The city of Utica is still grieving the loss of 13-year-old Nyah Mway, who was shot and killed by a Utica police officer on June 28.
On Saturday morning, a march was held for Mway in Utica, with those in attendance demanding justice.
Utica police said earlier on Saturday that they hoped, "for a peaceful protest." The event remained peaceful, as hundreds of people came together.
Many community members say they believe the shooting and killing of Nyah Mway was not justified after he fled from Utica police officers after being stopped on the street and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at officers. Police later identified the weapon as a pellet gun.
“Just thinking about it, it makes me mad," said protester Eh Naw. "They could have tased him or something else, instead of shooting him or taking his life."
Body camera footage released by police shows officers screaming “gun” before one tackles and punches Mway, and another officer opens fire. The teen, a refugee born in Myanmar and member of the Karen ethnic minority, had just graduated from middle school. He was shot in the chest and died at Wynn Hospital. He was recently laid to rest in Utica.
“There was no imminent danger to shoot the kid," protester Gary Brabham said. "Cops are trained to distinguish an adult from a kid, a sane person from an insane person, one with mental health, one with not mental health. This is their training."
And when it comes to getting justice, many people have said it’s about accountability.
“Getting proper training for the officers, treating people like human people and not just because of their income or their nationality or anything like that," protester Shatasha Edwards said. "Justice for me is just holding these officers accountable and making sure that we get officers in the community that [aren't] biased and is going to police the community the way the community should be policed."
“If we have to stomp our feet every single day and if we have to block traffic and we have to cut off traffic and we have to scream at the top of our lungs, we are going to be out here every single day doing it," Edwards said.
Many community members have made it clear that they want their voices heard every step of the way.