THE TIMELINE
A community story.
In an effort to educate the nation about the unjust killing of Marcus-David Peters, we have compiled a timeline of our fight for Justice and Reformation. This will be updated as our movement continues.
MAY 14, 2018
RPD SHOT + KILLED MARCUS
Just hours after teaching at Essex High School, Marcus-David Peters experienced a mental health crisis on I-95 in Richmond, VA. Interactions with Officer Nyantakyi of the Richmond Police Department led to Marcus being shot and killed.
MAY 14, 2018
MAY 23, 2018
INITIAL FORMATION OF THE
JUSTICE + REFORMATION
COALITION
Several local organizations and activists met at Second Baptist Church West End to strategize demands and actions.
MAY 23, 2018
MAY 25, 2018
RPD PRESS CONFERENCE
Richmond Police Department released the body camera footage and put out false narratives regarding the unjust killing of Marcus-David Peters. (Such narratives included speculation that Marcus was a "superhuman" who withstood the taser and charged the officer. It later came out that only one of the taser's electrodes struck Marcus' body, meaning the taser did NOT work.)
....
The Justice and Reformation Coalition has a press conference shortly after Chief Durham concluded his and announces that there will be a Community Rally on Justice and Reformation march for Marcus to take place on June 2, 2018.
MAY 26, 2018
COMMUNITY MEETING
Hundreds of Richmond community members and people from all over Virginia gathered at Second Baptist Church in solidarity with Marcus' family. We educated the community on how he was unjustly killed and got people mobilized on the first March for Justice and Reformation that will take place on June 2, 2018.
MAY 26, 2018
MAY 28, 2018
ART BUILD
In preparation for the first March for Justice and Reformation, Virginia Southerners on New Ground made an art build possible at Earthfolk Collective. Powerful signs, banners, and other protest gear was made to be used on June 2nd.
After the art build, a candlelight vigil was held by ICE Out of RVA in memory of Marcus-David Peters and other victims of state-sanctioned violence, including Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzales, who was shot by border patrol agents.
MAY 28, 2018
JUNE 2, 2018
First March for Justice and Reformation (Richmond, VA)
Over 500 people march in solidarity with the family of Marcus-David Peters as we continue to fight for Justice and Reformation. We marched from VCU's Siegel Center (Where Marcus graduated) to the Richmond Police Department. As the rain started to pour down, our voices got louder.
JUNE 11, 2018
CITY COUNCIL
The family of Marcus-David Peters along with coalition members and community members went to the City Council meeting to support Princess Blanding (Marcus' sister). She spoke to the council about the unjust killing of Marcus and demanded them to do something about it so their community members are not threatened by RPD.
JUNE 11, 2018
JUNE 22, 2018
VCU VIGIL
Student leaders at VCU (including the Queer and Trans People of Color Collective) organized a vigil to honor Marcus, who was a beloved VCU graduate. This date marks 18 days since the delivery of an open letter to VCU administration signed by over 250 sponsors expressing disappointment in the lack of response about the unjust killing of Marcus-David Peters at the hands of a Richmond Police Officer.
JUNE 22, 2018
JUNE 30, 2018
COMMUNITY MEETING
MAYOR/CHIEF FORMALLY
INVITED TO ATTEND
The Justice and Reformation Coalition hosted a community meeting at Second Baptist Church West End that Mayor Levar Stoney, Chief Alfred Durham and all City Council members were personally requested to attend by Princess Blanding. Additionally, an email campaign from Amnesty International @ VCU sent 850+ invites to these officials with the help of our community. Chief Durham + Mayor Stoney did NOT attend.
JUNE 30, 2018
JULY 17, 2018
MAYOR STONEY'S
COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS
JULY 17, 2018
Mayor Stoney and Chief Durham refused to come to the community, so the community came to him. The family questioned Mayor Stoney regarding his absence in the community meeting that he was requested to attend on June 30, 2018. The family also questioned Mayor Stoney regarding the false narrative issued by the Richmond Police Department, the unjust killing of unarmed Marcus-David Peters, and other questions regarding policies, procedures and accountability.
