July 12th 2024.
The family of D'Vontaye Mitchell was devastated by his tragic death and they are determined to fight for justice. During Mitchell's funeral, which took place on July 11, there were chants of "Justice for D'Vontaye" as his loved ones and supporters gathered at Milwaukee's Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ to remember him. Mitchell was described by his mother, Brenda Giles, as a gentle and loving person, a "harmless teddy bear" and a source of joy for his family. In the midst of their grief, Giles made it clear that they will not give up on seeking justice for her son. "We're going to fight," she declared.
At the age of 43, Mitchell lost his life on June 30 after being pinned down on his stomach by security guards outside a Hyatt hotel. According to police reports, Mitchell had entered the hotel and caused a disturbance, leading to a physical altercation with the security guards who were escorting him out. However, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Mitchell's family, claims that Mitchell was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time. Mitchell's legal team, comprised of attorneys B'Ivory Lamarr and William Sulton, stated that video footage from the hotel shows Mitchell being repeatedly beaten by a security guard with a retractable baton while witnesses stood by and did nothing to intervene.
Crump also revealed that a signed affidavit from a hotel employee confirms that Mitchell was being struck by a security guard with a baton, even though he posed no threat while lying on the ground. The video footage also shows Mitchell with his hands up, but he was still dragged to the ground and beaten while pleading for the attack to stop. "D'Vontaye was trying to run for his life," Sulton emphasized.
DeAsia Harmon, Mitchell's widow, was shown the surveillance videos and was horrified by what she saw. She described the content as "disgusting" and recalled how her husband was dragged outside while bleeding. "It makes me sick to my stomach," Harmon expressed during a news conference. "He ran for his life. He was trying to leave. He said, 'I'll go,' and they didn't let him go."
In response to the incident, Aimbridge Hospitality, the company that manages the hotel, released a statement stating that several employees involved had been fired. However, civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, who delivered the eulogy at Mitchell's funeral, believes that termination is not enough. He asked a thought-provoking question, "If Mitchell was white, would this have happened?" Sharpton insisted that those responsible for Mitchell's death should not only lose their jobs, but they should also be held accountable for their actions. "This was taking somebody's life, and there is no justice until you pay for the life you've taken," he declared.
Sharpton went on to draw parallels between Mitchell's death and the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed in May 2020 by a white police officer who kneeled on his neck. Sharpton reminded the audience that justice was served for Floyd, as the officer was convicted of murder. He then urged for the same level of accountability in Mitchell's case. "I thought you'll learn that you can't put your knee on our necks," he stated. "But if we have to go from Minneapolis to Milwaukee, you're going to learn to keep your knees off of our necks."
The Milwaukee County District Attorney's office announced that they are waiting for the full autopsy results and that the case is being treated as a homicide. As the investigation continues, Mitchell's family and supporters vow to keep fighting for justice and to ensure that those responsible for his death are held accountable for their actions.
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