“We who believe in freedom cannot rest We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Until the killing of black men, black mothers’ sons Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers’ sons” – Ella’s Song
Oscar Grant, we weep for you, we weep for our fair cities, we weep for your daughter, we weep for your parents, we weep for ourselves.
Oscar Grant, we know not why you were shot while being pressed face down into cement, other than this: we live in a culture of violence, hatred, and fear. We are sorry, when saying ‘sorry’ simply is not good enough.
Oscar Grant, my heart aches today for every young black man who will grow up hearing your story and think, “That is just the way it is. There is no justice for me in this world, and no place to be, high spirited, running with my friends.”
Oscar Grant, my heart aches today for all of us. May we learn to listen. May we learn to speak. May we learn to understand.
Fear is the finger on the trigger of a gun that should never have been pulled. Fear is the tyrant that holds our hearts in chains.
May we learn to love. May we strive to create beauty. May we plant gardens in your memory. May we work harder to change.
Oscar Grant… Oscar…
Rest in Peace, and know that tonight, your city is restless.
[Oscar Grant, aged 22, was shot and killed in the early hours of New Years Day 2009. Thursday July 8, 2010, after too few hours of deliberation, the jury found Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughter.]
art taken from http://grouchosuave.files.wordpress.com
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