Praying for the Brave Ones With Fear and Trembling

Last updated on: August 14, 2014 at 2:48 pm by Guest Contributor

Praying for the Brave Ones With Fear and Trembling 2014-08-14T14:48:00-05:00 Guest Contributor

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by Raedorah C. Stewart

Special to R3

Sometimes I fear I may have been too justice minded, too socially active, and too proactive in demanding accountability when wrongs were committed as I raised my son. He has taken my models of survival of a whole people to a very public and different level — and I am afraid, sorrowful, and proud. But right now, I am afraid.

Jay, is the lead organizer of the ‪#‎NMOS14‬, National Moment of Silence for Victims of Police Brutality (Boston). The Facebook event alone has over 740 people attending tonight’s vigil in Boston Commons near the State House. Within 48 hours of organizing, they had to move the venue because of the number of attendees. With the media attention, national and local, Boston police is gearing up proactively in riot gear with military strategies — in response to a PEACEFUL call to silence, red ribbons, and candlelight!

While raising Jay in Los Angeles and surrounding areas, I was most concerned about this safety from the police way more than ever from the gangs; and we lived at the intersection of the Bloods, Crips and Asian gangs! Being a tall (6’6″), dark skinned, dreadlocked, queer, educated, and articulate young brother, he is an easy target. Now Jay is being harassed by racist cowards anonymously; and openly and most vehemently by the Anti-Semitism student leaders at Tufts University because he is Gaza compassionate instead of condoning the inequity of militarism used by Israel. I am fearful of what he might face tonight up front and on the platform — from peers and the police.

Please, Pray for: Peace-filled Vigils tonight in Boston and across the nation; protection of Jay and all of the young leaders joining voices and voicelessness to right wrongs; police to see these young people as hope instead of as targets; and for some sustainable change to be effected.

Please, Pray that our sons and daughters act with wisdom of the sages: “He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day; But he who is battle slain can never rise to fight again.”― Oliver Goldsmith.

Please, Pray that Gaza will soon no longer have to tweet how to survive police state tactics to Ferguson residents: i.e., “milk and coke neutralizes tear gas, do not use water.”

Please, Pray that this mother, and mothers everywhere, will see our sons and daughters in the morning — alive and not executed.

Happiness is my son’s recent HuffingtonPost.com blog.
JOY will be him alive to write again on Monday.

Happiness is my son’s attached ‪#‎IfTheyGunnedMeDown‬ what picture would they use?
JOY will be him posting next weekend’s picture of him partying with his posse.

Happiness is my son’s posting the roster of Black women victims of police brutality and murder.
JOY will be him continuing to be the voice of more than just “My Brother’s Keeper.”

And right now, my knees are shaky, my voice is weak, my tears freely fall, and every breath I take is a prayer.

Lord, hear our prayers and pity every sigh, groan, lament, and song.

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