New Era Detroit members protesting at the Dearborn city council meeting.

DEARBORN — A Dearborn City Council meeting abruptly ended in chaos after a group of protestors demanded answers about the deaths of two Detroit residents who were shot and killed by Dearborn police officers in the last two months.

The deaths of Kevin Matthew, 35, and Janet Wilson, 31, two African Americans who were being pursued by Dearborn Police during separate incidents, sparked outrage from civil rights groups and Detroit residents.

Family members of both Matthew and Wilson said their loved ones suffered from mental disorders. Both families have spoken out against the Dearborn Police Department in the weeks following their deaths.

Matthew’s case is being investigated by the Detroit Police Department, as his pursuit by a Dearborn Police officer ended in Detroit.

Meanwhile, Wilson’s is being handled by Michigan State Police, as she was shot and killed within the Dearborn city limits, following a chase that began at Fairlane Town Center and ended on Hubbard Drive.

On Tuesday, February 9, New Era Detroit, an activist group formed by Detroit residents in 2014 to empower African Americans and tackle issues that effect the community, attended the City Council meeting to voice concerns about the two incidents.

At the end of the meeting, New Era Detroit leader Zeek Ned took the podium to demand that the officer who shot Matthew be identified and fired. Following the incident, the officer was placed on paid administrative leave.

“I’m here to figure out what the city of Dearborn is doing about the murders of Black people in the city,” Ned said. “We still have a police officer on duty who shot and killed Kevin Matthew, who was unarmed. He went as far as going out of his jurisdiction into the city of Detroit, chasing this man for a misdemeanor.”

City Council President Susan Dabaja told Ned that City Council members don’t have more information about the investigation than what was already provided to the public.

“As far as what’s going on that we are aware of, is a complete and full investigation is being conducted,” Dabaja said. “At this point, I know none of the Council members here are at liberty to offer information until information is provided through the investigation.”

But Ned stressed that the city is able to take its own measures outside of the investigation, questioning why the officer still hadn’t been fired.

“In our eyes, in the Black community, it’s like going on vacation after killing one of our family members,” Ned said. “If one of your family members was shot by an armed police officer, you would want justice…you would demand justice.”

Ned also demanded transparency in the incident involving Wilson, demanding dash-cam videos be released to the public.

“All I can tell you is that your concerns have been duly noted,” Dabaja said. “I don’t think anyone here would contest that justice is first and foremost. An investigation is being conducted.”

Ned said that if the city doesn’t move faster with the investigations, more residents will be rallying against the city in the near future.

Following Ned’s address, individuals unaffiliated with New Era Detroit took the podium to address the controversial shootings.

A man who would not comply with Dabaja’s request to identify himself lashed out at the police department.

“A badge is not a license to kill…this City Council cannot be complacent in these racist killings,” the man said. “We demand the City Council to take immediate action to end the historic racist harassment of Detroit neighborhoods. Detroit will no longer accept this second class treatment….Ferguson will come to Detroit if there is no justice served for Kevin Matthew and Janet Wilson.”

Following more disorderly conduct, Dabaja called for an end to the meeting.

Councilman Robert Abraham attempted to intervene by telling the protestors the City Council “doesn’t appreciate the yelling”, to which New Era Detroit members responded by saying, “We don’t appreciate Black people being killed in this city.”

After the meeting, Councilman Mike Sareini told The Arab American News he believes the investigations are being handled in a transparent manner.

“We want to have complete transparency,” Sareini said. “That’s why the Detroit Police is taking care of one incident and the other incident is being handled by the State Police.”

Sareini said Mayor Jack O’Reilly agreed to hold individual meetings with each Council member to brief them on the situation.

“I feel confident that things are proceeding in the right direction,” he added.

This week, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office stated that Matthew’s case has still not been handed over by the Detroit Police Department for possible charges.

Michigan State Police have not given any further information about Wilson’s case, other than that her vehicle would be considered a weapon, since she allegedly attempted to strike a police officer with it before she was shot.