This is NOT Justice: Black Lives STILL Matter

January 12, 2015

Updated: April 8, 2015

From the Inkwell of: Bartholomew J. Worthington III

The murder of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager, in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9th, by Ferguson Police Darren Wilson brought long existing racial tensions in that city to a boil. The subsequent decision by the Grand Jury not to indict the officer on any charges touched off fresh protests and anger, not only locally, but nationally as well.

It turns out that police departments are not required to keep track of how many citizens they kill on an annual basis. It is estimated that Black men are 21 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than white men. We know the names of many of last year's victims. We will continue to exert pressure on those who would seek to sweep these names under the rug.

These individuals are brothers, sisters, mothers, aunts, fathers, sons, daughters and friends. They are loved. Their presence will be missed. And we will not allow their deaths to be forgotten. Their lives matter.

If I have missed any names, please comment below, or send me an email so that I can ensure this is as accurate as possible.

Walter Scott, 50. Killed April 4, 2015. According to the initial police account, Scott was stopped a North Charleston, South Carolina police officer for a broken tail light. The initial account given claims that Scott had managed to take the officer's stun gun away, and the officer, "fearing for his life", had no choice but to shoot Scott. Video has since surfaced that shows that Scott was actually running away at the time he was shot 8 times in the back. He was unarmed.

Justus Howell, 17. Killed April 4, 2015. The Zion, Illinois teenager was shot after attempting to flee from police. According to police reports, Howell had been attempting to steal a hand gun from a man he had met to purchase the weapon from as they were responding to a call about a single gunshot being fired in the area. They gave chase and Howell ended up being shot twice in the back. While police statements claim that a gun was recovered at the scene, multiple witnesses report that Howell was actually unarmed at the time he was killed.

Anthony Clark Reed, 24. Killed March 30, 2015. Reed had initially been stopped by Detroit police officers because they claim the tint on his new car was too dark. For some still unexplained reason, Reed was removed from the vehicle as he informed the officers he "couldn't breathe". The asthmatic Reed was handcuffed and informed the officer he needed his inhaler. The officer eventually found the inhaler, but it wasn't enough. Reed would lose consciousness and die. Officers would later claim that they had pulled Reed over for "driving erratically", which his father attributed to him likely looking for his inhaler while driving.

Nicholas Thomas, 25. Killed March 24, 2015. Thomas was shot to death while attempting to flee police officers who were seeking to serve an arrest warrant for a probation violation. Police claim that Thomas attempted to run down the officer who ultimately fired the shots that took the young father's life. Witnesses, however, claim that Thomas was simply trying to flee, and never presented any threat to the officers at the scene.

Brandon Jones, 18: Killed March 19, 2015. According to Cleveland police officers, they were responding to a report of a convenience store break-in when they claim they witnessed Jones exiting the building with a bag. On of the officers already had their weapon drawn, and in the ensuing struggle to arrest Jones, at least one shot was fired. The officer would later claim that Jones attempted to take his gun. Jones would die a short time later at an area hospital.

Naechylus Vinzant, 37. Killed: March 10, 2015. Vinzant had recently been paroled and had allegedly removed his monitoring bracelet. Aurora, Colorado SWAT team members attempting to take Vinzant into custody claim that he became combative at which time a single shot was fired, hitting Vinzant in the chest. Officers claim they "were unaware [Vinzant] was unarmed" though there were apparently in the process of handcuffing him when he was shot.

Anthony Hill, 27: Killed March 9, 2015. When Air Force veteran Anthony Hill was approached by a Dekalb County deputy, he was naked, and on all fours in a parking lot. When the officer arrived on the scene, Hill stood up and began to approach the officer. He was shot by the officer who claimed he was defending himself. According to eyewitnesses, there was no scuffle between Hill and the officer before he was executed. Hill's family members confirm he was having challenges with the medications he had been prescribed.

Tony Robinson, 19. Killed March 8, 2015. The Madison, Wisconsin young man was shot between 6 and 8 times by a Madison Officer who had initially been responding to 911 calls that claimed that Robinson had been acting "erratically". Somehow, events escalated and resulted in the officer forcing his way into the apartment where Robinson was staying in. The officer claimed that Robinson "assaulted him", and that he shot the college bound young man in the "context of mutual combat." Robinson was found to be unarmed.

Terry Garnett, 37. Killed March 3, 2015. Garnett was shot by an Elkton, Maryland sheriff's deputy when he attempted to avoid being pulled over. The deputy would later claim that Garnett "attempted to run him over, and that he "feared for his life" when he fired multiple shots into the vehicle Garnett was driving. Garnett was struck once in the head, a shot that proved to be fatal. While heroin and cash would be recovered from the vehicle, Garnett was found to be unarmed at the time.

Charly "Africa" Keundeu Keunang, 43. Killed March 1, 2015. The homeless man known on the streets as "Africa" encountered LAPD officers who were responding to a robbery report. Video of the incident shows Keunang struggling with multiple officers before up to 3 officers shot him in broad daylight on Skid Row. His body was then handcuffed and left until the paramedics arrived.

Calvon "Andre" Reid, 39: Killed February 27, 2015. Reid appeared bruised and battered in a gated Coconut Creek community early morning around 1 a.m. seeking assistance from neighborhood residents. According to witnesses, Reid was face down on the ground with his hands shackled behind his back when he was struck by at least one officer and Tased at least twice. He would pass away two days later. Witnesses reported hearing Reid say, "Baby, they are going to kill me."

Matthew Ajibade: Killed January 1, 2015. Ajibade was a Nigerian born 22 year old college student had initially been arrested and charged with battery under the Domestic Violence Act and resisting arrest. Ajibade had been previously been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and was placed in isolation after he became combative with deputies. He was discovered "non-responsive" during a welfare check. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

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