The death of the Congolese Patrick Lyoya arouses strong indignation in the USA. Killed by an element of the police, on April 4, following an altercation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this murder of too many revives the debate on racial discrimination in the country of Uncle Sam.
At a press conference on Thursday, April 14, Lyoya’s father, Peter, expressed his indignation at what he described as the “execution” of his son. “At this moment, my life is over. I see that I have no life. I demand justice for Patrick,” he told American media professionals. The Lyoya family’s lawyerBen Crump, condemned this act, deploring “a useless, unjustifiable and excessive use of deadly force”.
« Justice pour Patrick »
On Wednesday, April 13, footage of the incident was released by the Municipality of Grand Rapids. These videos show the scene that led to the death of the young man of Congolese origin, killed by a white policeman. After the publication of these images, several dozen demonstrators gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan (Northern United States). “I am a Congolese immigrant like Patrick Lyoya, tonight I carry his family in my thoughts. Black people deserve to be safe,” said a Congolese woman living in the United States. “He was shot in the back and in the head. This is unacceptable. Let justice be done, ”says another. ” It’s sad. We condemn the murder of Patrick. A simple traffic check shouldn’t end in murder. Justice,” said AFRIK.COMa young Beninese living in Seattle.
US authorities raise their voices
This murder revives the debate on the treatment of blacks in the USA. For Brenda Lawrence, US Representative from Michigan, “this is another death and another loss of life at the hands of an untrained officer and the reasons for which must be noted during the investigation”, she said in a statement. Thursday, April 14, the American Ambassador to the DRC was received by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Christophe Lutundula. The exchanges between the two men focused on the murder of the young man of Congolese origin. “This terrible incident is being investigated so that accountability and justice can follow. We take our responsibility to address these shortcomings seriously,” the US diplomat said. Mike Hammer.
Patrick Lyoya is the third person of Congolese origin to have died during this month of April in the United States, following Emmanuel Amani, shot dead in Denver on April 4, and Ridier Mfuamba stabbed in the State of Illinois, April 6. For the moment, no official communication has been made by Kinshasa following the murder of these three Congolese refugees in the United States, due to the situation of insecurity in the DRC.
Read: The video of a Congolese man shot in the head in the United States shocks the whole world
