I caught this story and was outraged much like the rest of you. I just thought of this little girl, Aiyana. A life cut short. I'm a father. This story hurts. Who chose for Aiyana to be a martyr?
I could talk about the police. I could talk about how they were overzealous. I could talk about the conditions in our urban communities that create conditions in which parents keep their children in unsafe homes. I could talk about how this could and will happen again if there isn't a drastic shift in procedures by police and responsibly by parents. There's a lot of emotion and thoughts running through my head when it comes to this story. I thought about writing about it. But my home girl @_Peech says pretty much everything I'm thinking and feeling. So, we pause for a moment from music and pop culture ...
From @_Peech
To wake up this morning to more news about #Aiyana Jones, the 7 year old girl who was tragically and senselessly murdered by men who were supposed to serve and protect her broke my heart.
Her death should break all our hearts. A little girl who could have grown up to be anything – full of promise and potential – slain by cops who got trigger happy because there were reality show cameras focused on them.
Who serves a warrant on a house where children and elderly persons live by throwing a flash grenade in a window? Reports have even surfaced of toys in the yard and neighbours who told LEO (Law Enforcement Officers) that children lived inside. To add insult to injury, the suspect was not even apprehended at the same apartment in which little Aiyana and her family lived.
Many subjects and opinions have come to light over today: Racism, police brutality, poverty, living in urban areas, and more; But my thought lies with [something I'm familiar with] Social Media. During the Iran Elections (just rock with me for a second), when the riots and violence started – it was less than a day before the number one topic on Twitter (most likely the longest running political trending topic) was #IranElection. Soon to follow was #MSMFail (Mainstream Media Fail) also #Mousavi and #CNNFail were top ranking as well. In fact, the entire TT list – all 10 topics – at one point referenced the Iran Elections.
Major news houses all over the world were getting their news from Twitter!
Not reinforcing already known news, but we [Tweeters!] were updating the world on the Iran Election. Quickly, Succinctly, and Clearly. Even when dis- (and mis)information came up, the solidarity of people who understand the gift of the internet quickly squashed it.
I say all that to reiterate my point:If it was done once, it can be done again. #Aiyana deserves justice and attention. The poor in America who are brutalized every day by LEO deserve justice and attention. The tense racial situation in this country deserves attention. The LEO who forgot the people that they serve because they were too busy posturing for reality television deserve attention and ostracizing. We deserve to stand up and
say “I will not live in a police state. I will not watch my children be murdered by ignorant police officers. I will not watch my country go up in flames while people look on as if it were a movie - detached.”
I am, in my heart, disappointed and angry. Where is President Obama to speak on this? Where is Cornel West? Where is Tavis Smiley? Where is the honorable Minister Farrakhan? Where are our black leaders to speak out and put #Aiyana first instead of more posturing? Where are the voices? Where is the cacophony of screams for justice? They are not here.
They aren’t here. But we are. #Aiyana
Read what other folks are thinking over at
owlasylum.net
