Letter To … Rekia

Dear Rekia Boyd,

First, I want to acknowledge who you were as a person - the story that doesn’t get the media’s attention. Besides the role you played in all of your loved one’s lives, you were a person with dreams, goals, and so much more life to live. You were a jokester, funny, and the life of the party. According to friends and family, you were the self-proclaimed “God mother” to everyone’s kids. You had so much more life to experience. And at 22, it was all abruptly taken from you. 

I’m just sorry. I’m sorry that a night out with friends changed your life forever. I’m sorry you were a victim to state violence that is protected by a corrupt system. I’m sorry that your case didn’t garner as much attention as it truly deserved. And I’m sorry that other Black women who are victims of police brutality are forgotten. I’m sorry that your brother’s quote still holds true to this day - that “even in death, women play the second role.” I’m sorry your killer gets to roam free and paint himself as the victim as he continues to collect pension. I’m sorry his bench trial lasted a total of 4 days. I’m sorry about it all. 

Your killer was acquitted of the charge of involuntary manslaughter. His charge was the first time someone from the Chicago Police Department was charged for a fatal shooting in fifteen years. Nevertheless, justice was not served. The Judge deemed that there was nothing “reckless” about what he did. He said it was intentional and that the cop should have been charged with first-degree murder instead - all before letting him walk free. A legal “technicality” allowed him to be free and disappointingly enough, proved that the system does exactly what it was put in place to do: uphold oppressive systems that threaten and kill Black people under the guise of liberty and justice for all. 

I want you to know that you haven’t been forgotten. Your legacy has continued in more ways than you could imagine. Your story has laid the groundwork and birthed movements across the United States like #SayHerName that have been essential in recognizing Black women and girls who have been killed by the police. While we can never get direct justice for you, I hope you have gained an iota of peace in knowing the impact that your life has had and will have on Black women and girls to come. In knowing that we are fighting for these people to be offered a piece of the protection that we’ve been promised, but never granted. Protection that you were never granted.

And you will not be forgotten. We will keep fighting for you, Rekia Boyd. I hope you continue to rest in power. 

Love,

Lauren Llyod

Author: Lauren Llyod

Addressee: Rekia Boyd