Pubdate: Sat, 14 Mar 2009 Source: Grand Valley Lanthorn (MI Edu) Contact: 2009 Grand Valley Lanthorn Website: http://www.lanthorn.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5002 Author: Lauren Fitch Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) PROTESTERS RALLY AGAIN TODAY The protests sparked by the shooting of Grand Valley State University student, Derek Copp, will continue today as students gather at the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus as well as the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department. A sit-in will be held at 10 a.m. in Kirkhof to draw the attention of GVSU administration and begin a constructive dialogue about the situation. Greg Hatt and Edo Gelbard, friends of Copp, also organized a protest scheduled to start at noon at the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department on 12220 Filmore St., in West Olive, Mich. The main issues the students at the protest want to address are police brutality and the tactics used by the West Michigan Enforcement Team. Hatt, a former GVSU student, said the goal of the protest is to see the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department change their policy on conducting search warrants and drug investigations, which Hatt said is the root of the current situation with Copp. Around 9 p.m. Wednesday, officers of the Ottawa County Sheriff's Department attempted to execute a search warrant for narcotics at Copp's off-campus apartment. As officers approached Copp's apartment, one deputy fired a shot at Copp, 20, from the apartment's rear sliding door. "We want to see that justice is served," Hatt said. "We'll let the legal system decide what justice is." Hatt said personally he thinks the deputy should lose his badge. "I still have love for the guy and don't want to see him lose his job," Hatt said. "But I don't think it's acceptable for him to continue (in law enforcement) if it was his error, if it puts another student in danger." Gelbard, a GVSU junior, agreed the deputy should be terminated. He said the laws meant to protect citizens are actually hurting them in the way they are enforced. "The point of (the protest) is to let the Sheriff's Department and the media see that the movement stands for peace and love," Gelbard said. "We want to show them we are respectable, young adults who should not be shot under any circumstances." Gelbard said Copp would be proud of the way everyone is coming together for the protests. "This is what Derek (Copp) is all about," Gelbard said. "He wouldn't agree if the protest turned into a more violent message." Hatt, who spoke to Copp during the weekend, said Copp is thankful for the protests and supports the cause. Most of their conversation, Hatt said, was focused on Copp's well being. Copp continues to be treated at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital for injuries sustained during the shooting at his Campus View apartment. Copp's parents told 24 Hour News 8 the bullet entered the right side of their son's upper chest, breaking several ribs, rupturing his right lung and continuing through his liver. The bullet remained lodged in his lower back, but doctors expected to remove it Friday. "He's going through a lot right now," Hatt said, referencing Copp's physical pain as well as the possible legal charges he could face. "His world came crashing down." Organizers expect turnout for the protest to be more than 100 students, though Hatt said he would be happy with anything. "It's hard to get a handle on how many people are involved," Gelbard said. "It's spreading fast." More protests are scheduled for the Allendale Campus throughout the week with a March for Peace to start at 1 p.m. on Friday from the Pew Campus. "This isn't going to stop," Hatt said. "This isn't going to be a one-time protest. We're going to keep going until we see a real change."