Milford protesters seek justice for Brandon Roberts

Protesters in Milford made their way through downtown to city hall and onto Route 113 asking for justice for Brandon Roberts, a 27-year-old black man killed in his apartment by Milford police officers in January.

The protest was peaceful, but pointed; family members and friends of Roberts shouted as loud as they could, yelling slogans such as “What’s his name? Brandon Roberts,” “No justice, no peace,” “Release the footage” and “Black lives matter.” They were asking for evidence in Roberts’ killing to be released and for the officers responsible for his death to be held to account.

The protest began at the entrance to Silver Lake Estates apartments, where Roberts was killed. Led by Roberts’ mother, Darlene White, sisters Alicia Hill and Brittny White, and girlfriend and mother of his children Erica Jones, the protest went down Front Street, down to Walnut Street and on to city hall, where Brittny White, whose voice often choked up and cracked with emotion, shouted, “What’s his name? Brandon Roberts.” 

The protest started with about 50 to 75 people on the walk. Once it reached city hall, the crowd swelled to about 200. After family members and friends spoke, the protest moved back up Front Street all the way to Route 113, where Milford police allowed the protesters to stand in the intersection and chant, “Release the footage.” 

The crowd then left the intersection and dispersed. 

“My son was 27 years old. I didn’t think I would have to bury my son at 27 years old. His kids can’t see him anymore. The kids won’t have a father because he was taken by police killing him. It’s just senseless. We want justice for Brandon,” Darlene White said.

In January, police answered a domestic call at Roberts’ apartment. Roberts, who suffered from mental illness, including bipolar disorder, was holding a knife. Also in the apartment was Roberts’ girlfriend, Jones, who was pregnant at the time, and their infant daughter. Police claimed that Roberts lunged at officers with the knife before they shot Roberts dead. 

The family disputes the claim Roberts lunged at the officers, and says police did not try to de-escalate the situation before shooting Roberts. The family says body cam footage from the police and the 911 call from the incident prove their case, but that evidence has not been released by Milford police. The family is contemplating legal action against the police department and the city.

“It makes us feel good that these people came out to support us. It touches our hearts. As we were marching, I couldn’t hold back the tears. I can’t hold them back now,” Darlene White said.

Alicia Hill said, “He was very caring. He did a lot of art and he left a lot of scrapbooks behind. He always cared about other people. For the police, the ones that are supposed to protect us, to be the ones that took him, it’s hard to stomach.”

Addressing the crowd in front of city hall, Jones said, “Brandon’s life mattered. I had to watch him be murdered by the Milford Police Department. 

“The mayor needs to do his job and kick those officers off the force. If you are afraid of black people, you shouldn’t be on the force.”

City hall in Milford was closed; the city’s election was being held at the city’s public works building. 

In a statement on Facebook, Mayor Archie Campbell said, “The death of a young man under any circumstance is a tragedy. I, as mayor, the city council and the police department of the city of Milford extend their sympathy to the family and friends of Brandon Roberts, whose death has impacted us all. The city recognizes and supports the right of those who wish to gather and walk in Mr. Roberts’ memory.

“However, due to the ongoing investigation of Mr. Roberts’ death by the Delaware State Police and the Delaware Department of Justice, and potential litigation which has been threatened against the city of Milford by attorney Thomas Neuberger as a result of Mr. Roberts’ untimely death, it is inappropriate for the city leaders to join in the event,” Campbell wrote.

Brittny White said, “I want justice for my brother. No matter how much I scream his name, I know he won’t come back, but I want the justice done. We can’t sleep at night knowing that our brother is not coming back. We want our brother. We want justice.”