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On March 29th, a tragic incident unfolded in Chicago, resulting in the death of 13-year-old Alex Rivera, a seventh grader. His story has dominated the news: Chicago Police Release Footage of Officer Shooting Boy. What You Need to Know About the Police Shooting of Alex Rivera. Remembering Alex Rivera. As we read these headlines, we must recognize that this is not normal. We must remember: Something is fundamentally wrong. Alex Rivera should still be alive.
Reports indicate that during the confrontation with police, Alex was seen “holding a gun” at some point. Prosecutors asserted that gun residue was discovered on his hand. Initially, they claimed he had fired at the officers, a statement that was later proven to be completely false. Regardless of whether he had a weapon during the encounter, there is no justification for the use of deadly force against a child.
When I learned that the bodycam footage might be released, I vowed not to watch it. After witnessing the harrowing details presented during Derek Chauvin’s trial, I felt overwhelmed and couldn’t bear to see another life taken. But I gave in and watched.
What I saw shook me deeply, much like the footage of George Floyd’s murder. I replayed the video multiple times, weeping and questioning: What really happened? A 21-year-old man, Marco Torres, was arrested at the scene, breathless and disheveled, while police attempted to revive Alex, who lay lifeless on the ground.
Now, a mother faces an unimaginable loss, and a community is mourning. Once again, we find ourselves grappling with the reality of a person of color dying at the hands of law enforcement.
Did the officers stop to consider their actions? Did they contemplate the consequences of firing their weapons? Did they understand they were using lethal force against a middle schooler, a mere child?
In the video, I saw a boy—a child who complied with orders by stopping, turning, and freezing—before hearing the gunfire.
During a press conference, police union representative Mark Sullivan spoke on behalf of Officer Richards, the shooter: “The juvenile was holding a handgun, given clear verbal commands to drop it, and began to turn.” He added, “At that moment, the officer felt he had no other choice. He regrets the outcome and never wanted to resort to deadly force.”
I’m fixated on his statement: No police officer wishes to use deadly force in the line of duty.
Yet, they do. They do use deadly force, and disproportionately so against people of color.
In the video, you can hear the change in the officer’s voice after the shots are fired. He sounds frightened, rushing to call for an ambulance and attempting CPR. But it’s too late. Alex Rivera was pronounced dead just moments later.
This cycle continues unabated, and we keep discussing it, yet nothing changes. Police often resort to excessive force, and it must be the other way around. Officer Richards faced a decision: Did he choose to take a child’s life? Had he opted differently, Alex would still be with us today.
After the tragedies of George Floyd, Eric Garner, Daunte Wright, and now Alex Rivera, we should all feel a sense of outrage. This issue is as dire as the COVID-19 pandemic, with lives lost senselessly every day. Racism is a pandemic too. Black and Brown lives do matter, but when will law enforcement truly acknowledge that?
To the officers out there: Will you choose to save a life next time? Will you remain calm and call for backup? Do you believe that every life is valuable?
We require law enforcement to make the right choices consistently. Our lives and the lives of our children depend on it.
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In summary, the tragic loss of Alex Rivera serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing issues surrounding police use of force, the need for accountability, and the imperative to protect every child’s life. We cannot accept these incidents as normal; we must demand change.
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