Sonya Massey: Vigils in Bay Area demand justice for woman killed at home by Illinois state sheriff’s deputy

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — Following the recent shooting death of Sonya Massey at the hands of a police officer, we are witnessing an overwhelming call to action in cities across the country.

More than 20 rallies took place in various US cities on Sunday.

From Chicago and Brooklyn to Sacramento, Connecticut and Appleton, Wisconsin.

A video from July 6 shows a deputy shooting Massey in her Illinois home.

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He was on duty there after the 36-year-old mother called 911 to report a possible intruder.

“Sonya Massey called the police to apprehend the potential intruder. And ironically, she was safer with the potential intruder than with the police. She was murdered in her home by the people she called for protection,” said activist Justin Russell.

The deputy who shot Massey, Sean Grayson, was fired and recently pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, among other charges.

Here in the Bay Area, too, there were rallies demanding justice.

Dozens of people gathered outside the Headspace Barbershop on 4th Street in San Jose on Sunday night, trying to figure out how and why Sonya Massey, the mother of two teenagers, died.

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“We have a space where we can mourn, lament, get informed and talk about everything that is happening,” said organizer Alonzo Grainger.

“What we saw seems almost unreal. She did everything she was asked to do,” said Lou Dimes.

Dimes is with Black Outreach San Jose, a nonprofit founded after the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

“We need an opportunity to talk to each other and discuss the next steps. Of course, this has happened outside of our state. But the same thing happens here quite frequently,” Dimes said.

Sid Owens, who attended the vigil, is an educator.

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“I work with students of color. For me, that means going to work every morning and having to have that conversation with students and families and our families,” he said. “I think the bigger question is how do we get past this? How do we continue to move forward and do things like this to make sure that our community, all of us, stand together as one?”

Earlier, dozens of community members gathered several miles away in Oakland. Activists held a vigil in downtown Oakland at the corner of 15th Street and Broadway before marching to Frank Ogawa Plaza.

People expressed fear that fatal shootings involving police would not stop and that more men and women could be killed.

Back in San Jose, Vigil Grainger said that as difficult as it may seem, community can make a difference.

“There are always ways to raise awareness, improve the situation and hopefully slow it down. I don’t think it will ever stop,” he said.