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Family, friends of Akron man slain by officers march to City Council meeting, want police chief to resign
By Connie Bloom and Carl Chancellor
Beacon Journal staff writers
Published on Tuesday, Jul 15, 2008
The family and friends of Jeffery Stephens Sr. prayed and sang outside Akron City Hall on Monday evening after marching from the site where he was killed by police July 5.
The peaceful protest and ''civil rights demonstration'' began with a pocket of 50 people at Thornton Street and Celina Avenue and swelled to about 300 before it stepped off at 5 p.m.
Marchers arrived at the Municipal Building just before the City Council meeting was about to begin.
Just 30 of the marchers were allowed to come inside.
They wore T-shirts with photos of Stephens inscribed ''Gone but not forgotten.''
Stephens, a self-employed landscaper and father of 12, was killed when police were responding to a 911 call about a fight with ''weapons involved'' at a Celina Avenue home. The call was made by Stephens' wife, Seata, who says she is still too grief-stricken to speak about the tragedy.
At a news conference last week, Akron Police Chief Michael Matulavich said the shooting was ''100 percent justified.''
Marchers also carried signs with names of others who have died in incidents involving
police, including Demetrus Vinson on March 17, 2007.
The marchers were peaceful, prayerful and hot in the blazing sun.
They were asking for change at the top, including the resignation of the chief of police, who bows to the affluent but does not serve people of color and poor whites, said organizer John R. Beaty, a retired United Methodist minister. They asked that the officers involved in the shooting be held accountable and for the formation of an independent citizen review board.
Marchers were of all ages. They included babies in strollers and an 80-year-old white couple. Some came in cars but most endured the two-mile hike carrying white napkins to symbolize they are nonviolent ''and do not want to be targets to be neutralized,'' said Beaty.
Inside council chambers, Johnson ''Buddy'' Stephens, the wife of his slain brother at his side, calmly told council members that he and his family need answers.
Did police use proper restraint? Why did it take five days to come up with their (police) findings? Can police officers (be made to) take a polygraph?—were just some of the questions Stephens quietly asked.
Before Stephens addressed the council, the Rev. Marc Neal, of the Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, said the shooting of Stephens at the hands of police and the shooting death over the weekend of a Twinsburg police officer are ''tragic situations'' that cry out for ''truth, justice and honesty'' to prevail.
''We have to make sure that there is a thorough investigation for this family,'' Neal said, looking at the Stephens family that filled the back rows of council chambers.
Marco Sommerville, council president, promised that Johnson Stephens' questions would be answered.
''It is so hard to get to the truth for a variety of reasons. . . . But I have confidence in the police auditor and he has not made a statement yet,'' said Sommerville.
However, Sommerville did have a problem with the statement made last week by Police Chief Michael Matulavich, who called the shooting ''100 percent justified.''
''That disturbs me. That was a wrong statement,'' said Sommerville to a chorus of ''amens'' from Stephens' family members.
Sommerville said he wants to know ''what commands were given'' by police when they confronted Stephens.
''We have to get to the bottom of everything,'' continued Sommerville.
Monday could be the first of many such marches, said Beaty. ''This was two miles but we may have to walk 100 miles before policies and procedures will change.
''We want a City Council that's more inclusive, more just. We need police who will not pull the trigger, but honor us. . . . We want police to know us and be able to tell us apart,'' said Beaty, who is white.
James Green Jr. said he is praying for peace and unity in all ethnic communities.
''There's too much violence out there.''
Connie Bloom can be reached at 330-996-3568 or cbloom@thebeaconjournal.com. Carl Chancellor can be reached at 330-996-3725 or cchancellor@thebeaconjournal.com.
The family and friends of Jeffery Stephens Sr. prayed and sang outside Akron City Hall on Monday evening after marching from the site where he was killed by police July 5.
Get the full article here.
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