Terrible news out of Atlanta with yet another mass shooting leaving eight people dead, including six Asian women. A local sheriff, Jay Baker of Cherokee County, attempted to lessen blame on the 21-year-old white male shooter saying he had a “really bad day” on Tuesday.
Just to be clear: Colin Kaepernick takes a knee to bring attention to an ongoing national travesty. He is vilified and called horrible names. Roger Aaron Long kills eight people and an Atlanta Sheriff essentially says: “hey, don’t be so hard on him, he had a bad day.”
Also recall that a 9-year old black girl in Rochester, New York, was recently handcuffed, forced into a squad car and pepper-sprayed in the eyes; whereas, a 21-year old white man, who shot and killed 8 people, and fled in a vehicle, was detained “without incident.” (A college in Rochester just had an issue related to Rudy Giuliani – the same guy with the bigoted musings about #BlackLivesMatter – Rochester perhaps is determined to be on the wrong side of history.)
As for “bad days,” let’s take a look at others who’ve “had a bad day” and never had another day ever again.
Rayshard Brooks, 22
Fell asleep in his car blocking a Wendy’s drive-through lane.
Shot, killed, dead. (Officer Garrett Wolfe.)
Rayshard Brooks.
Had a bad day.
George Floyd, 46
Response to a 911 call saying that Floyd had bought cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill.
Pinned to the ground, knee on his neck for at least 8 minutes and 15 seconds, knee not removed even after Floyd lost consciousness for over a minute. Dead. (Officer Derek Chauvin)
George Floyd.
Had a bad day.
Breonna Taylor, 26
Police raid searching for evidence in a drug case in her home.
Killed under a hail of bullets. After being shot multiple times, received no medical care for almost 30 minutes. (Officer Myles Cosgrove believed to have fired the deadly shot.)
Breonna Taylor.
Had a bad day.
Atatiana Jefferson, 28
Playing video game with nephew in her home. A neighbor reported two doors ajar, so the police came to look.
Shot, killed, dead. (Officer Aaron Dean)
Atatiana Jefferson.
Had a bad day.
Bothan Jean, 26
Watching television and eating ice cream in the apartment he rented directly above and officer. The officer mistakenly believed he was an intruder.
Shot, killed, dead. (Officer Amber Guyger)
Bothan Jean.
Had a bad day.
Philando Castille, 32
Pulled over in his car for a broken tail light.
Shot, killed, dead. (Officer Jeronimo Yanez)
Philando Castille.
Had a bad day.
Eric Garner, 43
Selling cigarettes in his neighborhood.
Choked out by an officer. The autopsy doctor said the officer choked Garner with enough force to cause internal bleeding in his neck. Dead. (Officer Daniel Pantaleo)
Eric Garner.
Had a bad day.
Michael Brown, 18
Walking down the street with a buddy, officer demands they get on the sidewalk, officer stopped his SUV in front of them which triggered a confrontation.
Shot six times, killed, dead. (Officer Darren Wilson)
Michael Brown.
Had a bad day.
Tamir Rice, 12
Playing with a toy gun in a park. Police are called to the scene.
Shot, killed, dead. (Officer Timothy Loehmann)
Tamir Rice. 12 years old.
Had a bad day.
We Have To Do Better
The individuals above are a just some of the immensely unfortunate who’ve had this type of bad day and never had another one. A list of folks who’ve had similar bad days goes on and on. It is unacceptable.
Black Lives Matter. Asian Lives Matter. And, yes, of course, All Lives Matter.
However, for the either racist, willfully ignorant or painfully obtuse, saying Black Lives Matter does not detract from the importance of anyone else’s life, nor does it suggest that “only” Black Lives Matter. The clear meaning of the phrase is Black Lives Matter, “too”.
In fact, next time you hear someone take issue with the phrase, analyze that person, their friends, their life circumstances, their beliefs, whatever it is you know about them. And then, make an honest assessment, do you believe that person truly believes in equality for all?
Like take Rudy Giuliani for example. Or Donald Trump. Or this Cherokee County Sheriff. Forced to decide one way or the other. What’s your call? Racist? Or not Racist?
It’s 2021 people, at times it feels like we are stuck in place, other times, it feels like we are going backwards; let’s keep it moving for sure, but let’s keep it moving forward.
We have to do better.
***You can also find me @DonLew87 on Twitter.
