Recorded by the Department of Justice there was over 10,000 DUI accidental deaths and 1500 deaths of citizens while in police custody. Repeat: “While in police custody” Thus meaning there was no trial or convictions prior to their untimely deaths while in the “accountable” custody of the oppressor.
This report by the DOJ does not record the number of peoples killed by the police outside of custody such as the one shot because they thought a cell phone was a gun. In the last decade alone the number of people murdered by police has reached 5,000. The number of soldiers killed since the inception of the Iraq war, 4489.
When a police officer is killed in the line of duty his or her name is added to a plaque at a designated city government memorial as scribed “Let My Name Be The Last”
Perhaps there is a time for a non violent movement across the nation , in every city, county and township for the “Peoples Memorial” for those loved ones an innocent peoples who have died by the hands of the oppressors. Using the same logic that the police and other agencies memorialize their own losses.
That a “Citizens/Peoples Memorial” be ground breaking in every city, honoring the names of the peoples. That such agencies; that were to serve with the same dignity and respect they demand; but failed to command.
Let the list be compared annually throughout history in separate locations of the city to allow those to mourn in memory without harassment of any kind.
Let there be a end to temporary memorials on sidewalks of wreaths, flowers , candles and other items of make shift memorials that the local governments remove after a designated time has passed and the loved one is soon to be forgotten.
The movement is “So that the peoples may live.” To live on in our memories “hearts and minds” and for those others who would like them to be forgotten.
Perhaps we need to consider this as it may be the most important movement of all; that of any untimely death caused by the government or agencies of irresponsibility or lack of accountability.