Friends, 

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A community member, Da’Quain Johnson (32), was murdered by the Grand Rapids Police Department on February 18, 2026. We are grieving. As a community, we must tell the truth. The GRPD’s actions were neither de-escalatory nor safety-oriented. They committed violence. 

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We begin by holding Da’Quain’s family in our deepest care. No family should have to go through this trauma because of police violence. To the Johnson family: we grieve with you. We are holding you in love and solidarity.

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We encourage you to please consider supporting Da’Quain Johnson’s mother during this time. The following are ways to support:
Venmo: @Angelica-Johnson-144 (write "village support" in memo)
Cash App: $annxr (write "village support" in memo)
GoFundMe for memoral service: https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-fund-daquains-memorial-service
GoFundMe for familiy support: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-daquains-family-after-tragedy

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‍We have been here before.

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Just under 4 years ago, a community member, Patrick Lyoya, was murdered by a Grand Rapids police officer on April 4, 2022. Time and again, we are asked to be patient, wait for investigations, and trust systems that have repeatedly failed us. Patience has not brought justice. Reform without accountability has not brought change.

We reject the narrative that these killings are isolated incidents. They are the predictable outcomes of a system that prioritizes control over care, punishment over restoration, and policing over community investment. We also reject attempts to criminalize Da’Quain. No allegations, no suspicion, and no circumstance warrants execution by the police. Every person deserves due process and dignity.

We continue to demand:

• Full transparency and independent investigation into the killing of Da’Quain Johnson
• Meaningful accountability for officers who use excessive or lethal force
• The reallocation of resources toward community-based safety models
• Structural changes that prevent police from acting with impunity

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We acknowledge the grief, rage, fear, and exhaustion many in our community are carrying right now. There are human responses to repeated harm. Make space for those emotions. Hold one another gently. Check in on your neighbors. Support spaces of healing and organizing.

At UCC, we remain committed to transformative justice and to community-centered public safety strategies. Real safety isn’t built through unchecked police force, but rather, built through stable housing, mental health support, education, living-wage work, and strong community networks. We want to remind you that solidarity is not a statement; it is action. Show up. Stay engaged. Demand change. Invest in building new systems rooted in community care and dignity.

With grief and determination,

Urban Core Collective team

References:

GRPD History & Accountability Timeline

A Time for Solidarity & Community Care

Letter to Community “We can’t believe what you say” 

GRPD Recommendations from June 2020

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Learning Opportunities:

The Trouble with Police Unions

https://www.bargainingforthecommongood.org/resources/

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