“We all do stupid things at 17.”
On Tuesday the 25th of August, a 17-year-old boy illegally crossed a state border, armed with a gun he could not legally own, shot three innocent people trying to get justice for Jacob Blake, and was labelled a ‘hero’ by many. $327,000 has been raised for Kyle.
John Pierce (Kyle’s attorney) told Tucker Carlson on Fox news that ‘the only individuals Kyle shot were the three individuals attacking him and putting him at risk. This is a 17-year-old kid, this is amazing what he did.’
If a person of colour were to commit the act of terror, they would be labelled as a ‘terrorist’, and the media would demand response and action from all who share their race and religion. Even when a BIPOC is murdered in cold blood, the media brings up past incidences they were involved in, as though that justifies their murder.
Police brutality against Black people is a huge issue in America. As of August 30th, 123 black civilians have been shot by police, a number that seems to only increase by the month. Even the victims in these situations are labelled as ‘thugs’.
Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old who was fatally shot and killed by George Zimmerman, was told by Geraldo Rivera (a journalist/political commentator) that his hoodie was “as much responsible for [his] death as George Zimmerman.”
Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times after trying to sort out an altercation between two women. Apparently this was justified because he had a knife in his car. In the hospital, he was spent handcuffed to his bed. Doctors fear he will never walk again.
Cornelius Fredericks, a 16-year-old, was killed after being restrained by seven men for throwing a sandwich in the cafeteria of a youth facility. In the video footage, he can be heard screaming ‘I can’t breathe.’
What do all these victims have in common? They did not get justice. Their killers walk around free.
Written by Aimy
Artwork by Zara Masood
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