The group Justice for Dahmeek — which helped organize Sunday's rally in the Collar City — gathered in a crowd of several dozen people Wednesday morning outside Troy City Hall. The group says they have a list of demands leaders in the city have had for years — so they wanted to make sure they're being heard again.


What You Need To Know

  • Justice for Dahmeek gathered a crowd of several dozen people Wednesday in front of Troy City Hall to renew its reform demands it says it gave Mayor Patrick Madden and District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly in 2018 after Dahmeek McDonald was killed
  • The group read the names of people injured or killed by police in Troy since 2008
  • The group says the city tried to hinder its plans for Sunday's rally, and hurt businesses that are already struggling, by "fear-mongering" them into boarding up their windows

“We are calling for transparency as for the last three years in Troy, accountability from the mayor,” said one organizer at Wednesday’s press conference.

Justice for Dahmeek brought the community together again in order to demand change and accountability, recounting the names of those killed or injured by the Troy Police Department since 2008.

“One of two cases in 2008, Jamel DeWitt, unarmed, not resisting, but still beaten by police officers William Bowles and Jeffrey Hoover. Officers say because of his past history with police, the plummeting of fists, batons, and flashlights was warranted,” one of the other organizers read.

The list also included Marquese Hill, Shakim Miller, James Foley, Luis Luberes, John Larkins, Brian Houle, Jordan Novak, Robert Washington, Samuel Ratley, Malcolm Washington, Archie Davis, Lawrence Nesmith, Rashon Donley and Thaddeus Faison, along with Dahmeek McDonald and Edson Thevenin.

“And in 2016, Edson Thevenin, my son, was killed by then-Sergeant Randall French. Sgt. French was later promoted to Detective Sergeant after shooting my son eight times while he was in his car. And this is what we're fighting for,” said Gertha Depas, mother of Edson Thevenin.

So on Wednesday, the group again, delivered a list of demands they say the mayor and the district attorney have had since 2018.

The group says Mayor Patrick Madden's newly-formed civilian review board doesn't go far enough.

“We are looking for community-based solutions because otherwise, it's just window-dressing, which causes more harm than good,” said Amani, a member of Justice for Dahmeek. 

McDonald's uncle Messiah Cooper says this renewed movement feels like it's going in the right direction and will hopefully be the one to end systemic racism.

“I see the finish line, so that's my glory. I'm hoping to change the world for my babies — we don't have much time,” Cooper said. “Time is of the essence.”

The group was also concerned with the way the city spread what they called “fear-mongering,” telling businesses to board up because they expected riots leading up to Sunday's peaceful protest.

A building owner who boarded up buildings in Troy confirmed that the city called them and told them to board their windows immediately early last week. Spectrum News reached out to the mayor's office to ask why the city was so concerned about this and received this statement in response: "From the outset, our focus was maintaining public safety throughout the rally, including closing streets, redirecting traffic, and assisting with the distribution of food & water to attendees. We extend our appreciation to event organizers, participants, city departments, and businesses for their cooperation to ensure a safe, peaceful event."

A spokesperson for the mayor's office tells Spectrum News they "did not" tell businesses to board up.

The group says they have more events planning coming up, and to keep an eye on their social media to stay active and involved.