society has told us that Black men are inferior,” he said.

Okolo said he would like to see the Department of Justice step in to investigate Walker's shooting. Rep. Emilia Sykes, OH-13, promised to make that request when she spoke during a press conference yesterday. 

“They need to come in here and shake this department up, and say, 'hey open your books up, what’s going on? What are these policies are procedures? What are you hiding from the community. What are you not letting organizers in the community get access to?'"

The grand jury decided Monday that the eight Akron officers involved were justified in their use of force. According to investigation documents, Walker led police on a chase, during which officers claim he fired a shot at them. He eventually drove into a parking lot, left his still-moving vehicle wearing a ski mask and ran. He was fired at after he turned and officers said his actions were threatening. A total of 94 shots were fired by officers. 

The shooting has been under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and then was put into the hands of the grand jury. 

Several more vigils and protests are expected to happen during the coming weeks. 

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