Tragic May 2020 Crime: #MauriceGordonNYJamaicanStudentFatality
https://twitter.com/cathpalmercares/status/1269657233262022656?s=20 is a link to the article of the strange turn of events in which a white police officer shot a young black man who had been pulled over for speeding but then was waiting in the back seat of the police car voluntarily for a tow truck. Apparently Maurice Gordon started to adjust his seatbelt and was told twice not to do so.
He was not under arrest or informed of the risk of getting out of the car that seemed to want to wait in rather than be on the side of the NJ Garden State Parkway. This occurred two days Before the pivotal crime against George Floyd in Minnesota.Maurice had moved to the US at age 19.
From many reports, he was normally a wonderful, engaging individual. He was also a 28-year-old studying chemisty at Dutchess Community Collge in Poughkeepsie NY.
(In an update online on 6/9/20 is sharing video and reports that the policeman had been engaging the Maurice in some simple conversation but that he seemed unstable and became uncooperative with orders to not be getting out of the police car he was waiting in but then seemed to get in a struggle with the police officer. Then the policeman fires six shots at him (saying there was a concern he had or seemed to be struggling to get the policeman's gun. There is some video and a report that Maurice had been speeding at over 100 mph twice and that a friend had called 911 to report he was concerned his friend was paranoid. Another report from a friend indicated that Maurice may have had schizophrenia. There are more details needed, but the police officer is off duty at this time.)
His mother Raquel Barrett came from England with his sister to get answers, which are not coming readily to clarify the turn of events. There is much the Dutchess County NY and the communities of NJ among others should do to support his family at this time particularly with the added stress of the coronavirus.
Let's make this happen and seek #JusticeforMauriceGordon."No Justice, No Peace" and as one activist promotes as well. "Know Justice! Know Peace" as if You're Life Depended On It, because Basically It Does whatever the color of your skin or honesty in your soul. The corruption and practices of wrongdoing have trumped dignity and accountability for far too many centuries and even recent decades of heartfelt, steadfast protests and advocacy. We clearly need to #DoMoreNow4All!
