It's Bad!

Sonya Massey saw the face of her killer.

Tensions rising in Illinois.

While Republicans claim their is no racism in the United States, their presidential nominee is the very definition of white privilege. His running mate is an example of white privilege despite coming from a troubled upbringing. That upbringing didn't show empathy towards others who may endure his situation.

Our country is so divided.

While gun violence is the leading cause of deaths for children and adults, our lawmakers in Washington are more concerned about the current president being able to handle the challenges of a second term.

The second a person of color is killed by police, some of these stories are amplified by Black women, the base of the Democratic Party. If it wasn't for Black women, you wouldn't have heard about George Floyd, Philando Castile or Eric Garner.

The Sangamon County Sheriff's Department released the graphic video of a former deputy shooting Sonya Massey after a routine police call.

Sangamon County has a population of 210,000 residents. It is a midway point between Chicago and St. Louis.

Wow, the Republican leaders of the county actually fear their may be unrest.

They never quit with the dog whistle racism.

The video is so bad, it got President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and the Democratic U.S. lawmakers' attention.

Sangamon County is a Republican county. Trump carried the county in 2016 and 2020 by five points. The largest city is Springfield with a population of 120,000.

Okay, Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black American woman, was shot and killed in her home by a deputy of the Sangamon County Sheriff's Office in Springfield, Illinois. The shooting followed a 911 call that Massey herself placed in reference to a "prowler." 

This cop should have never been hired. He left five departments.

After (now former) deputy Sean Grayson, the alleged shooter, and another unidentified deputy entered Massey's home following a search of the immediate vicinity, the three engaged in brief conversation surrounding Massey's driver's license and a vehicle in her driveway. After Grayson directed Massey to check on the boiling pot of water on her stove, the exchange quickly escalated, both deputies drew their service pistols, and Grayson allegedly shot Massey three times, killing her. Following the shooting, Grayson was fired from the Sangamon County Sheriff's office and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, among other charges.

Early on the morning of July 6, 2024, Massey called the authorities as she believed that someone had broken into her home. Two deputies, Grayson and the second unidentified deputy, responded and subsequently searched Massey's backyard and the immediate vicinity of her property. Finding no evidence of any suspicious activity or persons, the officers approached Massey's front door and Grayson knocked multiple times to no avail. After approximately three minutes, Massey opened the door and engaged in conversation with the deputies. The deputies informed Grayson that they hadn't found anything of note in their search while Grayson used her cell phone. As the deputies prepared to end the exchange, the unidentified officer walked around the side of Massey's house to report the license plate number of a vehicle in her driveway that Massey informed deputies was not hers. Massey and Grayson continued to engage in conversation. After the unidentified officer walked back to Massey's front door, the three enter Massey's residence.

The cop claimed Massey attacked him with hot water.

Inside the home, Grayson repeatedly asked Grayson to provide her driver's license and discussed the vehicle parked in her driveway. As the unidentified deputy looked around the residence, Massey can be seen looking through a small stack of papers and her purse. At one point, Massey asks Grayson to hand her a Bible. After around a minute and a half of searching, the deputies mention a pot of water boiling on Massey's stove and request that she check on it, as they "don't need a fire while we're here." After Massey picks up the pot of water and walks from her stove to her sink, the unidentified deputy and Massey move backwards. Massey asks the officers what they're doing; Grayson replies that he's going away from her pot of hot, boiling water. Massey repeats her statement, and says, "I'll rebuke you in the name of Jesus." 

After Massey repeats her statement at Grayson's prompting, Grayson draws his gun and replies, "You better fucking not, I swear to God I'll fucking shoot you right in your fucking face." The unidentified deputy also draws his gun. Massey immediately apologizes and drops to the floor, however both deputies advance from the living room towards the kitchen with their weapons trained on Massey. After several seconds of shouting orders to Massey for her to drop the pot of water, Grayson fires three shots at Massey, mortally wounding her. The unidentified deputy radios that shots had been fired and that there was a woman with a headshot wound. They begin to leave to grab their medical kit, however Grayson tells them not to, saying that, "she's done." Massey was later pronounced dead at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

As they were getting their stories together, Grayson called Massey, a "

Body-camera footage of the shooting was released July 22.

The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

To all the Black firearm owners who support the Second Amendment or former president Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential race, I just want to say...

"YOU'RE GONNA BE SHOT BY POLICE TOO!"

