Vigil for Troy Hodge

Family and friends gather seeking justice for Troy Hodge one year after his death.

FAMILY AND FRIENDSOF A MAN WHO DIED INPOLICE CUSTODY AREKEEPING HISMEMORY... AND HISSTORY... ALIVE ON THEANNIVERSARY OF HISDEATH.GOOD EVENING.TODAY MARKS ONEYEAR SINCE TROYHODGE DIED INLOCKPORT.POLICE RESPONDEDTO A 9-1-1 CALLHODGE'S MOTHERMADE THAT NIGHT.NEW AT 11 -- GILATMELAMED BRINGS USTHE MESSAGEHODGE'S FAMILY ANDFRIENDS SHARED AT ACANDLELIGHT VIGIL.THIS CANDLELIGHTVIGIL IS CAPPING OFF ANIGHT HONORING TROYHODGE'S MEMORY.DOZENS MOREGATHERED HEREEARLIER IN THEEVENING.ON THE ONE YEARANNIVERSARY OFHODGE'S DEATH... THEFAMILY IS DEMANDINGANSWERS ANDREFORM.CHANTS FILL THESTREET."NO JUSTICE, NOPEACE."FOR TROY HODGE.FRIENDS, FAMILY, ANDCOMMUNITY MEMBERSPRAYED IN FRONT OFHIS MOTHERS HOME."WE DEMAND JUSTICE."BEFORE MARCHINGHALF A MILE..

TOACROSS FROM CITYHALL."COMPLETE SUPPORTFROM THE COMMUNITY,WE HAVE SO MANYPEOPLE FROM SOMANY DIFFERENTBACKGROUNDS ANDTHIS IS EXACTLY WHATLOCKPORT ISSUPPOSED TO BEABOUT."THE MARCH INLOCKPORT."BLACK LIVES MATTER"ECHOES CALLS FORCHANGE ACROSS THECOUNTRY.THE FAMILY PLANNEDTHE MARCH BEFOREGEORGE FLOYD'SDEATH.HODGE DIED INLOCKPORT POLICECUSTODY AFTER THEYWERE CALLED TO HISHOME LAST YEAR."WHEN YOU SAWGEORGE FLOYD, I SAWTROY, AND TO HEARGEORGE FLOYD CALLOUT FOR HIS MOTHER ISAW MY COUSIN TINAWATCHING HER SONDIE."HODGE'S COUSINLASHONDA MCKENZIEIS CALLING FORPOLICE REFORM.INCLUDINGDEESCALATION ANDMENTAL HEALTHTRAINING."NUMBER ONE TOO ISMENTAL HEALTH, IFSOMEONE IS HAVING AMENTAL HEALTH ISSUE IDON'T REALLYUNDERSTAND HOW ITENDS UP LIKE THAT,AND I THINK THAT'SWHERE THECONFUSION IS FOREVERYONE THAT'SHERE."MAYOR MICHELLEROMAN SAYS THE CITYIS WORKING TO HAVEA MORE DIVERSEPOLICE FORCE.."WE WANNA CHANGESOME OF THE TRAININGASPECTS OF OUROFFICERS, WE WANTTO, WE WERE GOINGOUT TO DIFFERENTCOLLEGES TRYING TORECRUIT CANDIDATES,WE WANT TO OFFERPREPARATION CLASSESTO TAKE THE CIVILSERVICE EXAM TO BE APOLICE OFFICER."MARCHERS SAY THEYHOPE A TRAGEDY CANTURN INTOPROGRESS."THE CHANGE HAS TOSTART SOMEWHERE,WHY CAN'T LOCKPORTBE IT."THE ATTORNEYGENERAL'S OFFICE ISINVESTIGATINGHODGE'S DEATH.BOTH THE AG'S OFFICEAND MAYOR ROMANSAY THEY CAN'TCOMMENT UNTIL THEINVESTIGATION'S