Marchers call for another Jason Meade trial after Friday mistrial of ex-sheriff's deputy

It was nearly quiet as people started to gather to call for a new trial in the shooting death of Casey Goodson Jr. on the basketball court, the passing of cars on busy 5th Avenue, and the steady beat of a drum, the only sounds punctuating the night air.

Soon, around 100 people arrived at Thompson Park on the North Side on Sunday evening, demanding that prosecutors bring former Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Meade to trial again.

Meade, 45, is facing three charges for the shooting death of Goodson, a 23-year-old Black man, who was shot and killed outside his North Linden home in December 2020. Meade’s first trial ended Friday in a mistrial after jurors couldn’t come to a decision as to whether he was guilty of two counts of murder and one count of reckless homicide.

The 6 p.m. sunset demonstration included speakers, chanting and a march through a few blocks of the Short North Arts District.

"When we see an injustice take place, it's up to us to raise our voices, it's up to us to make things clear," said Ramon Obey, executive director of Justice, Unity and Social Transformation (JUST), one of the organizers of the event. "That's why we came out here today, to say the system is failing us."

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JUST organized the event with several other local social justice organizations and asked participants to sign a letter to the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office. The organizations plan to send the letter to prosecutors in the case Friday.

“The announcement of this mistrial is not an example of the criminal legal system failing, it is a painful reminder that it still functions as intended, especially when those being tried in court have killed Black people," the organizations wrote in a letter available to sign online.

At the time of the march, 19 organizations had signed on, said Emily Cole, with the Action Fund of Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality. There will soon be a separate letter for individuals to sign.

Marchers on Sunday also demanded that the jury reflect the community where the shooting took place by having more than one Black member.

“This is more so about community members coming together to say we have seen and had enough,” Obey said, and to support Goodson’s family and his mother, Tamala Payne.

Obey spoke to the crowd ahead of the march and painted a vivid picture of the shooting: six shots, one in the side and five in the back, that killed Goodson. He mentioned Goodson’s keys hanging from the door of his grandmother's home and how he had a full-time job and loved his family.

Obey and other speakers described the current criminal justice system as corrupt and called for it to be completely rebuilt. Affirming cries from those gathered punctuated his words.

“It’s going to be hard to get any justice,” Obey said. “We as a community can come together. We can hold this system accountable. In fact, we’re the only ones who can hold this system accountable because this system is not made for you and me.”

Marching through the Short North

The group marched south on High Street, from 5th Avenue to 1st Avenue and back to the park, chanting Goodson’s name. Columbus Police directed traffic and blocked parts of the street for marchers.

At the front of the group were four people holding two red signs with white lettering, one saying: “Convict all killer cops. Justice for Casey Goodson, Jr.” and another that said: “Not one more name. Community not cops.”

Sierra Mason, 25, of Canton, led the chanting during Sunday’s march.

Mason came from Canton with her mother because she believes that the whole state must fight for change.

Read More: What is the meaning of mistrial? What the hung jury means for Jason Meade

Her voice filled with emotion as she asked marchers to respond to her calls of “say his name.” Then, to repeat her chants of “no justice, no peace;” another chant of “100 years later, nothing’s changed," then “indict, convict, send these killer cops to jail;” and more.

“We need the community to come out,” said Mason. “I saw the pain Casey’s family has endured. If we can’t change things on a state level, it’s harder to change things in smaller places like Canton or Akron."

Drivers on a busy North High Street honked in support and hung out their windows to shout along. Passers-by raised fists and joined in and marchers with five-gallon buckets strapped to their chests beat a rhythm to accompany the chants.

Before the march began, Marjorie Dexter Green stood with a sign of support. The East Side resident came to show solidarity with Goodson’s family, they said.

“Hopefully … this ultimately leads to what we’re striving for,” Green said. “Which is justice for the family and, if not, at least recognition for the lack of justice many, many families have been receiving over the years.”

dking@dispatch.com

@DanaeKing

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Dozens march in Short North; demand a new trial in Casey Goodson death