Kionte Spencer’s life celebrated

Dozens of community members, including Kionte Spencer’s relatives, participated in a celebration of his life on March 13 at Garst Mill Park in Roanoke, Va. Spencer was shot and killed by Roanoke County police officers on Feb. 26.

The commemoration began with a group circle and powerful songs. Youth who had spent time at the park with Spencer spoke about their relationship with him, their mentor, and told how he touched their lives. A collective speak-out followed, where participants described their relationships with Spencer — and demanded justice and accountability from the Roanoke County police department.

The department hasn’t released any video of the shooting or names of the officers who were involved. Those at the gathering demanded the release of the names and the video and called for an independent investigation of the murder.

A collective meal was held after the speak-out where those who had gathered got to know each other and shared memories of Spencer. Community members from faith-based churches and organizations, union members, anti-war activists, students and others discussed the next steps in the campaign to obtain “Justice for Kionte.”

For more information, see facebook.com/JusticeforKionte.

Workers World staff

Share
Published by
Workers World staff

Recent Posts

Denver university launches tent city for Palestine

Denver Students set up a tent city on April 26 on the Auraria campus of…

May 2, 2024

Labor Notes conference draws thousands of militant unionists

Chicago For decades the Labor Notes conference, organized around the slogan “put the ‘movement’ back…

May 2, 2024

Commentary: End all criminalization of sex work, including the “Nordic Model”

Sex work is a spectrum, a spectrum consisting of work such as erotic dancing, nude…

May 2, 2024

PDF of May 2 issue

Download the PDF. Campus revolts inspire anti-imperialist solidarity Editorial: Behind repression of campus occupations: Follow…

May 2, 2024

Drop ALL charges against pro-Palestinian students!! Cops OFF the campuses!!

Should anyone have illusions that the United States is a bastion of democracy, those illusions…

May 1, 2024

Defying police violence, students extend encampments for Palestine

Reports from Workers World correspondents, supplemented by social media, give a feel of the breadth…

May 1, 2024