Their deaths can't be politicized or weaponized against the police, systemic racism, or American culture itself, but they matter, too. They are the forgotten innocent victims of gun violence in the past two months of lawlessness.
Secoria Turner was a smart 8 year-old girl who was usually shy but knew how to speak her mind. She was inquisitive, always smiling, and loved soccer.
Does her life matter?
Jace Young was a “bright star” to his family, a 6 year-old boy who just loved to play.
Does his life matter?
Natalia Wallace was “sweet, shy, loving, and good at math.” She loved to draw and was looking forward to staring the second grade. Just seven years old, she was the light of her family’s life.
Does her life matter?
Davon McNeil was an 11 year-old athlete who loved baseball and basketball, but it was on the football field where he really shined. He was a star running back and linebacker who was buried with a ball tucked under his arm.
Does his life matter?
Lena Nunez was always smiling. She was 10 and loved to hang out with her brother.
Does her life matter?
Davonte Bryant was 9. He had dreams of being a leader, not just of his native New Orleans or of the United States, but of the whole world.
Does his life matter?
Amaria Jones was a 13 year-old dancer who was constantly on TikTok.
Does her life matter?
Royta Giles, Jr. was an 8 year old who wanted to be in the music industry when he grew up, but he was so articulate and so convincing when he would plead his case for candy or getting out of trouble that his family thought he should be a lawyer.
Does his life matter?
LeGend Taliferro was 4 years old. He loved to play and loved his family.
Does his life matter?
Sincere Gaston was just 20 months old.
Does his life matter? Of course it does. All of their lives do, but they are the forgotten; just several of the dozens of innocents who have fallen victim to the violence that we ignore, that we have become numb to, or that we have sadly accepted.
Their lives can’t be politicized, can’t be used to demonize police, can’t be used to make a broader statement about systemic racism, but they deserve to be known and to be remembered, because their lives matter.