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!”

+ Articles by this author

The People’s Tribune opens its pages to voices of the movement for change. Our articles are written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Articles entitled “From the Editors” reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement for change. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff. The People’s Tribune is a 501C4 organization.

Featured

Abolish ICE: Protests Erupt in NYC After ICE Shoots Father With Son in Car

"There is no excuse for allowing ICE to come into our city, to shoot seven bullets into cars where there are children. It is just an outrage. I truly have no words for just how enraging everything that transpired last night was," says candidate for Congress in New York City.

We are Jane Doe

What happens when the institution responsible for investigating harm is the same institution worried about its reputation, donors, fraternity relationships, and legal liability? Silence protects power. Accountability means confronting it.

Nancy Leaves Before Dawn

This story brings insight into the lives of the millions of women and men who leave before dawn to keep entire cities running by cleaning, building, cooking, caring. But suddenly some want them seen them as criminals.

Government Charges Man ICE Shot In Back With Assault

Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, the Venezuelan immigrant shot in the back by an ICE agent in Austin September 20, has now been charged by the government with assaulting a federal officer.

People Keep Dying in ICE Custody. 13 Dems Back a Bill to Abolish the Agency

Legislation has been introduced called the Melt ICE Act which would dismantle ICE by ending the Department of Homeland Security’s authority to surveil and jail immigrants and redirect its funding to navigate a spiraling affordability crisis.

More from the People's Tribune