I wrote this many years ago and with all the bullshit happening with the killings I decided it was time to share this on my blog. It was in the early 90's and this happened in Northeastern Connecticut.
When my son was placed
in my arms 20 years ago, I had hopes and dreams of a life with love and
acceptance around him. I did not see the
difference in him because his skin was a little darker. I only saw a person with beautiful olive skin. I watched him grow into a fine young man and
a law abiding citizen. There were times when he was
rambunctious like all other children and even though his father and myself
parted ways; I made sure he understood some of his Puerto Rican heritage.
After high school he
became a Certified Coach for the State of Connecticut and a valued employee at
UPS. He was never a drinker or a smoker
of any kind, so why people felt the need to hold their purses a little tighter and
pull their children a little closer to themselves has always been a mystery to
me and all that know him. A few years ago when my
son was riding in his girlfriend’s car they were stopped by a Connecticut State Trooper and
were told to get out of the car and empty their pockets.
When they asked why
they were stopped the officer told my son to shut up and get up against the
car. They took his girlfriend’s purse
and empty the contents and both of them were treated like common criminals. There were both terrified and confused. The officer looked at my son’s license and
said his name, then said to him “Don’t you know who I am?” Then my son said
“Yes, you are the same officer who stopped me for speeding on the Interstate
Highway.” The officer nodded and said
“Yes, that was me”.
That time that my son
was stopped was because he was speeding. At that time the officer wrote out the
ticket he questioned my son. He asked
him to give him some names of any drug dealers in the area. My son said that he didn’t know any. The
officer said “Are you trying to tell me that you don’t know any”? My son said
“No, I don’t Sir, I don’t smoke either”. The officer said “Are you telling me
again that you don’t know anyone that sells drugs and you don’t smoke yourself”?
My son answered, “No, I don’t, I am a Certified Coach for the State of Connecticut and I coach high school kids. I wouldn’t do that”. The officer walked back to his car, wrote out a ticket for speeding and told my son “Well then, it looks like I have to give you this ticket”.
My son answered, “No, I don’t, I am a Certified Coach for the State of Connecticut and I coach high school kids. I wouldn’t do that”. The officer walked back to his car, wrote out a ticket for speeding and told my son “Well then, it looks like I have to give you this ticket”.
Remembering this officer
scared my son but he asked the officer again why he stopped his girlfriend’s
car and why he was so abrasive to him. He thought to himself that he would push
the envelope a little and said to the officer. “Is this because I am Spanish?
The officer got angry and said “Just be glad you aren’t black.”
Of course being a
mother hen, I took both the kids to the police station to file a complaint.
First they took in my son’s girlfriend.
I asked to go in with her and I wasn’t allowed. She came out after 10 minutes
and decided not to put in a complaint. Then my son went in and talk to the same
officer and when he came out I asked “Did you fill out any paperwork?” My son
said “No, they wouldn’t give me any”.
So the next day my son went in and asked to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor got the paperwork and my son finally got to enter a complaint. Of course I too went in and spoke with the supervisor who didn’t make me feel any better. He told me that the officer that stopped the kids was looking for someone and that it was a volatile situation. I said “A volatile situation?” He said “Yes, at any time the officer could have pulled out his gun, so your son was lucky”
At that point I looked at him took a deep breath and asked him “Do you have any children”? He said “Yes, I do and I still feel that the officers were justified.”
Some people would say “Look at the statistics, where there is smoke there is fire.” I say the only fire is the fire of prejudice and hated coming from a statement like that. We as citizens have got to change this, let’s start with ourselves and not get caught up in bigotry of any person who is different than what we see in the mirror.
So the next day my son went in and asked to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor got the paperwork and my son finally got to enter a complaint. Of course I too went in and spoke with the supervisor who didn’t make me feel any better. He told me that the officer that stopped the kids was looking for someone and that it was a volatile situation. I said “A volatile situation?” He said “Yes, at any time the officer could have pulled out his gun, so your son was lucky”
At that point I looked at him took a deep breath and asked him “Do you have any children”? He said “Yes, I do and I still feel that the officers were justified.”
Some people would say “Look at the statistics, where there is smoke there is fire.” I say the only fire is the fire of prejudice and hated coming from a statement like that. We as citizens have got to change this, let’s start with ourselves and not get caught up in bigotry of any person who is different than what we see in the mirror.
I fear for my son and
my heart breaks for all women who have children of minorities. They are facing a society of bigotry and hate
for any person who is different.
"Lee Brooks"
