October 15th 2024.
On a chilly Monday evening, a group of more than twenty friends, family members, and activists gathered outside the Aurora Municipal Center to protest the decision made by Arapahoe County District Attorney John Kellner. The group was outraged by Kellner's choice to not press charges against Aurora Police Department Officer Michael Dieck, who shot and killed Kilyn Lewis.
LaRonda Jones, Lewis' mother, shared that the family only learned about Kellner's decision through the media on Friday. She stood in front of the Municipal Center and declared that this was not the end of their fight for justice. She promised to continue advocating for her son and using all the resources at their disposal.
The incident that led to Lewis' death occurred on May 23, outside an apartment complex on South Ironton Street. Both Aurora and Denver police had been monitoring Lewis for two days before attempting to arrest him on suspicion of attempted murder. Kellner's decision letter stated that one of the reasons Officer Dieck felt justified in shooting Lewis was because Lewis had reached for something in his back pocket. However, it was later discovered that Lewis was only holding a phone and some plastic tubes of fruit snacks.
Organizer Auon'tai Anderson expressed that the outcome was not surprising, as they had anticipated such a decision from the start. "The system has shown us time and time again that Black lives do not matter," Anderson stated. The family had been waiting for 144 days for answers, and now the individual responsible for Lewis' death would simply return to work.
Despite the negative portrayal of Lewis by the authorities, his family and friends stood up to defend his character at the rally. Jones declared that while everyone has made mistakes, Lewis was a good and honorable man. She urged people not to believe the false narrative being spread about her son.
Robert Lewis, Kilyn's father, described his son as a loving and kind person. He spoke up to say that his son did not deserve to die in such a manner. Jones also shared that the shooting was nothing but "state-sanctioned violence," a sentiment echoed by Alexander Landau, Executive Director of the Denver Justice Project, who spoke at the rally. He called out Kellner for being part of the problem and perpetuating the violence in the Aurora Police Department.
In the end, Jones implored the community to stand with Lewis' family and join them in demanding change. She reminded everyone that this fight was not just for Lewis, but for all their loved ones who have been victims of similar injustices. The group encouraged people to sign up for daily crime news updates and stay informed about the ongoing battle for justice.
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