KOMPLEXIFY!

Ahmaud Arbery — “Maud” to his pals — was a fit 25-year-old with incredible speed. A linebacker in high school, he had a knack for imitating his coach, an impression he would bust out whenever he gave advice to his friends. Working his way through South Georgia Technical School to be an electrician, he ran several miles most mornings to help clear his head.

Ahmaud Arbery was murdered by a retired cop and his son on February 23, 2020, while out running. With another man, the pair chased Ahmaud down in their trucks before boxing him in and shooting him three times with a shotgun. It took 74 days, three recused prosecutors, and the viral video of his execution before police charged his murderers with any crime at all.

Black lives matter.

Atatiana Jefferson — “Tay” to her family and friends — grew up as a straight-A science nerd tomboy. The 28-year-old earned a biology/pre-med degree from Xavier University and hoped to one day eliminate asthma, which had taken a toll on her father. She loved playing video games with her 8-year-old nephew Zion, who was best friends with his aunt.

Atatiana Jefferson was murdered by police on October 12, 2019, while playing video games with her nephew. Responding to a 2:30 AM “wellfare call” about a house with its doors open, two cops arrived. Rather than announce their presence at either the open front door or the open patio door, they instead quietly snuck into the backyard. Seeing movement through a closed window, one cop screamed “Put your hands up!” and shot Atatiana through the window, without waiting for a response or ever identifying themselves as police. The cop has been indicted for murder.

Black lives matter.
 

Kalief Browder was the adoptive son of Venida Browder, and grew up in a two-story brick house with his adoptive and foster siblings. As a kid, he was a notoriously picky eater, and his mom would make him special meals (much to the irritation of his older siblings). He was energetic, funny, very smart, and loved video games… especially NBA 2K.

Kalief Browder was imprisoned on May 16, 2010, at age 17 in Rikers Island for allegedly stealing a backback. He would stay there for three years, without ever having a trial. Unable to afford bail, he endured beatings by prison guards and other inmates. Kalief endured over 800 days in solitary confinement before being released. Traumatized from his ordeal, Kalief became paranoid and fearful, often pacing fretfully around in a small square (a tic he picked up in Rikers). On June 5, 2015, Kalief told his mother “I can’t take it anymore.” He hanged himself the following day.

Black lives matter.  

Breonna Taylor — known to her friends and family as “Bre” — was a 26-year-old Michigan native who moved to Louisville, Kentucky, when she was a teen. An Emergency Medical Technician by training, she was fond of playing card games with her family and happy knowing that her work made real differences in her patients’ lives.

Breonna Taylor was murdered by police on March 13, 2020 over nonexistent drugs. She was shot 8 times in her own bedroom after cops broke into her home unannounced to execute a “no-knock” warrant for a suspect they already had in custody and who lived 10 miles away. The cops subsequently filed a nearly blank police report; none have been charged with a crime.

Black lives matter.

George Floyd — “Perry” to his friends — was a Houston native. The 6’3″ 46-year-old grew up playing sports, especially basketball and football, which earned him a university scholarship, making him the first of his six siblings to go to college. He became involved in a church ministry, acting as a youth mentor there. He was also active in Houston’s rap scene, where he performed under the moniker “Big Floyd.” He had 5 children, worked as a bouncer at the El Nuevo Rodeo Club, and prayed at every meal with his family.

George Floyd was murdered by police on May 25, 2020, over a matter of $20. Suspected of using a counterfeit bill, three cops handcuffed George and pinned him face down in the street while a fourth cop placed his knee on George’s neck and asphyxiated him over the course of nine minutes despite his constant, panicked plea: “I can’t breathe.” He only got off his neck after EMTs demanded he do so, more than two minutes after George had gone unconscious. The three other cops merely watched George die. It would take a week of protests before all four cops were charged with any crime.

Black lives matter.