‘Ten years of tears:’ Family of Tyrone West holds memorial
The family of Tyrone West, a 44-year-old African American man who died in police custody in 2013, held a memorial on Sunday to mark the 10th anniversary of his death. According to The Baltimore Sun, the memorial was held at the intersection where West was stopped by police and later died.
Police stopped west on July 18, 2013, after he fled a traffic stop where cocaine was allegedly found. The police pursued him and used force to subdue him, leading to his death. The incident sparked protests and calls for police reform in Baltimore and nationwide.
West’s family and friends at the memorial remembered him as a loving father, brother, and friend who was taken too soon. They also called for justice and accountability for his death.
“Ten years of tears, ten years of pain, ten years of fighting for justice,” said Tawanda Jones, West’s sister, at the memorial. “We will never stop fighting for Tyrone.”
West’s death and the subsequent protests led to changes in policing practices in Baltimore, including the use of body cameras and the establishment of a civilian review board. However, many activists and community members say that more needs to be done to address police brutality and systemic racism in law enforcement.
“We’re still fighting for justice, we’re still fighting for accountability, we’re still fighting for transparency,” said Rev. Heber Brown III, a community activist who spoke at the memorial. “Tyrone West’s life mattered; we will never forget that.”
The memorial was attended by dozens of people, including community activists, faith leaders, and elected officials. They laid flowers and candles at the site where West died and held a moment of silence in his honor.
As the fight for justice and police reform continues, West’s family and friends say they will not rest until they see real change.
“We will never stop fighting for Tyrone,” said Jones. “We will never stop fighting for justice.”
