Exhausted from Decrying Police Brutality and Militarized Tactics
Photo Credit: ABC News, Tim Evans
After learning of the murder of 22-year-old Amir Locke, shot to death in his bed as Minneapolis police used a no-knock warrant to enter his home, I expressed to friends my profound grief. I expressed that I have no new words and that my lexicon feels exhausted from decrying police brutality and militarized tactics that result in these fatal narratives – too often excessively impacting Black and Brown people.
Locke, who had a legally registered weapon, was asleep. His parents believe the wrongful intrusion startled Amir awakening him abruptly. Nine seconds after the SWAT officers entered Amir’s home, the young man was shot and killed. Amir was not the person they sought. Amir was not listed on the warrant. They had the wrong home.
Reminiscent of Breonna Taylor’s murder and the countless shootings by police across the United States, I am triggered by the ongoing acts of violence against Black and Brown bodies sleeping in their beds, sitting in their cars, walking home from school, and attempting to live their lives with hope instead of fear that the color of their skin may become an article of suspicion by police.
I am triggered by the lack of urgency to address policies that sanction state violence. I am triggered by an early release of an officer who killed a Black child by shooting him in the back 16 times and the silence of the U.S. Department of Justice. Where is the justice for Laquan McDonald and his family – still grief-stricken as his murderer goes free for “good behavior”?
Where is the justice when, in contrast, Black and Brown people are disproportionately jailed awaiting a bond hearing for far lesser crimes. In the time period during which Laquan’s murderer has gone to trial, was sentenced and obtained early release – unjustifiably, many Black and Brown people have yet to even have their day in court but are in jail awaiting a hearing. Further, Black and Brown people who have been wrongly incarcerated after facing covered-up torture, abuse and forced confessions by Chicago Police have only recently been released after serving time they did not deserve at all. Who will pick up the pieces and secure employment, housing, and recover from the time away from loved ones? Where is the justice? Where is the accountability? Where is the equity? There is an indisputable breach in the pledge to serve and protect all citizens. Ignoring the gaping holes and racial disparities is a crime against humanity and lives are literally at risk in more ways than one.
Some citizens, activists and elected officials in Minnesota are calling for a full review of legislation that will eliminate no-knock warrants. This must be a priority across the country so that families like the family of Breonna and Amir do not have to carry the weight of an unbearable loss. It is essential to prevent the degradation and dehumanizing suffering Anjanette Young endured when handcuffed unclothed in front of at least a dozen white male Chicago Police officers in February 2019 after they used a battering ram to force their way into her home. Young pleaded with officers and she was ignored and left mortified. They were in the wrong home.
Some news headlines are focusing on Amir’s cousin whom the police say they were searching for and have now arrested. Such headlines attempt to shift the narrative and blame, deflecting from the botched raid and murder of an innocent young man. Suggesting Amir’s cousin is at fault because he was “known to stay there from time to time” does not justify the wrongful entry or the fatal tactics used. Amir was asleep in his home. Amir had a gun permit. Amir was innocent. The police entered the wrong home. Even if none of the aforementioned were established, recognizing and protecting the sanctity of human life should always be a priority. How is this possible when a life is stolen within nine seconds?
Still, a Minnesota gun owners’ group taunted a leader of the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus for releasing a statement criticizing the Minneapolis Police Department over the killing and violation of Amir’s Second Amendment right. The statement reads in part:
“While many facts remain unknown at this time, information indicates that Amir Locke was a law-abiding citizen who was lawfully in possession of a firearm when he was shot and killed by Minneapolis Police on the morning of February 2nd. As seen in the body-worn camera video released by Minneapolis Police, Mr. Locke appears to be sleeping on the couch during the execution of a no-knock warrant… The tragic circumstances of Mr. Locke’s death were completely avoidable. It’s yet another example where a no-knock warrant has resulted in the death of an innocent person. In this case, as in others, the public should expect and receive full transparency and accountability from law enforcement agencies that serve and protect our local communities.”
Rob Doar, Senior Vice President, Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus
Following Rob Doar’s posting of his statement, he received hate messages in his social media inbox charging him with being a “BLM” sympathizer and a “trader”. Ironically, some have pointed to the Second Amendment in defense of the shooter Kyle Rittenhouse who murdered two of the three people he shot when actively carrying a shotgun in a crowded protest in solidarity with Black and Brown lives calling for police reform and accountability. Rittenhouse traveled from Illinois to Wisconsin as a self-appointed vigilante and was hailed a hero. He was not indicted or held accountable for the terror and murders he inflicted on the families and communities he harmed. Rittenhouse, with a gun in hand, walked away from the demonstration alive and on house arrest. He was able to face a jury and a judge. Amir Locke was denied dignity, due process, his constitutional rights and his life.
The weight of loss is tremendous and the burden is heavy as innocent blood cries out from street corners, sofas, car seats, bedrooms, front yards, along highways and front porches. I do not have new words that have not already been spoken in agony and anger. I also have not lost hope. I can imagine many must feel weary and disheartened and still we call upon our Beloved Community to remain vigilant, persistent and resilient in our denouncement of hatred, bigotry, racism and oppression until it is dismantled. Following our joyous celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Holiday, we are reminded, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” We may not always see it because we are the force, the witness, the love, and the conviction bending, pushing and, united together with the faith that we will win. The author of the hymn The Storm is Passing Over encourages us to “take courage our souls and journey on, for though the night is dark and I’m still far from home; praise be to God, the morning light appears.”
I do not have new words to further articulate the deep-seated culture of systemic and systematic racism and violence in our society’s mainframe that has for centuries stagnated our collective path to live into our full humanity. I do maintain new hope and renewed faith because there remains movement for change. There remains prophetic witness, truth-telling, and prayers alongside the work for Amir, Laquan, Breonna, George, Adam (Toledo), Tamir, Tanisha, Sandra and too many names known and unknown. I do not have new words, but I am assured that with each new day, God’s mercies are continuously renewed. (Lamentations 3:23) Let us do the same, taking the time for sustenance needed to rest, restore and renew our whole selves in body, mind and soul.
In solidarity with our comrades in Minneapolis, we share a statement released by the Minnesota Council of Churches. We invite you to learn more about what Community Renewal Society is doing to advance police accountability. Our deepest prayers are with the family of Amir Locke.
Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton
CRS Executive Director