Akron Braces For Unrest!

Tension rising in Akron.

BE WARNED THERE WILL BE GRAPHIC VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE.

The city of Akron has called for calm in the wake of the Jayland Walker police shooting. The city is on high alert for potential unrest. They had canceled its fireworks celebration and is considering a curfew in the wake of the shooting of an unarmed Black man by Akron Police.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Karen DeWine, Sen. Karen Portman (R-OH), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and the Ohio U.S. Representatives were notified.

Mayor Dan Horrigan and Police Chief Steve Mylett held a press conference on Sunday where they provided new information and released body camera video related to the death of Jayland Walker.

A traffic chase led to a deadly police shooting.

Captain Dave Laughlin, of the Akron Police Department, said it all started after midnight Monday when two officers were trying to stop a car on Tallmadge Avenue in Akron’s North Hill neighborhood.

Within a few seconds of being on Route 8, officers said a firearm was discharged from Walker’s vehicle.

Officers pursued him down Ohio State Route 8 and Interstate 77 where he exited into the Firestone Metro Park Area before jumping out and fleeing on foot, heading northbound through a grassy area into a parking lot at Bridgestone.

According to Laughlin, Walker's actions "caused the officers to perceive he posed a deadly threat to them," and officers first used tasers and then opened fire in response, striking Walker multiple times and fatally wounding him. Before today, police have not specified what those actions were.

Laughlin said officers didn’t see a weapon but heard a gunshot or multiple gunshots from the car on the entrance ramp of Route 8.

Walker was shot over 60 times. He died at the scene. 

The police claim they found a firearm in his vehicle. That is now legal in the state of Ohio to be a concealed carry. They claimed in video footage from a traffic camera a flash like its from a muzzle. They said Walker looked like he reached into his waist. 

The police claim they rendered aid to Walker.

The video footage is hard to make out.

The issue that led to the deadly encounter was a traffic violation. The whole ordeal has gotten the nation's attention and of course, the far right is ready to claim that the left "rushed to judgement."

I can picture Softball Hannity and many far right extremists already making it about the possible criminal history of Walker and the firearm in his vehicle. 

See the Supreme Court had made it legal for anyone to carry a firearm in their vehicle. Conceal carry registrations are no longer required in Ohio. So anyone can carry into a public facility.

The far right is going to claim that if he had complied. Many motorists fear police encounters. Even if the motorist flees police, the registration of the vehicle is plugged in and the cops could arrest the motorist at a later date.

The shooting of Jayland Williams has the nation talking.

Once the speeds reach excessive in neighborhoods, it's up to the police officer to disengage in the pursuit. Although it's also a risk, the motorist could continue on and cause a deadly accident or destroy evidence in the pursuit.

No one wants to die, so I don't understand why a fleeing motorist is shot multiple times. Are the cops going to claim "they feared for their lives?"

Every community in the United States will eventually have a legacy. A legacy of tragedy. Gun violence and COVID-19 will affect your town, your family and your life. So I don't want to hear that bullshit about how gun reform is taking away your rights to own firearms. 

I don't want to hear that protesting against police killing people of color is hate on cops in general. I don't want to hear talk about the coronavirus being a myth.

When you hear folks say "gun rights," what they really mean is that its white privilege. This good guy with a gun nonsense has to end. The cops didn't do nothing when children were shot inside a school. A security guard was shot dead trying to protect shoppers. A cop accidentally shot his own. The good guy who tried to stop a bad guy is outgunned and a part of the rule #3. The "good guy with a gun" better be prepared to die if they want to stop a shooter.

I don't want to hear folks say masks and vaccine mandates impede their freedoms. It prevents a deadly outbreak from spreading. If you want to die from the coronavirus, that's on you. We lost over 1 million people from the coronavirus.

I don't want to hear the shit about guns saving lives. Cause a bullet does not have eyes and it's always likely gonna hit a target. These folks seem to not get it. These incidents are a tragic part of American history. Thoughts and prayers and your heart going out to the victims is not enough. It quite frankly is an insult. I am also tired of scapegoating Black on Black crime, Chicago, Baltimore and Democratic mayors for the nation's obsession to be numb to gun violence. You pretty much enable this nonsense by deflecting.

President Joe Biden is trying to curb gun violence. However, he has no support from Republicans. Most Democrats and America are for gun control measures. However the two Democrats in the Senate refuse to change the filibuster rules and its holding us back. 

The National Rifle Association is always pushing against it. They will not relinquish from the narrative that guns are not saving lives. The Republicans aided by a fickle junk food media are openly encouraging anarchy and disruption in a desperate attempt for the Republicans to win back Congress and the White House. These agitators are calling for Biden to curb crime but will not help him. They want more guns on the street. It makes no sense.

This incident will be investigated by the Ohio Bureau of Investigation.

So in closing, expect more.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those who were killed in the line of duty. Those who don't get their names mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

The call number to the U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official phone number, 202-224-3121. Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence.

GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES.