Another Copp protest at downtown GVSU

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - About 50 protesters marched through the city today to speak against the shooting of an unarmed Grand Valley State University student during a drug raid.

Some carried signs, some arrived by skateboard. It had the feeling of the 60s, without the tie dye.

They talked about peace. They rallied against what they call police brutality, and for what they say is their right to smoke marijuana.

"We feel that you should have the freedom to do whatever you want with your body, as long as you're not harming anybody else, you know," protest co-organizer Sara Jones said.

They started at the downtown Grand Valley campus, marched across the Grand River and gathered at Rosa Parks Circle.

Protest organizers were disappointed by the showing, saying they expected many more, perhaps in the hundreds.

"We've got a lot of passionate people here, you know," Jones said. "No matter how many people come out, there's a lot of passion here, and we're trying to make a difference."

The march was the third protest since a narcotics officer shot Grand Valley State University student Derek Copp last week in his Allendale off-campus apartment.

But, protesters say, this was not just about Copp and the deputy.

"This is more than just Derek," said protester and GVSU student Rick Kirby. "It's the ground to stand on, to have people's voices be heard that have been kind of quiet and muffled for a long time."

It was about what they call the failed war on drugs.

"People are losing their houses, every day, can't afford the mortgages, can't put their kids through college, can't go to school and this government's spending billions of dollars trying to stop a stoner on the street from smoking pot," Kirby said.

Copp suffered a bullet wound to his upper chest when an Ottawa County deputy -- part of the West Michigan Enforcement Team -- raided his apartment with a search warrant.
Police have said they found "illegal drugs." Copp's attorney said they found only a small amount of marijuana.

WEMET Lt. Cameron Henke told 24 Hour News 8 Friday that the drug investigation is complete. He said he planned to turn it over to prosecutors to determine whether Copp would face charges.

The state police investigation into the shooting continues, Henke said.

The story is gaining national attention through the Internet and Facebook. Much of the focus is on what protesters call the failed "war on drugs." The group behind some of the protests is Students for Sensible Drug Policy.