*Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old mother of two, was fatally shot by Illinois sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson earlier this month.
As we reported earlier, in the body camera footage released by the prosecutor’s office, Grayson (a White man) is seen threatening to shoot Massey over a dispute about moving a pot from the stove. Grayson then fires his gun three times at Massey after she briefly stands up. He has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, and official misconduct. Grayson is currently held without bond in Sangamon County Jail.
He has pleaded not guilty and could face a prison sentence of 45 years to life if convicted.
According to MSNBC, Massey was a descendant of William K. Donnegan, a shoemaker and railroad conductor who was lynched during the Springfield Race Riot in 1908. Massey died in the same hospital, St. John’s, where Donnegan succumbed to his injuries after being attacked by a white mob.
Authors and MSNBC reporter Cassandra Lane relates to Massey’s story, as her great-grandfather, Burt Bridges, was lynched in Mississippi in 1904. Lane’s memoir, “We Are Bridges,” explores the impact of this history on the family.
Lane also notes a troubling pattern of police killings of Black people during presidential election years, citing the deaths of George Floyd in 2020, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in 2016, Trayvon Martin in 2012, and now Massey in 2024.
After watching the footage of Massey’s death, Lane claims she experienced a profound emotional release, crying for Massey, her grieving mother, and her great-grandfather.
In her essay, Lane emphasizes that the responsibility for addressing systemic violence lies with those in power and the institutions that support them, calling for an end to this legacy of brutality.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Candace Owens Slams Biden’s Statement on Sonya Massey Shooting, Claims Incident Wasn’t Racially Motivated
