Over Memorial Day weekend, Harambe, a 17-year-old, 450-pound gorilla was shot and killed when a three-year-old boy fell into the gorilla’s enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. Over the same weekend, 69 people were shot and eight killed on the streets of Chicago. Although Harambe’s species is endangered, why was his death covered by the media more than the shooting of 69 people in a single US city in one weekend? The answer is simple. People being shot and killed in the US isn’t news, anymore.
So far this year, guns in the US have killed 5,539 people. Australia, a country where there are strict gun control laws, saw 230 gun related deaths in 2014; the United Kingdom, in 2011, saw 146 gun related deaths. If a country like Australia saw 69 people killed in one weekend, in a single city, there would be outrage across the country.
The controversial killing of Harambe sparked nationwide outrage over the internet. From celebrities to average citizens, the Cincinnati Zoo, as well as the parents of the boy who fell into the enclosure, have faced a barrage of criticism. Some call for the Zoo to face charges; some for the parents, and some call for both the face charges.
On the other side, many argue that the child's life trumps the life of a gorilla, and that the Zoo made the right decision. Thane Maynard, the Cincinnati Zoo Director defended the decision to shoot Harambe. “That child’s life was in danger,” said Maynard. “People who question that don’t understand you can't take a risk with a silverback gorilla. This is a dangerous animal. Looking back, we’d make the same decision. The child is safe.”
Safe or not, the police are investigating the incident and will decide if charges need to be pressed. Police spokeswoman Tiffany Hardy said, “After the review, we will determine if charges need to be brought forward. If it is determined charges need to be brought forward, we would then discuss it with the Hamilton County prosecutor’s office.”
Immediate action in the death of Harambe is being taken because it is a tragedy. Harambe did not ask for the child to fall into his enclosure, and acted only as one could expect a gorilla to act. This is why the media is covering his death. It is a tragedy. The reason the shootings in Chicago are not being covered as much is not because it’s not a tragedy, but because it’s old news and nothing is being done to fix it.
According to the Chicago police department, 141 people in Chicago were killed by the end of March, this year. Last year, 72 people had been killed in Chicago by the end of March. It’s clear that things are getting worse, not better.
Rev. Ira Acree, is worried about what will happen come summer. “It’s horrifying to look at the numbers from this winter,” he said about the shootings, “because if it’s that bad in the winter, we better brace for a long hot summer.”
