All Innocent. All Killed. All Black. All Unarmed.: Part One.

The recent Zimmerman verdict has had many talking about what's been happening in our community for years; gun crime with acquittal or no charges as the common end result.

Here are five examples of 'No Justice, No Peace' cases in the African-American community in the past ten years.


1. Tobias Mackey

Tobias Mackey

In 2010, Dallas police officer Matthew Tate shot unarmed Tobias Mackey 9 times; six times in the chest, three times in his hands and once in the head.

Dallas officers said when they approached Mackey, they commanded him to put his hands up but Mackey refused and began reaching in his pockets.

There are also reports that the crime scene was tampered with; the body was removed and the blood was cleaned up.

A grand jury cleared Dallas officer Matthew Tate of any criminal wrongdoing.

The Dallas Police Department also has a history of not indicting white officers who shoot minority suspects.


2. Travares McGill

Travares McGill

In 2005, Travares McGill and his friends were hanging out in a parked car in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Security guards shined light into their car and Travares and his friends panicked.

Travares tried to back up the car and speed away. Travares was shot in the back and killed. The case went to court but the judge dismissed it, stating that it was a case of self-defense.


3. Aiyana Jones

In 2010, 7-year-old Aiyana Jones was shot and killed during a cop raid.

Officers threw a flash grenade into the home Aiyana was staying in, to distract the occupants and enter the home. Police officer Joseph Weekley claimed he accidentally discharged the gun, killing Aiyana as she lay sleeping on the couch.

Weekley stood trial, but the judge declared a mistrial after a hung jury could not come to a consensus on whether to acquit him, find him guilty of involuntary manslaughter or convict him for careless discharge of a firearm causing death.

The trial has been scheduled to start again on July 25th 2013.


4. Rekia Boyd

Rekia Boyd

In March 2012, 22-year-old Rekia Boyd was gunned down by Chicago detective Dante Servin. The off-duty officer responded to a disturbance call and while attempting to shoot the suspect Antonio Cross (who took out his cellphone (which prompted the shooting)), a bullet struck Rekia's head as she tried to escape. 

Detective Servin has never been criminally charged, however, Chicago City Council has approved a $4.5 million wrongful death settlement with the family of Rekia Boyd.

5. Bo Morrison

Bo Morrison

In 2012, 20-year-old Bo Morrison was shot and killed at an underage drinking party.

When the party got too loud, police were called by a 35-year-old neighbour named Adam Kind.

After the garage door was kicked in and party goers fled, Bo Morrison hid on the back porch of Adam Kind's home, who then heard noises and mistook Bo for an intruder. Bo Morrison was subsequently shot in the chest.

Adam Kind has never been formally charged because he's protected by the 'Castle Doctrine' law of Wisconsin (similar to Florida's Stand Your Ground). The law protects homeowners from prosecution when killing people under self-defence. 

In Death I Shall Be A Terror To The Foes Of African Liberty.

I think this is one of my favourite lines of Marcus Garvey's 'Look For Me In The Whirlwind' speech.

The energy of the orator performing this famous speech by Marcus Garvey send shivvers down my spine.

Marcus Garvey was right. He would be a terror to the foes of African liberty after his death because his message is still alive, still being transmitted, still being realised. His message is just getting louder and louder as more people are rediscovering Pan-Africanism and the need for African Liberation.

Some events taking place in Birmingham UK in August in honour of His Excellency, The Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey:

Keti Koti Suriname: Alida, The Slave With One Breast.

Alida was a beautiful, young enslaved girl who attracted the attention of the husband of plantation owner Susanna Du Plessis.

Susanna Du Plessis was jealous of the fact that her slave got the attention of her spouse and cut off Alida's breast.

Alida became known as the slave with one breast and is also regarded as the Mother Of The Boni (the Surinamese Maroons).

Alida represents the strength and courage of enslaved Surinamese.

Every year, the Surinamese honour Alida through a pageant known as the Surinamese Miss Alida Pageant.

A statue of Alida in Suriname. Her left breast is painted red, representing the cut breast.

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