Adam Toledo, a Chicago Teenager, Hands Held High, Shot in the Chest by an Officer
How do you Shot Someone who has Surrendered, not Posing a threat to anyone?
The good, the bad and the ugly across the nation roams with one eye open for a person of color with one hand on their gun that usually takes away an unthreatening life, the one and only a racist police officer.
Not a day goes by without a mother or father heart being broken by grief from loosing a child at the hand of a rambo police officer. Why we ask? The answer eludes many and the general consensus from communities of color, is rambo racist cops killing many people of color like it is a sport. A few days ago, Duante Wright, a 20 year old was shot in the chest by a police officer, George Floyd trial is in the headlines because he was murdered under the knee of police officer Chauvin, and so much more under the cover that has not been exposed yet.
This video recently surfaced showing how Adam Toledo, 13, was gunned down in an ally by a police officer on March 29, 2021. Check this out, the police kept this shooting quiet, you wonder why. Protecting their own, one could readily assume. How many more killings of people of color that have happened and hid away from the public? This is nothing new, racist white groups and racist cops have been exhibiting this type of behavior for centuries, and it is just now catching up with the police department, city officials and the likes as the world comprehend why people of color are yet protesting.
There are protest all around the Country, and now Chicago has joined the march again, against police brutality and killings. This Chicago police officer, Eric Stillman, 34 years old and white, shot Adam Toledo because he appeared to have a handgun. Appeared?! Where is the police training to tell the difference between a gun and no gun or a gun versus a taser? Officer Eric Stillman’s, body camera footage confirmed that Adam Toledo had no gun when he was shot in the chest March 29 at 3 a.m. as the officer responded to reports of shots being fired in the area. Big difference in a kid running away or hands up, versus shots being fired. Do you just go in the area and shot anyone walking or running, especially a person of color?
Just like a camera takes what it see, well a video camera takes what it sees unless tampered with. Stillman’s video camera showed that Adam Toledo wasn’t holding anything and had his hands up when the officer shot him in the chest as Stillman claimed that the teen had a handgun on him before the shooting. In the video footage, the officer shines a light on a handgun on the ground near Adam after shooting him. An investigation needs to address this bit of controversy.
People protest for change and to make their voices heard. Often mayors could be heard saying, “keep the peace, and don’t misbehave.” While this may be true, the time has come for more than verbiage. There need to be more demand from seated officials for more accountability for these police officers randomly killing people of color based on some deep seated motive where another’s life is meaningless. Nobody advocates looting and storming local businesses that had nothing to do with the immediate situation. Yes, there are some true looters just like there are some true protestors for justice and these two cannot and must not be combine as the same group which often happen with people of color but the insurrectionists that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 escaped without such a label. As a matter of fact, many were not tolerated but celebrated as these insurrectionists were cops, military serviceman, pilots, professionals and non professionals. With all the havoc and destruction they caused within and without the Capitol, as politicians were near to loosing their lives, while many Capitol security personnel were subjected to much physical and mental harm where one died of his injuries, many GOP politicians labeled it, “ a peaceful protest.”
Chicago, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, Portland and many other major cities and some not so major have been traumatized by a long history of police violence and misconduct in a deadly manner. How can the people of color trust policeman that are taking the lives of family and friends right before their eyes as the world looks on. These communities are far from being healed and remained badly broken at the hands of rambo racist police officers and hate groups.
Stillman chased Adam Toledo down an alley yelling after him, finally Adam slows down and the cop yelled to him to show him his hands and as Adam turned to do that the cop yelled, “Drop it!” Quicker than an eye blink, a shot rang out killing Adam where he stood. What happened to protect, serve and deescalate? Where was this officer training here? Hands up! Why shoot to kill to the chest? Maybe an arm or leg? After the cop shot the kid, he tells him to stay awake for the arrival of an ambulance. I could only imagine the final thoughts of this kid dying from a gun shot and being told to stay awake by the very person who shot him? Unbelievable, Officer Stillman, shots to kill and then tells the victim to stay awake. Seriously?! This is some messed up logic. Has the world taken leave of their senses to believe this stay away crap? Adding insult to injury, while this kid lay dying, this Officer Stillman checks his heartbeat and begins administering CPR. If he really cared about a life, he would not have shot to kill.
Stillmlan’s attorney said that Adam left the officer no choice but to shoot. There is always a choice even in a split second when it begins with saving a life versus taking a life. The later is easy to administer without a conscience for life. I am sorry to say but if Adam was white this story would have a different ending entirely.
There are tons of videos on social media showing police officers arresting belligerent white citizens and at all cost tries to deescalate the situation while their gun remained frozen in their holsters. The Adam’s family attorney will allow the camera footage from the police officer and others to tell the truth of what happened on that dark alley night. Where is this gun now that Adam was suppose to have had? Nevertheless, Adam had his hands up to surrender, what happened to police training?
Chicago, like so many other cities, has a long history of police violence and misconduct especially against people of color as their police department chose not to live up to what their badge represents, “protect and serve.” Adam Toledo’s killing has been labeled as an execution, no justification otherwise. Chicago has had much protests, e.g. a white officer shot a Black teenager, Laquan McDonald 16 times, killing him. The Chicago Police Department has a long history of brutality and racism that has fomented mistrust among the city’s many Black and Latino residents. Adding to that mistrust is the city’s history of suppressing damning police videos.
The police departments along with the police union have allowed this infestation of racist cops to rule the roost killing people of color at an alarming rate. Chicago fought for months to keep the public from seeing the video of this white officer shooting Laquan 16 times in 2014, killing him. The officer was eventually convicted of murder. Also, the city tried to stop a TV news station from broadcasting video of a botched 2019 police raid where an innocent, unclothed Black woman wasn’t allowed to dress herself until after she was handcuffed. The city has allowed itself to become a part of this systemic racism problem and instead of fighting for justice or just doing the right thing.
In conclusion, all communities must utilize the power of their vote, demand accountability and keep those cameras rolling to someday stop all this systemic racism against people of color.
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