Elijah McClain’s 2019 Death Still Matters
All that led to his death explains why I fear for my sons’ safety.
Why are police afraid of men of color, especially Black men?
Elijah McClain was 23-years old, a vegetarian, and a violinist. He was a massage therapist and wanted to heal people. He left home to get ice tea for his cousin and wore an open-faced ski mask, as he was anemic and frequently felt cold. That’s what alerted the police.
Elijah was heard pleading with officers near his home as he gasped for air and vomited under the force of a knee to his neck. He never made it home nearly one year ago. Black and Brown men are still dying in the same way. Why?
People of color, especially men, rouse suspicion and fear because of their skin color. This isn’t some wild assertion based on fear-mongering. Lengthy studies of arrest data reveal a disturbing picture of how race (and gender) affect interactions with law enforcement.
Race is the fork in the road, leading to different results for the arrested and arresting officers. To believe the police are blind to race and don’t escalate situations is a refusal to question the facts.
Why put a knee on a man’s, neck when he’s not armed and poses no threat? The police…