When Chief Durham was asked if he accepts that there is a genuine problem with black and brown people being killed by police officers in our streets, he said "No".
JULY 26, 2018
MAYOR STONEY'S
COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS
We continue to question Mayor Stoney and Chief Durham regarding Justice and Reformation for Marcus-David Peters. Princess Blanding addresses the results of the toxicology report for her brother Marcus-David Peters that states under Positive Findings, “None Detected”.
JULY 31, 2018
COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS
During this meeting the family and community stress the importance of accountability for police department's Crisis Intervention Training. Mayor Stoney continues to avoid addressing the unjust killing of Marcus-David Peters and is confronted about his generic comments.
Chief Durham begs the community that he needs to be mindful of what we say as it can have an influence on a potential jury, however when asked if his public comment of, “Being Naked doesn't take away the threat” could have had a influence on a possible jury, Chief Durham's response was,
“Anything is possible”.
JULY 31, 2018
AUGUST 6, 2018
POWER WALK FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY + TRANSPARENCY
The family of Marcus-David Peters' stood in solidarity with New Virginia Majority and the Richmond community as they demand Mayor Stoney release the data on stop-and-frisk, terry stops, and traffic stops.
AUGUST 6, 2018
AUGUST 21, 2018
RICHMOND [RE]VISITED 2018
Princess Blanding was the Keynote speaker at this VCU Social Work event, that focused on mental health and racial justice.
Princess had the opportunity to speak about the life and death of her brother Marcus-David Peters, police accountability, mental health, how the community can get involved, and the National March for Justice And Reformation: Electected Officials and Police Accountability.
AUGUST 21, 2018
AUGUST 25, 2018
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH +
ART BUILD
Second Baptist Church West End hosted this event in honor of Marcus-David Peters, who was a teacher at Essex High School. Over 100 backpacks filled with school supplies were handed out to our youth. Food was provided for all that attended, and we began to build signs for the upcoming National March for Justice And Reformation: Elected Officials and Police Accountability.
AUGUST 25, 2018
AUGUST 31, 2018
COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY
JUSTIFIES MURDER
Michael N. Herring, the Commonwealth Attorney, showed us that he is a part of this systemic problem by saying Friday that Marcus' killing by RPD officer Nyantaki was justified. He also said that there was nothing else the officer could have done, and he would have probably done the same thing if he was an officer.
The family and community protested this dangerous decision at the John Marshal Courthouse. Princess Blanding addressed the media and their persistent fascination with trying to justify Marcus' killing with rumors that drugs were found in his system. Princess shows the media the report from the Medical Examiner's office that shows no positive findings of drugs.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
CONTINUING TO DEMAND ACTION FROM CITY COUNCIL
Backed by 20 Richmond community members, Princess Blanding once again confronts the council. After she spoke, there were no comments. The next person talked about the electric scooters in Richmond, and Councilwoman Kim Gray (2nd district) immediately commented on the dangers of it in our city. (But what about the Richmond Police killing people?)
After Gray made this comment, Councilman Parker Agelasto (5th district) then addressed Princess Blanding, saying that he read the letter (sent via Amnesty International at VCU's second letter-writing campaign) and that he did not see where City Council could help that much.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
RICHMOND STANDS UNITED:
A CALL TO SOLIDARITY
On International Day of Peace, The Peace Center held a gathering at the Maggie L Walker statue in a spirit of liberation and empowerment, celebrating our rich diversity as a community, strengthen our solidarity, and stand against white supremacy, systemic racism, and all forms of oppression and persecution.
Justice and Reformation was present, along with other Richmond organizers and activists.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
SEPTEMBER 26, 2018
RICHMOND, VA POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN: A NATIONAL CALL FOR MORAL REVIVAL
Princess Blanding spoke among over a hundred community members and activists and thousands online. National Co-chairs Rev. Drs. Barber and Theoharis contacted organizations like Justice and Reformation, Hands Off Abbie, and others to demand that our nation's elected officials take action to fight systemic racism, poverty, the war economy and militarism, and ecological devastation.