PAMELA WALKER TO JOIN REP. SYKES AS STATE OF THE UNION GUEST
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) will be joined by Pamela Walker, mother of 25-year-old Jayland Walker, who was fatally shot by police in Akron in June 2022. Walker was unarmed when multiple officers fired more than 90 bullets and shot him 46 times.
Jayland Walker was a kind, quiet, and thoughtful young family man who regularly spent time with his mother, grandmother and sister. He was just beginning to live his life, saving money to become a successful entrepreneur, with aspirations of starting his own business.
“I am grateful that Ms. Walker is able to join me as my guest for the State of the Union,” said Rep. Sykes. “She experienced what no mother should ever have to go through but has displayed unwavering strength and perseverance in the face of extreme adversity. President Biden and Democrats have taken steps to improve police accountability, but there is still much work to be done to restore trust between police and the communities they serve. I will continue to fight for a criminal justice system that is transparent, accountable, and keeps us all safe.”
“Jayland was the son that every mother dreams of, and I am proud to have been his mother,” said Ms. Walker. “But he was brutally taken from us way too soon, leaving my family and me devastated and heartbroken. We are here at the U.S. Capitol demanding accountability and change among U.S. law enforcement so that my son, and others affected by the injustices that Black Americans continue to face nationwide at the hands of U.S. law enforcement, will not have died in vain.”
The State of the Union Address will highlight the achievements House Democrats and President Biden delivered over the past two years and the work Democrats are doing to expand opportunity, promote equity, and ensure justice for all.
In December 2022, Congress passed bipartisan legislation to help fund police de-escalation training. The bipartisan law creates $70 million in annual grant funding for law enforcement de-escalation training involving people with mental health issues. Additionally, in 2022, President Biden issued an executive order that established a National Law Enforcement Accountability database, improved the investigation and prosecution of civil rights violations, and ordered federal law enforcement to adopt body-worn camera policies.
As Ohio House Minority Leader, Rep. Sykes advocated for a comprehensive police reform package that would increase accountability for law enforcement, address racial bias, and improve community-police relations. She also helped secure funding for the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program in the 2022-2023 state budget. The program is aimed at assisting police departments with the costs relating to camera units, video storage and public record management personnel and other expenses. Several law enforcement agencies in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District have received funding through this grant program, including Akron Police Department, Twinsburg Police Department, Canton Police Department, Massillon Police, Bath Township Police Department, Reminderville Police Department, and Springfield Township Police Department.