Only in America is someone’s death debatable based on their background and previous records. To my utter horror, I have once again had the misfortune of learning about another death of an African American young woman who failed to show up to court. Korryn Gaines was in her home when the police showed up to her apartment to arrest her. The officers let themselves in with a key that they obtained from the landlord. Gaines then retrieved her firearm and pointed it at police officers stating, “If you don’t leave, I’m going to kill you.” She was killed after she returned fire.
I tried to stick to the question: “Was it right for Twitter to deactivate this account?” but there is so much more I’d rather say.
Korryn and I are the same age. She had a five-year-old son. I do not. But like me, she had been watching the news and seeing both black men and women be shot and killed by police for minor offenses. She, like me, have been forced to believe that our lives did not matter.
“If she had gone to court, she would still be alive.”
“Maybe if she reacted peacefully, she would still be alive.”
“The officers were in danger. She threatened them!”
How dare Korryn use her second amendment rights against someone who could have taken her life?
In these past few weeks of constant coverage of the deaths of African Americans and police officers, there are some of us who wonder if we’ll be next. If we were to run a red light in the wrong part of town will we get pulled over, then shot for “looking” suspicious? If I were a behavioral therapist trying to calm an autistic patient would I be shot for trying to comply with police even though I did nothing wrong?
American citizens of all racial and ethnic backgrounds are being taught to fear what they don’t understand simply because it makes for a good news story and people will get paid to report it. We should be able to set aside our differences and opinions to truly listen to one another instead of constantly demonize the other sides because we refuse to understand.
I do not condone Korryn missing her court date. I do understand what it’s like to fear a run in with a police officer because of past events. I understand that her five-year-old son is now without his mother and will remember that moment for the rest of his life. I understand that I will see countless articles on social media stating that she was wrong and therefore suffered the consequences of her actions while others plead for change. This is just another news story that will garner attention and point fingers instead of truly aiming to make change that lasts.
And I am sick of it.
