To: Loretta Lynch, US Attorney General
Justice for Tamir Rice
It is simple. Tamir Rice deserves a new grand jury. A Department of Justice investigation of the prosecutor's conduct with the grand jury. And the immediate removal and firing of the police officer.
Why is this important?
Today, yet another Black child's life was rendered disposable, not by a grand jury of his peers, because he was only 12 years old. His peers are not even old enough to serve on a jury. Murdered by law enforcement. His only crime was being a 12 yr old Black male child in a poor neighborhood. Those two factors alone robbed him of his youth, robbed him of protection, robbed him of any benefit of the doubt.
And then Prosecutor McGinty robbed him and his family of all due process under the law. If we are a nation of laws, then those laws should apply equally to all citizens. If we are a nation of compassion, then that compassion should not be determined by the color of one's skin. If we are a nation of justice, then that justice must be available to everyone.
Even when filmed, the killing of a black child is rendered justifiable.
Even in an open carry state, the killing of a black child carrying a pellet gun is rendered justifiable.
Even in a playground with no sign of threat, the killing of a black child is rendered justifiable.
Within 2 seconds of their arrival, it is acceptable that a 12 year old is dead.
We demand a thorough investigation into the killing of Tamir Rice.
We demand equal protection of black children, both under the law and, when necessary, from those hired to enforce the law.
And then Prosecutor McGinty robbed him and his family of all due process under the law. If we are a nation of laws, then those laws should apply equally to all citizens. If we are a nation of compassion, then that compassion should not be determined by the color of one's skin. If we are a nation of justice, then that justice must be available to everyone.
Even when filmed, the killing of a black child is rendered justifiable.
Even in an open carry state, the killing of a black child carrying a pellet gun is rendered justifiable.
Even in a playground with no sign of threat, the killing of a black child is rendered justifiable.
Within 2 seconds of their arrival, it is acceptable that a 12 year old is dead.
We demand a thorough investigation into the killing of Tamir Rice.
We demand equal protection of black children, both under the law and, when necessary, from those hired to enforce the law.