Quantcast

A poem for Eric Garner

By Kenneth Beverley

The verdict came out on Dec. 3, 2014. The police officer who put Eric Garner in a chokehold and killed him on July 17, 2014 was not indicted.

The grand jury of Staten Island allowed a police murderer to walk away free versus being sent to Riker’s Island. Think about it: a father of six was attacked by six cops, and now he is buried six feet.

This once beautiful place called New York City is becoming gritty. New Yorkers are feeling real s****y.

Whenever we pick up a newspaper or search the web, we find headlines on police brutality against unarmed African-American males. Sadly, this is now becoming more and more of a reality.

It sickens me to live in a world with a president who currently is a man of color. I find myself hearing about so much death taking place from state to state. What is going on in the minds of today’s police officers? No longer are they here to serve and protect. They are now the new threat to citizens.

Not even in a court of law could we the voters and tax payers win. When will we all come together and let the revolution begin?

Lord, please forgive us for any sin we may commit. Enough is enough, the urban community is tired of losing their own children, parents and loved ones to senseless violence.

In the coming days, some New Yorkers will hit the streets, holding up picket signs that read, “No Justice, No Peace.” The protesters will have good intentions that the violence will one day decease.

It’s extremely hard to have high hopes during these times, especially when the violence doesn’t seem to decrease. How will we ever put an end to the increase that is taking place in urban neighborhoods daily?

Kenneth Beverley

Springfield Gardens