Tears of Sorry...Voices of Anger - It's Time for Change!
By: Priscilla R. Ndiaye, MSML
Published Author of A Mother’s Cry: He’s Still My Child
Within
this first week of July 2016, nationwide - many mothers’ children are dead
Rumors,
perceptions, and facts dispelled everywhere
In
the midst, visuals and wordings of anger glares
I could
only imagine what the victims have left unsaid
Asheville, NC – Jai “Jerry” Williams possibly cried
My
hands are up – my child is in this car – don’t shoot
Please
don’t place that gun by my side
Why
did you let my body lie in the street so long?
Is
it procedural or to insight fear in those looking on?
How
many 911 calls were made and why didn’t I receive immediate medical care?
Hands
off! That’s my father. Put down those rifles! Don’t wrestle him to
the ground!
Listen
to the cries! Do you hear the
wailing? Are you even in touch with the
sounds?
Increasing
the anger…WHY, for so long, did you just
leave me lying there -
My lifeless,
bloody body - riddled with your bullets --- for people to stare?
Children watching – some saying… “His soul left his body.”
Baton Rouge, LA – Could it be that Alton Sterling
hollers
You’ve
slammed me to the ground, I’m on my back
Take
the gun from my chest – I’m only selling CDs -trying to make a dollar
Stop!
Don’t shoot
– my son is watching - in instilled-for-life
fear
Please
don’t let him witness this – branding the rest of his life and filling it with
tears
St. Paul, MN – Philando Castile – Following
the rules – I did everything right
I have no
criminal records. I’m carrying a licensed gun, as you requested, here’s my I.D.
Officer,
Sir, didn’t know the tail light was broken, please don’t shoot me
My fiancé and
child are here, please don’t shoot me
Live
streamed, as mother cried, we can hear his little girl say, “It’s o.k., I’m
here with you.”
Children so
innocent – scarred for life – are these
scenes in their future too?
Stop the
violence – by each other and those hired to protect! What is it that we need to do?
In spite of stereotyping, we’re not ALL bad people – we love
our families and want to live
Dallas, TX – ambush suspect shooter, Micha Xavier Johnson – deranged - outraged - yelled
Stop
killing my brothers! – I’m fed up – Can’t take it no more – by my actions - can
you tell?
Ambushed
…slain…in the line of duty Sworn to
protect, policing for your safety -
Community servants! Fathers!
Husbands! Wife! Ex-military members! Somebody’s
child…
Twelve
officers and others gunned down - five
officers dead
I wonder
what they, too, left unsaid
“Living
my dream being a police officer”
We’re not ALL bad cops – we love community,
and a feeling of being safe want to give
We’re humans– with families– fear for our
safety, and we, too, want to live
As the world watches and listens, what do
we see, feel and hear?
Racial
tension? Hatred? Division? Payback? Just
doing my job? Fear?
Graphic
videos. Live streamed.
Tragedy! So much bloodshed!
Mourning!
Many on edge.
Emotions
hijacked!
Anger! Outrage!
Black
lives – all lives matter!
Protest! Rallies!
Marches! Vigils!
No justice no peace!
Flags
and flowers to the fallen
He’s wrong… they’re wrong…
What’s really going on?
Lethal
use of force – violence –darkness - the current pulse of the environment
“I
want to see what yall did to my baby”
“Oh
my God – please don’t tell me he’s dead!”
“It
hurts to see what’s going on – stop the violence!”
“Nobody
should have to be taken away from their families.”
“She
loves her dad – very much.”
"We are scared of the police probably
more than we are scared of the people in our community,"
"We don't feel safe at all,”
Nationwide, mother’s fearing for the sons, society
fearing for their lives
What
can we do to build a bond of peace
and reconciliation?
We
ALL love our family members
Too
many African-Americans dying at the hands of police – not held accountable
Outrage
– fear across the country – cold-blooded murder during the day and night
All of this killing just isn’t right
Do
we want to gain understanding and bring about change?
Time
to take a hard look at self, policies, and procedures
National
discussions are in order – through respect
and listening ears
It’s
time to stop the madness… the evil… and decrease the tears
Fundamental
issues need to be addressed
Fear
from both sides. Why?
Community
members not supporting or trusting police officers. Why?
Where
can we decrease or neutralize bias, and build trust?
What
are the trigger points?
Is
it the racial profiling and disrespect?
Let’s
talk about it!
Let’s
create a list of mutual rules?
How can
we survive – let’s stop looking like fools?
Look
at the statistics!
Since 2013, violent crime in Asheville's
Housing Authority's developments has gone up 24 percent, according to data
from the Asheville Police Department.
6%
population - 40% unarmed -killed by cops according to national statistics
Can
we all get along? Build positive relationships? Stop the violence?
Can
we focus on nurturing our children,
making this place a better world?
Can
we, collectively, establish checks and balances, and processes of accountability?
Much
critical conversation is needed? Let’s
make it happen! Step up leaders and arrange!
People
are dying senseless deaths. No more
excuses! It’s time for change!
Prayers
go out for the families, communities, deceased and those
fighting for their lives.
My
final thought: Maybe God is trying to tell us something,
uncovering things to the light
Through
differences, division, and hatred, let it be known as it has been shown
ALL lives matter!
“Darkness
can not drive out darkness – only light can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
