Rally held in Raleigh for police accountability

Two months after the shooting death of Akiel Denkins, the pain of the loss for some in the community has not lessened.

The participants in the rally said they want more community input and the Raleigh Police Department to strengthen its anti-bias training.

Demonstrators said they will continue marching to make sure their voices are heard.

“We are not going to accept this over-policing, criminalization and brutalization happening in our community,” Akiba Byrd said.

The group says the February shooting death of Denkins served as a highlight to what they call a “fractured relationship” between law enforcement.

Earlier this month, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman announced that charges would not be filed against D.C. Twiddy, the officer who shot and killed Denkins. It was determined that Twiddy discharged his weapon in self-defense.

“You’ve got to understand body cams without the policies to protect us, to protect our right to see information,” Byrd said. “Without these policies, it just becomes another tool of the police to monitor, surveil us and criminalize us.”

The Raleigh Police Department declined to comment, but Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown said she is willing to listen. Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane also said a community conversation is critical for everyone.