Chicago witnessed a tragic murder this week after 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee was gunned down in an alley way on Monday night in the Gresham neighborhood on the South Side of Chiraq. According to police, an argument broke out and numerous shots rang off – fatally hitting the boy numerous times all over his body.
Actress Jada Pinkett-Smith took to her Facebook page to pen a touching letter to the slain boy, his mother and the community about gun violence in the streets.
Jada wrote:
Sh@& happens… I know. A 9-year-old child shot several times in the torso in a Chicago alley in the middle of the day should not be one of them. In our communities, many of us live by a fierce code… mind your business, don’t say nothing, don’t tell the authorities jack. For most of us, it’s for good reason, we don’t trust authority, and it’s dangerous to speak on things that happen in these restless, volatile streets especially when blood is spilled. But in a time when we are demanding for change and asking a nation to stand up, speak out and shine a light on injustices that are occurring in our communities, we have to recognize that it also takes making some change within our community as well. We may need to break some old habits, take some new risks to make sure we practice what we preach. It takes courage to manifest justice, it takes courage to be a hero, it takes courage to ask for change and to BE the change we are asking for.
If anyone knows anything about the murder of Tyshawn Lee SAY SOMETHING… please…
My condolences to Tyshawn’s mother, to his father and all those who loved him.
Rest in peace Tyshawn.
J
Such a heart-breaking story. We send our condolences to the family and friends of Tyshawn!
