No One Can Tell Our Story Better Than Us
After hearing about the decision to not indict the officers responsible for Eric Garner’s death I was angry, emotional and feeling powerless. I had conversations with many other CA staff who expressed the same sentiments.
We talked about CA tenants, too, and wondered if there could be some kind of ‘town hall’ meeting to discuss what’s going on right now. How is everybody coping with the injustice so many of us feel?
Sure we all go home to our families, but for many (me included), Community Access is often the family that we turn to for answers. Can CA’s social media outlets be more of a place for dialogue?
We should confront topics that are instilling fear and emotional distress on our community. Why can't we acknowledge the hurt and uncertainty felt by so many at this difficult time? These are raw emotions. This matters. Collectively, not saying something in fact does say something.
I worry about my boys who share the same likeness of many of the victims of police brutality. And I worry about CA residents. Police too often cite “mental illness” as a factor in lives being lost.
I see what the media writes and how they portray our story. It’s often misleading. No one can tell our story better than us. So let’s keep on getting our voices heard.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am often thankful for the open door policy at CA, which gives me and others the chance to discuss even the most sensitive subjects. Have a good night.
