We marched and changed together. We cried and sobbed together. We stood and stomped together. Saturday, August 23, 2014 the location was Staten Island. A cloud of darkness was over the area. Eric was murdered. Across the street you will find a small park abandoned yet loaded with people in search of peace. Peace from a stiff drink. Peace from a chronic smoke. Peace from a shared needle. Peace from the their interrupted peace. The city medical examiner ruled the death of Eric Garner, the 43-year-old father who was in police custody as “a homicide.” We watched in disbelief from the Bahamas to Africa as they, the Staten Island Police Officers chokehold Eric to death. This sparked national outrage from mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, The New Black Panther Party, National Action Network “N.A.N.” lead by Reverend Al Sharpton, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. from Staten Island, Black Law Enforcement of America “B.L.E.A.” to Cynthia Turnquest-Jones, CEO of Tha Brown Urban Mother Partnership “Tha B.U.M.P.”
Many refused to attend. Many hated to attend. Many needed to attend. With the question in the silent air WHEN?
