It has been 13 years since the state of Illinois eliminated the death penalty. There was a lot of hoopla when it happened because of the number of individuals on death row who were innocent of the crimes for which they had been convicted. Faulty eye witnesses, lying cops, and overzealous prosecutors all contributed to the mistakes. And Black politicians were at the forefront to make the change. However, the criminal element within this society didn’t end their practice of committing death-penalty-worthy crimes.
Today, technology has helped us to better identify the perpetrators of these horrible crimes. We have tons of cameras capturing the alleged criminals’ images in clear, concise, digital format. We have the ability to use DNA to find traces of it that would have been overlooked in the past. We have tattletale cellphone recording broadcasting every place we’ve been. But what we don’t have is something that could possibly be a deterrent to the heinous crimes that are being perpetrated with impunity.
This past 4th of July holiday has been one of the worst in history: Women are being shot. Children are being shot. The numbers are absolutely ridiculous and the number of children being shot and killed should have us holding our heads in shame. Specifically, the killing of two women and an 8-year-old at 71st and Woodlawn. The police reported it was a “personal issue” that caused the carnage. But what kind of personal issue causes two carloads of individuals to show up with rifles and handguns? What kind of shooters have no problem shooting and killing children?
The mayor’s response has been tepid. The police superintendent’s response is even milder. There is no indignant outrage, no anger. It has become so common that Black society has slowly being indoctrinated to a gradual acceptance that this is just how it has to be.
I want the same politicians (especially our state’s attorney, Kwame Raul) who so vigorously rallied to end the death penalty, to vigorously rally to reinstate it. These are crimes that should be death-penalty eligible!
In the past, populations were kept in check because of the death penalty being imposed. It is one of the few things that is guaranteed to work so long as we are brave enough to not only impose it, but publically endorse it. Nobody wants to be in the shoes of the person being executed.