Nine-year-old girl's tearful speech after Charlotte police killing goes viral

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

Nine-year-old girl's tearful speech after Charlotte police killing goes viral

Zianna Oliphant delivered a powerful personal testimony to the city council about growing up black in Charlotte, saying ‘we shouldn’t have to feel like this’

Sam Levin
@SamTLevin
Tuesday 27 September 2016 21.10 EDT

A nine-year-old Charlotte girl’s tearful speech about how African Americans are “treated differently than other people” has gone viral as protests about police brutality continue to ignite the North Carolina city.

Zianna Oliphant could barely keep her composure as she offered powerful testimony at a city council meeting on Monday about growing up black in Charlotte, where the recent fatal police shooting of Keith Scott has renewed national debates about policing.

“I feel like that we are treated differently than other people. I don’t like how we’re treated. Just because of our color doesn’t mean anything to me,” she said before breaking down in tears.

. . .

Speaking through sobs, Oliphant continued: “We are black people, and we shouldn’t have to feel like this. We shouldn’t have to protest because y’all are treating us wrong. We do this because we need to and have rights.”




Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/27/keith-scott-killing-charlotte-little-girl-speech-viral

[retrowire]

1. We are failing this child and all of these communities.

I'm wondering, will people ever see the light?

[Javaman]

7. we aren't failing, we have failed.

it is disgraceful how far we continue to fall and to fail to help those around us.

[retrowire]

8. well.. to say failed is to admit we're finished with it

Which we're not. There's still things to be done.

[Lucky Luciano]

2. Wow. Wish I could send her a hug. Courageous girl. nt

[montana_hazeleyes]

4. I wish I could too. I want to just hold her, poor baby.

She, nor any child should go through this. She's so courageous, beautiful and smart.

I cannot ever understand people who are racist. People who don't see others as human beings, with life, love, hopes, dreams, feelings. All the things that make us all human.

[mountain grammy]

3. I think the worst thing the media does is ignore the personal stories behind

those who are murdered by police. The pain and emptiness the families feel and economic impact of these deaths cannot be ignored. Over policing of black communities isn't new, it's just now being addressed thanks to cameras.

[Odin2005]

5. Sports radio guy Colin Cowherd, of all people, has been talking about this at length.

Mostly in the context of defending Kaepernik's anthem protest and idiots calling in trying to defend the police.

[mountain grammy]

6. everyone with a microphone should be talking about it.

and we should hear from the families.

[lillypaddle]

9. My heart was breaking watching

this brave little girl. There has been enough suffering and needless killing. Enough.