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Two groups held a candlelight vigil and an ensuing protest in downtown Phoenix on Thursday night in response to two pieces of news: Monday’s announcement that the state trooper who fatally shot Dion Johnson will not face charges, and Wednesday’s grand jury decision in Louisville, Kentucky, not to indict officers in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.

Ieshia Cuspard, a 36-year-old Arizona native, said Thursday was her first time at a protest and that she came because she was shocked about the grand jury decision.

“First time, but I figured it was time,” she said. “The world has been protesting for 200 days and we still aren’t heard.”

Among protests around the country this week, the local vigil was organized by the W.E. Rising Project, a protest group against police violence and systemic racism that has been responsible for many marches and vigils over the last several months in Phoenix. 

“It’s been a long, tough week,” W.E. Rising organizer Itoro Elijah told The Arizona Republic before the event. “There’s always the hope that we will be heard.”

Protests in Louisville on Wednesday left at least 46 people in custody and two police officers wounded

Brielle Riche, a spokesperson for the W.E. Rising Project, said that the vigil was meant to take a more proactive approach. 

“As organizers, it is important that we move from being reactionary to being proactive and impactful,” and “pay homage and honor the lives lost,” said Riche. 

It’s about “honoring the lives disrespected by the verdict,” she said.

Crowd kneels as Dion Johnson’s mother speaks

At least 120 people gathered about 8 p.m. outside the old City Hall plaza near Washington Street and Third Avenue in Phoenix, including Johnson’s mother, Erma Johnson. The group held candles quietly while people took turns giving speeches. 

Earlier this week, after the announcement in her son’s case, Erma Johnson said, “The system failed me, it failed my son and it fails us Black people.”

Johnson, 28, was shot and killed by Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper George Cervantes on Memorial Day.

At the vigil, Erma Johnson addressed the crowd and said Dion “was everything to me” and “all I think about is him.”

The crowd circled her and kneeled as she talked. 

Speaking about Cervantes, she said, “I don’t know how you’re living … what you’re doing, but you made my life a living hell.”

Rob Wilson, 34, with the Democratic Socialists of America, said Dion Johnson “should not be a catalyst for change” but instead should be alive. 

“We shouldn’t be out here tonight. It’s disgusting,” Wilson said. He also lamented that Phoenix government rejected a request that a “Black Lives Matter” mural be painted on a downtown street.

The crowd called for people to vote out both President Donald Trump and Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel, who said her office would not be pursuing charges in Johnson’s case. 

After the vigil, DJ Carter, 35, said it was the first time he has attended a protest and that he was struck by Erma Johnson’s words. 

“I thought about if it was my mom … you can hear the hurt and passion in her voice.” 

A collection of glass-encased prayer candles were left burning on the steps of the old Town Hall with a poster that said, “Say his name Dion Johnson!”

Vigil turns into protest as people march in streets 

A separate group planned a protest at the same location after the vigil. After speakers finished, leaders clarified that the vigil was over and now others would be leading a protest. Some left but most stayed. 

The crowd chanted, “Black lives matter,” as they marched in the streets, with some people dressed in black carrying umbrellas to block people from seeing them. A crowd of about 100 spanned the entire road. Some held a banner that said, “Abolish the police for Dion and Breonna.”

Almost immediately, Phoenix police began telling people to get out of the road or face arrest. There was no conflict or arrests as of 10 p.m. 

One person could be seen pulling down a barricade outside Phoenix Police Department headquarters. The crowd returned to the old City Hall and a man with a megaphone said it was over, and people began dispersing by 10:45 p.m. 

It was the largest of four nights in a row of smaller protests in response to Adel’s decision not to charge Cervantes in Johnson’s death, with crowds previously ranging from about a dozen people to about 50.

Reach the reporter at [email protected] or on Twitter @Mkayackley.

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