Justice is Served.
During the Summer of 2015, the Nation saw a terrifying glimpse into the early 1900s when Black Lives truly did not matter. On the night of June 17, in Charleston, South Carolina, an unforgivable atrocity occurred. Dylann Roof, a 19 year old white supremacist, murdered nine black church goers in cold blood. His actions shook the nation, as we all watched to see if the justice system would be just.
A long trial followed, lasting throughout all of 2016. Most of America assumed they knew what the outcome would be. Like many cases in the past, statistics proved that Dylann could get minimal time due to him being white. However, the jury came to the conclusion that Dylann Roof was guilty. On January 10th of this year, he was sentenced to the death penalty for all 18 counts with that sentencing possible.
History was made that day because Dylann Roof is the first federal hate crime defendant to be sentenced to death. But, it is also a sad event as we recall the many atrocities blacks have suffered by the hands of white supremacists. Those acts never received the justice they deserved.
“While I breathe, I hope” is the motto of South Carolina. Let us all keep that in our minds. Times may be hard, but they are ever-changing. Change is hope. Hope is all we have as we move on to a better future as Americans. Let us give this moment to those who have fallen instead of those who have taken lives.
Janay' Lee