CPCS Statement: No Lives Matter Until Black Lives Matter

In 2014, we all bore witness to the video footage of a white police officer gunning down Michael Brown, a black and unarmed, recent high school graduate.  Since that unforgettable date and time, the blood of black men and women has been mercilessly spilled, and their lives cut short by police brutality, in nearly every state in the country:

See their names, say their names:       

• Sylville Smith, 23 – Wisconsin
• Korryn Gaines, 23 – Maryland       
• Joseph Mann, 51 – California
• Philando Castille, 32 – Minnesota
• Gregory Gunn, 56 – Alabama
• Freddie Gray, 25 – Maryland
• Alton Sterling, 37 – Louisiana
• Paul O’ Neal, 18 – Illinois
• Antwun Shumpert, 37 – Mississippi
• Akiel Denkins, 24  – North Carolina
• Aaron Bailey, 45 – Indiana 
• Keith Childress, 23 – Nevada
• Felix Kumi, 61 – New York
• James Leatherwood, 61 – Florida
• Donnie Sanders, 47 – Missouri
• Danny Washington, 27 – Pennsylvania
• Tyre King, 13 – Ohio
• Tamir Rice, 12  – Ohio
• Marcus Peters, 24 – Virginia
• Walter Scott, 50 – South Carolina
• Channara Pheap, 33 – Tennessee
• Jesse Quinton, 35 – Idaho
• Gregory Griffin, 46 – New Jersey
• Deravis Rogers, 22 – Georgia
• Isaiah Lewis, 17 – Oklahoma
• Naeschylus Vinzant, 37 – Colorado
• Jacai Colson, 28 – Maryland
• Yvette Smith, 47 – Texas
• Atatiana Jefferson, 28 – Texas             
• Pamela Turner, 45 – Texas
• Sandra Bland, 28 – Texas
• Miriam Carey, 34 – DC                
• Ahmaud Arbery, 25 – Georgia
• Breonna Taylor, 26 – Kentucky
• Michael Brown,  18 – Missouri
• George Floyd, 46 – Minnesota              

Perversely, this list is not exhaustive but it does serve to illustrate and document the pervasive, ubiquitous and inescapable reality of American apartheid. This has been one of the most troubling and daunting periods in our history as a nation. The unfathomable pain and suffering that is continually being unleashed upon the Black community by law enforcement is relentless. We shall not stand silent and do nothing. Silence is compliance.

From brutal slayings to the disruption of even simple ordinary life choices, such as, birding in Central Park, sleeping in your bed, taking a swim in the swimming pool where you live, barbecuing in the park, or even not being in the mood to wave and smile at a white woman in a neighboring home to your Air BnB, the weaponization and inherent fear of black skin remains one of America’s favorite past times.

“When the color of your skin is seen as a weapon, you will never be seen as unarmed.”

We stand now, not just as lawyers, administrative staff, social workers and investigators who have dedicated our lives to ensure justice for the least amongst us, but we also stand in solidarity with our Black colleagues and the Black community that has now, for centuries, been ravaged by hate, oppression, fear and death. We must do all within our power to eradicate this pervasive and lingering ideology that black people be brought to heel under the yoke of white supremacy. We must speak out, stand up, and stay vigilant to guard against our own implicit bias, and privilege, in order to push towards a common goal to eradicate racism in this state and this nation.

I will not pretend to imagine what it is like to be a person of color and have to deal with this daily tragedy and heartache.  I share this message, which has been built with the voice of Black leadership within CPCS, to ensure that our voice is complete and inclusive and thank Arnie Stewart and Nan Whitfield specifically for their contributions.

Please stay safe, healthy and working toward the tomorrow we want and must achieve.

No Lives Matter Until Black Lives Matter

Anthony J. Benedetti
Chief Counsel
Committee for Public Counsel Services