The National Rifle Association never reacts to lawful exercise of firearm use when a Black, Hispanic, Arab, Muslim, Indigenous, LGBTQ or underage teen of color is carrying them.

It is automatic dehumanizing from the far right, police unions and the junk food media.

When white men, women or even some Asians are carrying firearms, the NRA is often parading them around like they're heroes and protectors of freedom.

In about 45 states, I believe it is lawful for you to walk down a street with a firearm.

If you're a Black man walking down the street with a firearm, the random 911 call or the visual spotting from a police officer merits an automatic drawl of a service weapon.

Police officers within seconds are either shooting or premeditated an excuse to use force.

The unions back up their claims of "fearing for their lives" despite the perpetrator not even firing a round. Given that the junk food media loves to paint the aggressor as the victim, the police officer is given the benefit of doubt. The person police shot usually do not get any ounce of doubt. A mugshot of a suspect or a picture of a person posing with money or firearms automatically draws far right conclusions to justification of force.

Enough is enough.

Even fleeing from police with a firearm and not even pointing at them results in police shootings. 

If a person does survive, the state still charges the person for a crime despite the state allowing open carry and lawful possession.

So I just want to say that the Second Amendment is White, period.

A bullet does not care about color. We all bleed red and so many lives are lost to gun violence and Republicans offer no solutions other than "thoughts and prayers" with a touch of "lock em up."

Gun violence is the number one threat in the United States.

I dismiss this ridiculous notion that criminals are the problem, not the guns. Firearms are often obtained through legal purchases. 

Again, having more security, teachers being armed and offering safe rooms are not solving the problem. The problem is lawmakers not willing to stop gun violence.

According to the far right: White shooters are mentally ill. Black shooters are unrepentant thugs and criminals. Gay shooters are active groomers. Muslim shooters are terrorists. Hispanic and Asian shooters are illegal immigrants. According to the far right, almost all mass shooters are registered Democrats because they have liked or done one thing common to the left. Of course, they often share disinformation by using the "Sam Hyde" meme or make bogus social media platforms with the shooter's image as a way to denounce most mass shooters being white or associated with conservative causes. They say a white person should "protect" themselves from protesters and use of firearms are "justified" if they come to a protest to instigate conflict. They say if a shooter is active military or a veteran who supports conservative causes, they are considered a "heroes" and use of firearms are justified. If the shooters are teens, the far right automatically assume the gunmen are Black.

The Republicans usually amplify white victims. Anytime a person of color kills a white victim, it is often wall-to-wall coverage on Fox, Twitter and they force it into national news. They make the case to blame Black Lives Matter, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Democrats, Rev. Al Sharpton and rap music for Black on whatever violence. Republican lawmakers who do not live in urban neighborhoods often troll social media to talk about gun violence or crime in Chicago, Baltimore, Milwaukee and New York City while not doing a damn thing to stop it. If a white person shoots a Black person, the shooter is given the benefit of doubt. White shooters are given glowing profiles about their perfect lives and how friends noticed something but refused to do something. When it comes to Black shooters, automatic vilification. They don't see mental illness. They see it as gang violence, allegedly fatherless homes, Democratic policies or the need for more firearms. The far right and Republicans exploit gun violence in the Black community for culture wars and racism.

So in closing, expect more.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those police officers who were killed in the line of duty. Those victims who don't get their names or accomplishments mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence. We are tracking police violence as well. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

The call number to the White House and U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official White House numbers 202-456-1111 and 202-456-1414. This is the Congress official phone number, 202-224-3121. Please be respectful to operators, staff members and elected leaders. Your calls are monitored by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police. 

Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence. Let them know that we are tired of police officers using immunity when committing death of suspects in custody. Let them know that you are tired of private equity firms getting away with destroying small businesses and long established companies. Let them know that you are tired of your taxpayer money going to foreign nations like Israel. Let them know you are very tired of your lawmakers embarrassing themselves in the media. You are tired of your lawmakers always being outside their district or state. You elected them to serve their districts and state, not travel across the country or to foreign countries on your taxpayer dollars. You are tired of hearing about "Israel having a right to..." and the bogus claims of being anti-semitic or in support of terrorism. You want an immediate ceasefire and accountability for war crimes done by Israel. You want no more foreign influence in American elections. You also want to make sure future presidents and lawmakers avoid influence from lobbyists.