We are in mourning, like many communities across this country. This week, police shot and killed 16 year old Ma’Khia Bryant. Last week, police shot and killed 13 year old Adam Toledo. Our team is devastated, heartbroken, and speechless. This news comes following the murder of 20 year old Daunte Wright at the hands of police in the same community where Derek Chauvin a former police officer, was just convicted for the murder of George Floyd. In all these instances our communities continue to call for some semblance of justice.
The preventable death of a child is always difficult to accept. These deaths are enraging. What is even more enraging is that this is not the first time police have killed a Black or Latinx child. In this moment, we are also remembering Tamir Rice, Jeremy Mardis, Kamron Prescott, Ciara Meyer and the countless other children who have been victims of the justice system.
A system that was actually designed to protect, would not murder the most marginalized, vulnerable, and innocent members of our society. Police would not play the role of jury and executioner. Our justice system is operating exactly as it was intended to. It is time to reimagine what safety, justice, and protection can look like in all of our communities. Future lives depend on it.