Monday, March 18, 2024

One Year Since His Death, Tamir Rice’s Mother Still Seeking Justice

Tamir Rice, 12*November 22 marked one year since twelve-year-old Tamir Rice was gunned down by a trigger happy rookie cop, whose actions were later deemed justifiable, or “reasonable” since modern day white cops in America have been given the green light to judge, punish and execute brown folks on site. Video surveillance shows that “Officer” Timothy Loehmann executed Tamir within two-seconds of arriving on the scene, after a 911 called was placed about a kid “playing with a toy gun.”

As it so happens, Tamir’s death falls on the 52 anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, whose death, many scholars and researchers believe, remains shrouded in conspiracy and cover-up, and is still due a proper investigation. Rice’s mother, Samaria Rice, has been vocal about her disdain with the Cleveland Police and their mishandling of the investigation. The family even called for the removal Cuyhoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty from the case to “ensure there isn’t any bias,” Huff Post reports.

In a panel discussion on racism at the United Nations earlier this month, Samira expressed her hope that her son will receive justice, tho… it’s not likely.

“I want the world to know that letting a child go outside to play never to come home is a parent’s worst nightmare,” she said.

Rice was shot while playing with a toy gun in a park by a rookie cop, and in the year since his passing, his death has been ruled a homicide, as reports conclude that reasonable force was used by officers Loehmann, who fired the deadly shot, and his partner, Frank Gamback. The 911 dispatcher didn’t tell the two responding officers that the child was playing with the gun, and when the officers drove through the park and opened fire within two seconds of arriving – hitting Tamir once in the chest – Rice family lawyer Earl Ward says their actions “was the equivalent of a drive-by shooting.”

Like many who watched Tamir’s murder-by-cop on the surveillance video, Samaria said she still doesn’t understand why the officers didn’t pause to assess the situation.

“I have a lot of sadness, a lot of emotions. It’s a struggle for me and my family,” she said. “I was guaranteed a thorough investigation. I never imagined it would take this long. Maybe they thought that this was going to go away, but my son did not die for nothing. This will never go away. They have a duty to tell me what happened.”

Though prosecutor McGinty has said he wants a thorough investigation, Ward calls the long delay “clearly a stall tactic.”

“Emotions haven’t died down. Instead, the emotions are higher because of the time it has taken,” said Ward.

NY Daily News notes that if the grand jury does not indict the officers, Rice plans to demand a federal civil rights investigation. In the meantime, she has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the city of Cleveland and the police officers.

“I haven’t really prepared myself for them saying ‘no indictment,’” she said. “If that happens, the only thing I’m concerned about is moving to the next step.”

That next step may be a run for political office.

 

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