LANSING, Mich — Chants of "Justice for Riley," "Justice for Samuel" and "Justice for Patrick" could be heard as former Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack led the crowd from the steps of the Michigan State Capitol Friday.
Dozens gathered on the grounds alongside the families of Riley Doggett, Samuel Sterling and Patrick Lyoya, asking for justice as activists, attorneys and family members took turns speaking for hours.
Doggett and Sterling were killed after being hit by police vehicles earlier this year and Lyoya was shot in the back of the head by former GRPD officer Christopher Schurr in 2022.
Schurr's case remains in the appeals process. Attorney General Dana Nessel charged now-retired Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Brian Keely with murder in Sterling's killing, while the Kent County Prosecutor's Office declined to charge the deputy who hit 17-year-old Doggett.
"Nothing we do is going to bring Samuel Sterling back. Nothing we do is going to bring Riley Doggett back. Nothing we do is going to bring Patrick Lyoya back. Nothing we do is going to bring Breonna Taylor back. Nothing we do is going to bring Michael Brown back. Nothing we do is going to bring George Floyd back. But damn sure what we do today is going to make sure that we stop there being another George Floyd...That is why we are here at the State House today," Womack said to the crowd.
Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Ven Johnson joined the crowd and took turns speaking from the capitol steps as well.
"We came to Michigan to make sure we get justice for Patrick Lyoya. I came to Michigan to make sure we get justice for Riley Doggett and brothers and sisters, I came to Michigan to make sure we get justice for Samuel Sterling," Crump told the crowd.
"There is a problem. And the problem is us, that until we all stand up together...until we all, all of us, stand up together and say, 'We will not tolerate this in Michigan,' we will not tolerate this in Michigan...because every single person matters. The police officers matter. Who they're chasing matters. Everyone has the same, believe it or not, constitutional rights, because no one is above the law, and when the police do their job and take people into custody, that is their job. Their job is not to be the judge the jury and executioner," Johnson said.
After Johnson finished his remarks, U.S. Senate candidate and actor Hill Harper took the stage.
"Why you hit me like that," Harper said when he stepped up to the podium, invoking the words of Sterling as he lay on the ground after being hit by Former State Police Detective Sergeant Brian Keely's vehicle.
Harper, who is one of two candidates in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan in August, shared a list of police reforms and policy changes he would like to see if elected.
Family members of Doggett, Lyoya and Sterling took turns speaking, sharing stories, memories and calls for justice.
Doggett's mother, Becky Wilbert, concluded her speech with the call for charges against the officer who hit her son.
"I would like Dana Nessel to review the case and charge that officer," Doggett's mother Becky Wilbert said. The crowd responded with "charge that officer" chants which led to Wilbert naming Kent County Sheriff's Deputy Josiah McMains, the officer that struck Doggett with his vehicle.
After the speeches concluded, the crowd marched around the capitol chanting the same words they had been since they arrived. "Justice for Riley," "Justice for Samuel" and "Justice for Patrick."
Not long after MSP Sgt. Keely was charged in Sterling's death, his attorney Marc Curtis shared this statement that said, in part:
"The loss of Mr. Sterling’s life is tragic and can never be replaced. D/Sgt. Keely is a man of faith and feels broken-hearted for the Sterling and Cage families.
However, this was an accident that could have been avoided had Mr. Sterling simply turned himself in prior to the U.S. Marshall’s Task Force being assigned to apprehend him. This accident could have also been avoided if Mr. Sterling would have simply complied with the commands of the Detectives. Mr. Sterling’s action not only put himself in danger but the citizens that were in the area at the time."
Keely entered a not-guilty plea during his arraignment this week, and the judge granted a personal recognizance bond.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Watch 13 ON YOUR SIDE for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV and on your phone.
