Read on Twitter
On the same day Casey Goodson, Jr. was laid to rest I watched a breaking news story, a press conference with the Mayor of Columbus sharing details from the released body cam footage of a Columbus police officer who killed Andre’ Hill early yesterday morning.
A non-emergency call was placed and this officer arrived on the scene. He turns off his body cam (against dept procedures) but thanks to a one minute lookback feature there is evidence of the encounter, one in which Andre’ Hill was not armed nor threatening.
After shooting him it takes almost FIVE AND A HALF MINUTES for anyone to administer aid to Andre’. It’s also pretty convenient that the officer waited until after shooting to turn his camera on...
I’m tired of watching news stories and/or reading about Black life being snatched away and then thinking of the inhumanity to not even attempt first aid, but sit there with the gun still pulled while another human groans as life slowly leaves their body.
I’m tired of elected officials holding press conferences and sharing how disturbed they are by the actions of officers who use excessive force and/or who don’t follow simple procedures as turning on/leaving on a body cam. I’m tired of the words. Where is the action?
We keep saying it — these officer shootings are not simply reflections of an individual’s actions but rather they are part of a systemic problem. Simply removing an officer and not doing the due diligence to properly vet/train/hold accountable those who take this oath is part...
of the problem. How many more Black people have to be killed before an entire system is torn down and rebuilt in a more just way?! You can’t reform this. It’s roots are unjust and evil.
I am grieved thinking about Andre’ Hill and Casey Goodson, Jr’s families, esp during this holiday season. What has already been a cruel year now becomes a lived experience for these families. They are mourning loss that they shouldn’t have to.
