Oscar Grant

I hesitated writing this post, because it tore right through to the core of me. I watched the video and couldn’t watch until the end, at first. Because I knew the ending. I could visually see in my mind what the witnesses there saw, and I couldn’t watch. But I also couldn’t stay away. So I watched a second and third time, each time being slapped in the face with the reality of the world and the injustices and either sheer ignorance or utter disregard of human life by the police officer. No matter which it is, the end result remains a tragedy.

I don’t want to talk about the crime here (the crime of murder, let’s just get that clear)…no, I want to talk about life. Every story that I’ve read has some insensitive fools who comment about this person who lost his life like he was nothing. But this man was someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s father…and despite what his past held, there were people who prayed for him and who were watching him perhaps change his life into someone who didn’t deserve to be shot in the back and treated like he was.

I’m not going to post the video here; I just can’t. I’m sure that you have seen it and if you haven’t, go to YouTube to find it. And watch and form your own opinion. And if you see anything other than a restrained man, laying face down on the concrete, shot in the back…then you are blind in one eye and not willing to see in the other.

It doesn’t matter what kind of life this man led…what does matter is the kind of life he won’t get to live.

Update: I received an e-mail from a young man named Neil Rodriguez. He has posted a story on Huffington Post where he is updating the story constantly. Please go here to read, and to watch his video response to this shameful tragedy.