Stop killing us
By Dierra Wright
With the prevalent killings of un-armed African American men gunned down and killed inhumanely by law enforcement for the world to see, the nation was saddened and angered by the perpetual killings of innocent Black men happening all over the country.
Following the recent killings, many peaceful riots occurred around the nation ranging from people of all ages and backgrounds.
In instances where police officers have killed civilians, typically less than 1 percent is indicted whereas the indictment rate for civilians is 90 percent. Amongst those American citizens being killed it is far more likely for that citizen to be African American.
During times of injustice and pure villainy, it is important to come together in unison as a nation and a people. South African social activist Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Turn your anger into action.
There is no doubt that the killings of African Americans by law enforcement are an underlying issue in this country. The ultimate question comes down to who polices the police in times of injustice? Organizations such as the Blacks Lives Matter movement formed subsequently after the 2012 killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of a neighborhood watchman, who was later found not guilty of the teenager’s death.
Black Lives Matter is an activist movement advocating for dignity, justice and respect.
It seems every day that there is a new hashtag of an innocent Black man being killed. Although we have come a long way from slavery, lynchings, segregation and the Jim Crow era, how much has truly changed? Is police brutality a new form of genocide against a race of people?
Many celebrities used their platforms to shed light on the horrific events that have unfolded in the recent days. Pop sensation Lady Gaga took to her twitter handle to tweet, “I pray for the Black community who suffer fear of prejudice, violence and injustice. We need lawfulness, fairness and unity.”
Dierra Wright is a Fort Lauderdale native, currently entering her senior year at the illustrious Florida A&M University where she is studying Public Relations.
