Families, a group of people bound by blood, who love each other unconditionally. Young and old, they will live and grow together. But that love can change in an instant. losing a family member brings pain and mourning. Rather than age taking someone away from you, what if it was someone else who took the life of your relative, your sibling, your child, your grandchild? All because of the color of your skin? Simply because it would be “better without your kind of people here?” How would that sound? How would it make you feel?

Young 7-year-old, Jazmine Barnes, a black child who was fatally shot and killed by a white gunman who targeted Jazmine and her family. Her life was taken from her as she and her family were in a car. They could have been heading anywhere, possibly on their way back home, maybe to an event, or somewhere to just spend time together. All taken away by a complete stranger, a single man who had his own opinion on race, and believed that her family and their people didn’t belong.

So unsuspecting, minding they’re own business, and yet, of the entire family, a child had her life taken from her. The hopelessness the mother must feel, yet she had the power to fight back. On January 5th, 2019, near where the event had taken place, Jazmine’s mother, Lapora Washington, had rallied people in her community to band together to search for the man who had shot and killed her child.

regardless of whatever type of violence or crime this should be defined as, it is still incredibly unacceptable and a disgusting act to shoot at a family, and leaving a child dead. A child, whose life was ahead of her, had her life taken by a random white stranger, who decided they didn’t belong. As dispicable of an act this is, there are still several examples of hate and violence such as this shown towards many races, striking fear into the hearts of innocent people, but….

No parent should have to bury their child.

– Ellis Sek