Akron demonstration zone's first event is prayer vigil ahead of grand jury decision

The first use of Akron's designated demonstration zone was a vigil, as about three dozen people formed a prayer circle, marched hand-in-hand down the street and back, and gathered again to pray Tuesday evening.

"I just want to make sure that people know that we're going to continue to come out here. We're going to continue praying on Tuesdays," said Kemp A. Boyd, executive director of Love Akron, a local faith group that organized the vigil. "This is going to lead up to May 4, when we're having the National Day of Prayer ...

"Prayer is very, very important and we, as the body of Christ, we've got to get back to doing what the word of God tells us to, and that's to pray without ceasing, with one another."

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'We're warring in the spirit'

Akron police set up the area downtown on South High Street from East Bowery Street to State Street in response to potential protests following a special grand jury decision on the death of Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man shot 46 times by eight officers June 27 after he led police on a crosstown car chase.

Police say Walker fired a single shot from his vehicle, but was unarmed and running in a ski mask when he was shot after a short foot chase near Wilbeth and South Main. A handgun was found in his vehicle.

Akron’s police union defended the officers’ action as consistent with their training, while Walker’s family decried his death as senseless and said he was not a criminal.

Boyd said the city needs prayer to come together.

"I think this is a form of situation − and it's not peaceful because we're warring in the spirit," he said.

After gathering in a circle for prayer, the group joined hands and walked from one end of South High Street to the other and back. On their return, the group broke up and individuals dispersed to pray at wire fence barricades along the street in front of various government buildings, including the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, and Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center, home to Akron Municipal Court.

In front of the municipal court, Matthew, who declined to give his last name, said he believes prayer is needed.

"I just recognize that there's a lot of opportunity for tension and division and I just feel like there's a lot of brokenness right now in Akron," he said. "I just wanted to take the opportunity to pray because for me, the only way that we're gonna make it through brokenness and the only way that the situation is going to improve is if people look to Jesus as the opportunity to see that restoration."

Others also pointed to the power of prayer.

"We're here to pray. We're here to pray and find God's pardon," said the Rev. R. Stacey Jenkins, pastor of The House of Prayer for all People Church.

"I think we're dealing with an important life-changing situation, and boy do we need God because ultimately all we want to do is see the right thing done. You know what I mean? What does the right thing look like? That's the question."

What's been done since Jayland Walker's death

Walker's death has become the subject of protests, the creation of a new police review board, plans for new cruiser dashcams and strained relations between Akron’s police and citizens.

Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett asked the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation to complete an independent criminal investigation. The officers were put on leave following Walker's death but were reinstated to desk duty in October.

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Summit County’s first-ever special grand jury convened Monday to hear prosecutors from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office present BCI’s findings. If the grand jury does not indict the officers, the investigation’s findings will be released publicly.

Akron police also will conduct a separate internal investigation to determine if any department regulations were violated by the officers.

The Rev. Lori Porter, operations coordinator for Love Akron, said the vigil and upcoming Tuesday vigils were organized by Boyd after the two talked last Sunday. She said the vigils are meant to "impact change in our community."

"As we talked a little bit, he just started sending out text messages to pastors and people that he knew that would come and pray.

"We're praying for justice and for peace. Justice and peace, right? And we're praying most of all, that the absolute will of God be done, that the will of God be done, that God's perfect will will be done," she said.

Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Vigil for Jayland Walker held in downtown Akron on Tuesday