The Herald Leader

My husband has set up the blog that now makes it so easy to get to.  Today I spoke with the Herald Leader.  At this point I am fighting to get the story in the newspaper.  

Before I had no doubt...even though my mom did.  Now I really don't know what's going to happen.  I feel like if the story not run, then the Kirklands, the police and the state win.  I trusted the guy who was going to do the story ... now he acts like it just won't be done at all.  Even though he assured me before that it would be ... and I in turn assured my mom.  

But I refuse to give up.

Ms. M. Davis, who is also a reporter said something to me today that was so powerful.  She lost her brother last week.  She's also been trying to help me get the story out.  But she said, "I understand where you are.  You are still fighting for our brother, I no longer have to fight for mine."  That's the whole thing in a nut shell.  I have to FIGHT for my little brother.

The newspaper doesn't care, the state doesn't care, the police don't care ... it seems like NOONE cares.  So, at this point I'll be his voice and continue to fight.

Shawna

Another incident

On August 20, 2008 on a beautiful sunny afternoon, while playing with my twin girls, my husband told me to look out of my living room window...a policeman had pulled over two young black males who looked about 14 years old.  

These young men were riding there bikes through my neighborhood which is a new construction. I continued to watch and was on my way outside but decided to send my husband to go check into it. My reasoning: I did not want what happened to my little brother to happen to anyone else. I also wanted to make sure these young men had actually done something. BUT....they were just riding through the neighborhood. Both living in adjacent neighborhoods....all they were guilty of that day was being young and black. 

It brought back sooooo many memories. The first emotion I felt was anger. The policeman said he was trying to keep the neighborhood safe. He stated he hadn't seen them in this neighborhood....but (to my knowledge) he doesn't live in this neighborhood. So, how would he know. There have been times where I've  seen unknown shady people in this neighborhood and I've not seen them pulled over once. 

I am still struggling not to pull out the old Public Enemy CD's. 

I HAVE TRULY HAD IT!!!! 

I am now trying to figure out what more I can do.  But at this point what time I do have has to be devoted to getting my little brother out of prison for a crime he didn't commit. I am now working on a new article. I am also trying to get his story published with the Lexington Herald Leader. Still wondering in my mind why and how. He's a good kid. But because he's a black male....no one cares. But I will continue to fight. PREFERABLY with my Public Enemy CD's..... But PROBABLY without. : )

Shawna