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Opinions for and against ‘defunding the police’ voiced to Grand Rapids city commissioners Updated 7:21 AM; Today 7:21 AM Grand Rapids elected leaders this week are slated to approve the city's spending plan for fiscal year 2022. Pictured is the Grand Rapids City Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020. (MLive file photo)Cory Morse | MLive.com Facebook Share GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Arguments for and against defunding the city’s police department were on full display in the public’s last chance to directly tell city leaders their thoughts on the proposed spending plan for 2021-2022 before it�...

Lester Graham / Michigan Radio Members of the Michigan-based protest movements that formed in the wake of George Floyd’s killing say Derek Chauvin’s murder conviction is a vindication of their cause. Leaders from the protest movement called Detroit Will Breathe gathered with supporters in the snow in front of Detroit Police Headquarters just after the Chauvin verdict on Tuesday evening. They said the verdict shows the power of their movement, but it’s hardly the end point. “Today is certainly a victory for the movement and defense of Black and brown lives. Unfortunately, it falls...

‘Still need to fight for justice,’ Grand Rapids protesters say after murder conviction in George Floyd death Updated 11:09 PM; Facebook Share GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Leaders of a Grand Rapids group aimed at stopping police injustice say the murder verdict in George Floyd’s death brings hope, but more work is needed to curb police wrongdoing. A handful of people initially showed up in downtown Grand Rapids just minutes after the verdict came down at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 20 against former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin. He was convicted of three counts, including second-degree mur...

'Keep going,' Activists march in Grand Rapids following Chauvin verdict "It is up to us to keep going. It's fantastic the system finally acknowledged that, but there's a lot of families who haven't had that acknowledgement yet." Credit: WZZM-13 Published: 6:06 PM EDT April 20, 2021 Updated: 7:36 PM EDT April 20, 2021 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Organizers gathered in downtown Grand Rapids on Tuesday shortly after a jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts for killing George Floyd nearly a year ago.  Justice for Black Li...

Local demonstrators continue push for justice amid Daunte Wright's death and last updated 2021-04-16 23:23:49-04 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Protesters gathered in Rosa Parks Circle on Friday to call for change following the police killing of Daunte Wright in Minnesota last weekend. “Daunte Wright was someone’s child, someone’s boyfriend, a friend, and a father,” said Aly Bates, Justice for Black Lives president. The young, Minneapolis-area man was shot and killed by a Brooklyn Center police officer last Saturday during a traffic stop. Authorities described it as an acciden...