GRAND RAPIDS -- Students at University of Michigan and Michigan State are joining Grand Valley State University students in protesting the shooting of Derek Copp.

Copp, a 20-year-old GVSU student, was shot in the chest by police last week during the execution of a drug-related search warrant at his off-campus apartment.

Organizers expect hundreds of students to participate in the protests Friday in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids to rally against drug policies they blame in Copp's shooting.

IF YOU GO

Grand Valley State University Protest/March: 1 p.m. at GVSU's Pew Campus Clocktower, in downtown Grand Rapids

Facebook event (sign-up)

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Protest: 11 a.m., Common Area at corner of South and East University St.

Facebook event (sign-up)

Web (SSDP)

Michigan State University Protest: Location and time yet to be determined.

Can't attend a rally, but have something to say? Join our live blog Friday

The protests are being organized by members of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) at the universities.

Copp, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting, is recuperating from his wounds. His family has hired an attorney to represent him.

The unnamed officer who shot him has been advised by his union's lawyer not to talk to investigators in the case.

"The War on Drugs is a War on Us," said Chris Chiles, executive director of SSDP at the University of Michigan in a press release late Wednesday.

"Those who defend the prohibition of marijuana and other drugs can no longer use the safety of young people to justify a policy that most Americans know has failed. For it is the War on Drugs that puts young people like Derek in the line of fire."

Blake Walton, of GVSU's anti-war on drugs group, said in the release: "Thankfully, Derek is still with us, but the War on Drugs claims countless lives every day, and drugs are more available than ever before.

"The situation is out of control. The only way to effectively deal with the problems of drug abuse is to legalize and regulate drugs, and begin putting our scarce resources toward education and treatment."

E-mail Nardy Bickel: nbickel@grpress.com