Activist Sam Riddle, Reverend W.J. Rideout, Reverend Mo Hardwick, Minister Troy Muhammed, and other community leaders came together Tuesday, asking the black community to not patronize businesses in Eastpointe.
They said the city saying it’s too dangerous.
“We at the National Action Network have issued a travel warning for black America - not to travel through Eastpointe until their policies change,” Riddle said.
The group believes there are other cases similar to one caught on video inside the Eastpointe Police Department where Frankie Taylor, who had been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, was held down by four officers while a fifth officer can be seen striking him repeatedly.
Taylor is now suing the officers and said he has was struck until he was unconscious and has lost sight in one eye.
Community leaders announced in a press conference city officials refused to meet with them and they are now demanding the resignation of Eastpointe’s chief and the officers involved.
“That was police brutality. That was demonic officers,” said Rev Rideout. “You can’t beat an animal or abuse an animal in America and get away with it. You can’t leave a dog in the hot heat of a car and get away with it. You can’t leave an animal in the cold and get away with it. If you did that to an animal the Michigan Humane Society would have you arrested. The court system would bring charges.”
7 Action News did try to reach out to the Eastpointe Police Department. They will not comment on the incident.
Reverend Rideout and others told 7 Action News they support police officers as a whole.
“This would have never happened in the jurisdiction of Chief James Craig of the Detroit Police Department or Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon,” said Rev. Rideout.
A protest is scheduled to happen outside of the Eastpointe Police Department in the near future.
