(Todd A. Smith/Photo Credit: Kevin Bussey for Bussey One Photography)
What happened to Sonya Massey scares many African-Americans, including me.
Police departments profess to protect and serve.
But when African-Americans seek that protection and service, many fear that they could become the next victim of police brutality, which could lead to death.
On July 6, Massey called police in Springfield, Ill. because of a possible home intruder.
Officer Sean Grayson, 36, responded to the 911 call.
Rayna Reid Rayford of Essence reported, “According to the prosecutors, Grayson allegedly permitted Massey to place a pot of water that was being heated on the stove to the counter. Grayson then purportedly ‘aggressively yelled’ at Massey over the pot and pulled his 9 mm pistol. Massey then put her hands in the air, declared ‘I’m sorry’ and ducked for cover before being shot in the face. Grayson also discouraged the other deputy from getting his medical kit,’ Associated Pressreported.
“Grayson fired his service weapon three times. Massey was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.”
The fired police officer now faces three counts of first-degree murder, official misconduct and aggravated battery with a firearm.
Additionally, the Associated Press reported, “Prosecutors have added that the distance between shooter and victim and counter between them gave Grayson ‘distance and relative cover’ from hot water.”
Although Grayson discouraged others from rendering aid to Massey, the other deputies on the scene still administered assistance to Massey until a medical team arrived.
However, at no point did Grayson assist Massey after she suffered those gunshots.
While some police officers are justified in using lethal force, when African-Americans complain about police misconduct they do so because of situations like the one that led to Massey’s death.
They do so because of situations like the one that led to Botham Jean’s death in Dallas.
They do so because of situations like the one that led to the death of Philando Castille in Minnesota.
People who think African-Americans are just complaining or playing the race card, often reply to our pleas by saying so and so should have just complied.
Critics often say that the victims were probably thugs breaking the law.
Doubters will say that police officers have dangerous jobs and sometimes things just happen.
If only African-Americans would just follow the rules and obey police officers, no unarmed and innocent African-American would fall victim to police brutality.
If that was the case, we would have never known the names Jean or Massey.
Even Castille followed all the law necessary to carry a weapon.
He was polite and cordial to the officer.
Yet, he still died.
Jean was simply in his own apartment enjoying his evening, when a police officer mistakenly thought it was her apartment and opened fire, fatally wounding the man.
And Massey was just doing what all citizens should do when they feel they are getting violated by a criminal and that is call the authorities to report a possible crime.
Instead of getting help for a possible crime, like so many other African-Americans, Massey found herself victim to a crime.
She found herself at the mercy of a thug.
She found herself at the mercy of someone who could not comply with common decency, common sense and common humanity.
That reality scares the living you-know-what out of many African-Americans.
During the protests following the murder of George Floyd, I heard some White people say that although African-Americans often complain about racism and police brutality, who are they going to call when they need assistance and find themselves the victim of a crime?
I often responded that they may call many people, but many will be hesitant to call on law enforcement because in the African-American community law enforcement often does not enforce the law against criminals, they abuse the law, which leads to tragic consequences.
I often hear some White people complain that crime is so high in the hood because citizens do not cooperate with law enforcement.
However, sometimes citizens are more terrified of the police than they are of the gangsters, criminals and drug dealers who run rampant in the hood.
Many criminals still live by a code, which makes civilians off limits, especially women.
Unfortunately, some police officers do not live by that code and that is why we have t-shirts and hash tags that read Massey and Breonna Taylor (say their names).
And while much progress had been made following the murder of Floyd with many White Americans vowing to learn more about racism and police brutality, that progress has turned into regress as many politicians on the right push back on racial progress.
Many conservatives would rather go to war against “woke” instead of waking up to the realities of police violence and White supremacy.
In fact, former President Donald Trump wants to give police officers full immunity.
Therefore, Grayson might never face consequences for killing Massey if African-Americans and their allies do not show up in full force to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats in November.
And the down ballot races are just as important on the issue of police brutality because state and local politicians would be better positioned to make police immunity a reality.
Although Grayson tried to use fearing for his life as a defense, an investigation showed that deadly force was not justifiable.
Thankfully, those stereotypical defenses are not always automatically believed, but it does not give comfort to African-Americans who constantly fear that they could become the next Massey.
Although police officers are needed to keep people safe, who keeps African-Americans safe when police officers are more violent and reckless than the criminals?
