Jean

I looked at my sister and thought, she knows what’s happening but won’t tell. I picked at my tooth that had been bothering me all night and day and spat in the direction of Jean. “Hey, are you trying to be funny?” Jean yelled. “Don’t do that again!.” Jean was the baby of the family. Everybody loved Jean. She got on my nerves most of the time, but still, she was my baby sister, so I had to deal with it. Little Miss Prissy could get anything she wanted from Mom. I was the only one who didn’t fall for her bullcrap. I turned my head in the opposite direction and spat again. I didn’t bother to answer her because I knew that I would curse her out. I’d had it with her secrets, let along her attitude of smugness.

What we witness on the video footage released is more evidence of murder, a lack of urgency in providing trained medical care to a clearly pregnant and wounded woman, and a concerted effort to shield Officer Connor Grubb from accountability and criminal charges.

In the footage, you hear Officer Grubb repeatedly state “she tried to run me over” to other officers on the scene, as justification for killing Ta’Kiya, before a sheriff’s deputy informs him that he’ll get a lawyer for him and to stop talking. What is clear from the video is that she did not try and run him over, she turned the wheel as far away from him as possible before the vehicle began to slowly move forward and to the right, and Grubb had every opportunity to follow departmental policy and take evasive action instead of discharging his firearm into Ta’Kiya’s chest.

Sunday, September 10, 12:30-2pm
Hot Times Festival, 240 Parsons Ave., Main Street Stage

This special edition of Make Jazz Not War (formerly the JazzPoetry Ensemble) brings our irrepressible, irreverent, and downright exciting mix back to Hot Times. Michael Cox joins regulars Roger Hines, Brett Burleson, The Governor, and Michael Vander Does for American protest music that will get you out of your seat.

Hosted by Make Jazz Not War.

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