On Monday, April 22, the family of William Spates, Black Lives Matter NWI-Gary, and IDOC Watch held a Vigil in honor of William Spates’ life and memory, and to draw attention to his unjust death at the hands of Portage police. Billy Dee was the stepson of a IDOC Watch comrade Lorenzo Stone-Bey, who was released from prison after spending over 37 years locked up in Indiana, shortly after his step-son was murdered.
William Spates was murdered by Portage, IN police on the morning of April 22, 2017. He was unarmed. Officer Grant Crizer stopped him for an alleged traffic violation, hit him with a Taser, and shot him 8 times, including twice in the head and three times in the torso. He laid dead where the police shot him for 5 hours before the coroner arrived. Officer Crizer was “cleared” of any wrongdoing by police.
The murder of William by Portage police is not an isolated incident. Police kill Black people without justification all over the country and getting away with it. Just recently, Chicago police murdered Michael Elam, Steven Rosenthal, and Harith Augustus. Gary PD murdered Kemonte Cobbs.
The police who murdered Stephon Clark in Sacramento just got off with no charges, as did the police who murdered Aaron Bailey in Indianapolis, and Antwon Rose in Pittsburgh. That’s just to name a few. This can’t go on!!
Thank you to every who joined us to stand in unity and honor William’s memory. The struggle continues!
Watch IDOC Watch and BLM NWI-Gary for further actions.
