Jacob Blake’s sister: ‘I want change!’

Latest

Letetra Widman
Video Still / The Guardian

Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back by Kenosha police. His sister, Letetra Widman, spoke to the media in Kenosha on August 25:
“I am my brother’s keeper. And when you say the name Jacob Blake, make sure you say father. Make sure you say cousin. Make sure you say son. Make sure you say uncle. But most importantly, make sure you say human.
“Human life. Let it marinate in your mouth, in your minds. A human life. Just like every single one of y’all and everywhere around, so we’re human. And his life matters. So many people have reached out to me telling me they’re sorry that this happened to my family. Well, don’t be sorry. ’Cause this has been happening to my family for a long time, longer than I can account for.
“It happened to Emmett Till. Emmett Till is my family. Philando [Castile], Mike Brown, Sandra [Bland]. This has been happening to my family and I’ve shed tears for every single one of these people that it has happened to.
“This is nothing new. I’m not sad. I’m not sorry. I’m angry. And I’m tired. I haven’t cried one time. I stopped crying years ago. I am numb. I have been watching police murder people that look like me for years.
“I’m also a Black History minor. So not only have I been watching it in the 30 years I’ve been on this planet, but I’ve been watching it for years before we were even alive.
“I’m not sad. I don’t want your pity. I want change!”

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Pushing People into a Really Bad System Will End Really Badly

President Trump's executive order fuses drug use and homelessness, ignoring that homelessness can cause or exacerbate substance use because people use drugs to cope with pain. Forced institutional settings rather than housing will not help the ill or unhoused.

Chicago Resistance Speaks: ‘Until All Are Free, None Are Free’

An uprising is growing as the government tries to impose a dictatorship. Chicago resistance leaders recently offered their thoughts in public remarks made at demonstrations and press conferences.

Los Angeles Continues to Rebuild and Resist

Angelinos, suffering from the profit over people economy, continue to rebuild after the fires and to protest immigration raids, while also experiencing joy in such difficult times.

Chicago Teachers Union Says: Trump, Stay Out of Our City

Chicago Teachers Union rejects any unlawful federal occupation of their city, while welcoming federal leadership that fully funds public education, restores SNAP, and expands Medicaid to healthcare for all.

Journalist Says Why ‘I Can No Longer Work With Reuters’

A photojournalist says why it is impossible for her to maintain a relationship with Reuters "given its role in justifying and enabling the systematic assassination of 245 journalists in Gaza."

More from the People's Tribune