Another Victim at the Hands of Police Brutality: Daunte Wright

photo courtesy of pexels / life matters

photo courtesy of pexels / life matters

On Sunday, April 11th, 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed at a traffic stop in Minneapolis. Wright was pulled over by former police officer Kimberly Potter for a minor traffic violation: air fresheners hanging on his rearview mirror. Then, police learned that Wright had a warrant out for his arrest.

During the arrest, Wright re-entered the vehicle, and that’s when Potter shot him; however, body camera evidence shows that Potter meant to fire her taser, and instead shot her gun. Funny. The last time we checked a taser looked NOTHING like a handgun but anyways… According to Brooklyn Center Police Chief, Tim Gannon stated that “it is my belief that the officer had the intention to deploy their taser, but instead shot Mr. Wright with a single bullet,” he said. 

That failed “intention” murdered Daunte Wright. Yet another black man whose life was taken too soon by the hands of law enforcement.

While Potter will be charged with second-degree manslaughter, that charge doesn’t bring Wright back to his girlfriend and 1-year-old son, now does it? The charge doesn’t inebriate the fact that Wright was murdered over a minor traffic violation, right?

Our systems of racism are a threat to America. Black lives are not.

America is defined as the “land of the free,” but that only applies to white people, right? White people who can drive their car and use an air freshener without being murdered on the side of the road. Because if it applied to people of color, then the racist perceptions constructed by the institutional system would cease to exist. 

The cold hard truth: Nothing will happen if no systemic changes are made. The American government can give their kindest regards when another shooting happens, along with their “thoughts and prayers,” but our country stays the same. Land of the fucking free (but only if your skin is white enough).

Too many people of color fear for their lives just by existing, just by living their lives as normally as they can. They should not be afraid to join that long list of names. They should not be afraid of making it home in time for dinner. They should not be afraid to simply drive down the road. But here we are.

Daunte Wright deserved a long life full of peace and prosperity with his girlfriend and son. His life was worth so much more than air fresheners hanging on his rearview mirror. His life was worth so much more than a white police officer’s “mistake.” Please help us show the world how valuable Daunte Wright’s life truly is to the world.

How Can We Help Wright’s Family:

  • Donations:

  • Amazon Wishlist: chynawhitaker.17@yahoo.com

    • Gift Cards: T.J. Maxx, Macy’s, Marshalls

    • Food: text +1 (612) 208-6813 if you are interested in providing meals

How to Help the Community:

  • Organizations in Minnesota to Support:

    • centerforeconomicinclusion.org

    • voicesforracialjustice.org

    • edalliesmn.org

    • aclu-mn.org or @aclumn

  • Legal Help:

    • Legal Rights Center: (612) 336-0030

    • Lawyers Guild: (612) 444-2654

GO TO @HOLISTICHEUX ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE INFORMATION

Despite Potter facing a second-degree manslaughter charge for Wright’s brutal murder, many innocent names lie victim to the hands of police brutality. In America, we must not stay complacent in these attacks by giving support in any way we can to ensure justice will be served. 

Editor's Choice, Culture, latestwordLauren Eschenbrennerblm, daunte wright, police brutality