20 years ago I was in 5th grade sitting on the classroom floor listening to my teacher, Dr. Jones lead us in reading our monthly book. After awhile Dr. Jones stopped reading and told us that she had something we needed to hear but that we might not fully understand. “Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City” she said. “Does anyone have family in New York? Yancey, my classmate raised his hand. Unfamiliar with New York City or The World Trade Center and not quite old enough to grasp the gravity of her remarks…
First, I want to emphatically denounce any association with the necessity to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and to that of Nazi Germany. Any comparison of the two is grossly inappropriate and offensive — not just to those who practice, love, and respect Judaism but to the whole of humanity.
17 million people lost their lives by the Nazi regime: mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters — families destroyed. Dreams, visions, hopes — lost to the ages. This we can never forget.
Moreover, nor can we make light or incorrect and dangerous comparisons to such tragic events. Are our memories short? Survivors…
Is the neighborhood safe?
Yes, ma’am — everything is ok now.
Thank you for being here, she responds.
Happy Juneteenth!
Happy Juneteenth to you too, officer.
She smiles.
What if…
Shooters shoot.
Dead or mangled is the victim —
Or the offender.
Love lost,
Community traumatized.
Ain’t no love in the city, for now.
Urbs in Horto,
Chicago.
The Heart…
We’ve been here before and know the way out.
It was my last semester in college, mid-week, the sun was shining bright through the windows of Ellis Library. I was researching The Gettysburg campaign for a course presentation, when I read the news, “Student Hadiya Pendleton shot dead after she performs in Obama inauguration.” As I continued the article my mind raced: did I miss something last week? Was she killed in DC? These questions would be answered just a few sentences later. …
Dispatch: 132?, Beat 132?
Beat 132: yeah, squad — what do ya got?
Dispatch: 132, mental health disturbance on your beat. Moms calling. Son is off his meds — he’s tearing up the place and won’t leave. Are you CIT trained?
Beat 132: 10–4 squad, put it on our box.
Knowing that having more resources and not needing them is better than needing resources and not having them I answer up on the radio. 124, squad, showing us riding with 132.
Dispatch: 10–4. I’ve got you going.
The New Year has just passed and 2020 begins with a cool chill…
How police officers are best positioned to help unite the country
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” — Pope John Paul II
Jon Meacham, historian and pulitzer-prize winning author argues in his book, The Soul of America: The Battle for our Better Angels that America has room for the likes of The Klan, who in 1925 and 30,000 strong marched on the nation’s capital; and for folks like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., icon of the Civil Rights Movement and leader of non-violence protests. Meacham further suggests that each era is determined by which of those forces wins out. The Soul…
“I tell law students… if you are going to be a lawyer and just practice your profession, you have a skill — very much like a plumber. But if you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself… something that makes life a little better for people less fortunate than you.”
Seven days ago The New York Times shared a reflection on the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Associate Justice, examining the transitions which led her to the highest court in the land. The piece was a brilliant observation highlighting that if you want…
244 years ago we created a document asserting our own right to choose our own government. 231 years ago that government was established, on paper, under the pretense that justice was superior to all else. Unfortunately, “we” is a misnomer and the government that was established fell short, on justice.
At the conclusion of this introduction is a three-part series of writings suggesting what the Third Wave of Policing should look like to ensure the three most important aspects of modern day policing: police effectiveness, police accountability, and public trust.
Why non-violent protests matters
The phone rings:
Ma: Ju, are you ok?! I just saw what happened at Grant park last night on the news — were you there?
Me: Yes, I was there — I’m fine. One of the first cars on scene. It wasn’t good, Ma. We’ve got a lot of work to do. Let me ring you later. I was at work until 3 am again. I’m going back to sleep.
Ma: Love you, call me later.
Me: Love you, too.
My intent to publish this piece didn’t exist until Saturday morning, when I woke up and saw on social media…
