RAMARLEY LINDEN GRAHAM in the Bronx. & I think some light needs to be shined on that. He was 18, UNARMED &
MURDERED in front of his 6 yr old brother && grandma by the NYPD. Rest in Paradise hun ♥ Justice will be served.
On Feb. 18, I attended the funeral of Ramarley Graham at Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church in the Bronx.
This stately gothic sanctuary overlooks White Plains Road just blocks up from where my older son had spent many weekends with the family of Chris, his best friend in daycare.
The dead young man I’d come to honor could easily have been Chris’ 15-year-old son. Or Warren’s son. Or Eric’s. Or any young man struggling to grow up honest and courageous in this neighborhood.
I bowed my head and tried to come to terms with feelings of fear and anger.
For on Feb. 2, two NYC police officers followed Mr. Graham to his apartment building, kicked in the door and shot the young man in the chest in front of his 6-year-old brother.
The gun he was suspected of carrying was never found. His grandmother, present in the apartment, strongly disputed the officer’s claim that he had identified himself as police, ordered Graham to “show his hands,” and then yelled “gun! gun!” before firing. His grandmother was then taken to the police station and held for almost seven hours of interrogation.
Mr. Graham was eulogized as a young man who taught songs to young children and went shopping for older people who had trouble getting out.
Three of his former teachers spoke, painting a well-nuanced picture of an intellectually curious, well-disciplined student who cared about his peers’ learning and development as well as his own.
His cousin reported with sad irony that Mr. Graham’s first career aspirations were to become a police officer or firefighter so that he could protect his community.
And he was devoted to a girlfriend he’d met on Valentine’s Day four years before whom he’d escorted to school every day of their subsequent relationship.
What an incredible loss. A loss to his family and friends. A loss to us all!
Our Congressman, Eliot Engel spoke briefly and humbly. His condolences were sincere. He also added that in no way could he find that this killing could be justified.
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