I Can’t Breathe: Stop The Senseless Killings Of Our Youth

I believe the children are our future…

Aside from the white (authority) on black violence, we need to be just as upset and concerned about the YOUNG black on black violence that is killing our young boys and girls.

Over the weekend, 15 year-old Demario Bailey lost his life over something that could have been resolved if a gun wasn’t brought out. Just recently, like every other teen, Demario and his twin brother, Demacio, began asking their mother for freedom to get around the city alone. That decision of allowing the teens to do so resulted in tragedy on Saturday afternoon, when Demario was shot and killed as he tried to defend his brother during an armed robbery. Demario was heading to support his twin brother at basketball practice when they were confronted by 4 individuals who had nothing better to do than to steal something from someone.

Ordering the brothers to “give it up,” the robbers started going through their pockets, the police report said. A struggle and fight ensued, and Demario, the older of the twins by five minutes, saw that one of the robbers was on top of his brother. He went to Demacio’s aid, telling the assailant to “Get off my brother,” and was able to push the robber off, according to the report.

And like cowards do when someone is getting the best of you in a fight, the 17 year-old suspect pulled out a gun and shot Demario.

And for his twin brother who witnessed it all, he’s going to be traumatized for a while. Imagine walking with your brother who you are extremely close to and do everything with lying on the ground in front of you, when just moments before you all were joking and laughing on the walk to school, in broad daylight.

It’s sad, not only did he take a life that nobody but God has the right to take, he also threw away his own. Once you pull the trigger, there is no estimated point of range to wear the bullet will hit. A good kid gone because someone didn’t know the value of life. Our youth are becoming extinct because they continue to rob from and kill each other everyday. When will it stop?

Enough with the protests for police to stop killing innocent people, we need to get national attention for the local violence that occurs EVERYDAY in Chicago. Where are all the protesters to take a stand against violence on our youth. Drop the ‘Chiraq’ mainframe, we shouldn’t have to walk down the street like it’s a war zone. When did it become a crime to wear something nice and that you’ve always wanted down the street? Why is it okay to kill someone or have knowledge of a killing and be kept silent? I love Chicago, born and raised here but I refuse to let the streets or people in the streets continue to take lives that have a purpose. Something needs to change so that our children feel safe to play outside, take the bus to school or go to the mall. The children are supposed to be our future, but how can they if they don’t have a future?

If you would like to donate towards Demario’s memorial fund click here!