The Sonya Massey Shooting ...

 *Edited to add the scripture verses upon which Sonya's utterance is based. 

This is one of the worst racially-motivated shootings by cops I've  ever seen, it really shook me up. As Mark puts it, it's a soul-crusher.

I warn you, it is graphic. 

I understand why it would be hard to watch, but I feel like watching it is the least we can do, as white people, considering we don't have to actually live it - live in fear of cops, everyday, just due to our skin color. 

 

Some things to highlight, here ...

The background is, Sonya called 911 due to a suspected prowler in her backyard. 

(You can hear neighborhood fireworks going off, as it's July 6th, so it's not beyond the realm of possibility.)

The Sangamon County Sheriff Office's deputies arrived first. 

After checking her yard, she meets them on her porch, tells them "I love you" and "thank you," thinking they are done.

Deputy #1 asked if she was okay mentally (?) and then asked to check inside her house.

(Do they ask white people who report possible prowlers in their backyards if they're mentally okay? I don't think so.)

He is being polite, but also a bit condescending.

She said she wanted to show them some papers, but it is unclear what she wanted to show them. 

As she is pulling them out, the Springfield PD call her back on her cell phone and she told them the Sheriff's office was there.  

The deputies told her to hang up the phone and give them her ID. 

She hung up the phone.  

She is clearly getting nervous, now, frantically trying to find her ID.

Deputy #1, closest to her, asks about the boiling pot on the stove, saying "We don't need a fire, now, go ahead and turn that off."

She walks over to the pot, turns it off, and begins to put the pot in the sink. 

She asks if the boiling water is scaring him, with a polite giggle.

He replies that it does. 

Then she says "I rebuke you, in the name of Jesus."

For those who didn't grow up in/aren't familiar with the charismatic evangelical denomination - this is NOT rebuking a person - this is rebuking a spirit in the situation, usually the spirit of fear.

This is based assumptions made about both 1 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind" - the assumption being made that the "spirit" of fear then comes from Satan - as well as Mark 16:17-18  17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  [18] They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Thus, sometimes it's a rebuke Satan himself, using fear - but considering the deputy had just mentioned fear of the water, and she herself was clearly afraid, she was likely rebuking the spirit of fear in the situation. Either way, it is meant as a prayer of protection over everyone in the situation.

Regardless, clearly, the "prayer" did not work ...

Because Deputy #2, furthest from her, instead took this as a personal threat and ordered her to put the pot down, he didn't want any boiling water in the face and drew his gun.

She froze when she saw the gun, obviously frozen with fear, but still holding the pot. 

Deputy #2 shot her 3 times, once in the head, from across the room.

Deputy #2 asks #1 if he should get his kit.

Deputy #1 deputy says not to, "She's done"  ... and then later, "Just let her ... "  (stopping just short of likely saying "bleed out.")

That was the part that made me the sickest, actually.

The officers ask each other if they're good, several times - but neither even attempt to check on Sonya.

Then they curse repeatedly, obviously in anger (likely over the trouble they're in), but there is no remorse for Sonya or regret exhibited at all.

I just watched this and I'm shaking, sick at my stomach.

As President Biden said yesterday, people of color have to fear things the rest of us don't have to.

This has GOT to stop!  😢😭