Monthly Racial Justice Vigil in Martinsburg, WV
Black Lives Matter Vigil
To remember Wayne Jones, and to reach an understanding with law enforcement.
On March 13, 2013, Wayne Arnold Jones, a fifty year-old African-American man, was apprehended for walking along the curb on Queen Street by five Martinsburg policemen. They tasered him multiple times, broke his arm and after knocking him to the ground shot him 22 times, several times in the back.
All five policemen involved remained on the force. They were never held accountable for their actions by any court even though Judge Gina M. Groh of the District Court in Martinsburg was urged to do so three times by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.
A monthly peaceful vigil “Justice for Wayne Jones” sponsored by Shepherdstown Friends Meeting was started in 2016 seeking accountability from local law enforcement. The vigil continues to this day under the banner of “Vigil for Racial Justice/Black Lives Matter” on the second Saturday of the Month from Noon until 1:00 pm at the intersection of Queen and King Streets in Martinsburg West Virginia sponsored by the Shepherdstown Friends Meeting, the Berkeley County Branch of the NAACP and the Women’s March of W.V.
Members of the NAACP have met numerous times with Martinsburg Police, city officials, and the Berkeley County Sheriff, requesting:
- Training of all officers in the use of de-escalation;
- The discharge or discipline of those officers who killed Wayne Jones;
- Policies to discourage racist attitudes among members of the force;
- Collection of data on the incidence of racial bias in stops and arrests; and
- Assurance to the public that an incident such as Wayne Jones’ killing will never happen again – to ANY member of this community.
We have received no assurance that any of these measures have been taken.
“Although we recognize that our police officers are often asked to make split-second decisions, we expect them to do so with respect for the dignity and worth of black lives.”
ESTATE OF WAYNE A. JONES […], Plaintiff/Appellant, v. THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG, PFC. ERIK HERB; PFC. DANIEL NORTH; PTLM. WILLIAM STAUBS; PTLM. PAUL LEHMAN; PFC. ERIC NEELY, Defendants/Appellees. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca4/18-2142/18-2142-2020-06-10.html