Aiyana Jones, Dead at Seven Years Old
Sometimes, justice takes a long time. Hopefully, we are just beginning to get justice for Aiyana Jones, Jerean Blake and communities who continue to be terrorized by violence and police negligence, and then mocked by Reality TV. Today, The Huffington Post reports a series of new events surrounding this case, including the indictment of a Detroit police officer, charges of obstruction of justice and perjury for a Reality TV producer, and, sadly, the charging of Charles Jones with first degree murder, for aiding and abetting in the death of teenager, Jerean Blake, with Chauncey Owens, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in April.
Many of us were completely horrified by the death of Aiyana Jones in Detroit, Michigan; and then we soon realized that there were many layers to how and why she died, including:
1. Police negligence – Throwing a hand grenade inside of the house was totally unnecessary, especially ignoring the advice of another police officer who told them that there were toys in the front yard. But who cares about our kids, we have an arrest to make, right? And now Officer Joseph Weekely has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter. Good. He deserves to be charged. Now, let’s get the conviction. I hope the police officer who had some sense will also testify in the trial.
2. Violence and Law Enforcement as Entertainment – “Cops,” “Locked up,” “Lockdown,” “Scared Straight,” “The First 48,” there’s a complete obsession with voyeurism and criminality, now more than ever. But where does Reality TV cross the line? How far does a production crew go to get “the money shot?” Let us be thankful that charges have been brought against “The First 48″ Reality TV Show producer, Allison Howard, and let us raise our voices to shut this show down. It doesn’t deserve to be on air any longer. A little girl died and Reality TV not only bears responsibility in the “showmanship” surrounding her death but also in obstructing justice and perjury. Shame on you, Allison, get off the air!
3. Communal Responsibility – The saddest aspect of this case is that, for Aiyana Jones, specifically, we were horrified to learn that her father, Charles Jones, may have been an accomplice in the murder of Jerean Blake, by driving his neighbor and friend, Chauncey Owens, to go and confront (and shoot and kill) him. It was the manhunt for Chauncey, who lived in an upstairs apartment above Charles Jones, which caused the cops to show up at their door at all—with or without camera crew.
We had so many debates about this case on Twitter, using #AiyanaJones and #JereanBlake as the primary hashtags. At first, there was a general tribute and communal mourning; but, then it seemed as though those who wanted the police charged the most used Aiyana’s hashtag and those who were concerned with the ultimate source for how she died used Jerean’s name. Some of us, self-included, used both. But I’m also a Libra, so that whole weighing-of-the-scales trait is quite serious. But isn’t it sad that any of us had to weigh the death of our own children back and forth, like pawns in a sick and sordid, see-saw, chess game?
It does not change police responsibility or accountability but as my Grandmother always said, “one ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.” Why was it okay to help someone gun down a teenager? Charles Jones had no idea that in being an accomplice to a crime, he was putting into motion the actions which resulted in the death of his own daughter.
And, if I recall correctly, Chauncey Owens was living upstairs with his significant other, who was pregnant with his child.
Tragedy abounds here.
But it does not have to.
Today, October 5, 2011, Detroit, Michigan was listed as American’s Top Violent City according to Forbes.com.
Do better, America. Do better.
I’m honestly tired of people treating the police like they are at fault for all of this. The thing listed third should be #1. If it weren’t for some insecure, middle aged street thug and his homeboy shooting a kid half his age, the police are never at this house and that little girl is still here. Instead of spending all your time attacking the police and a documentary series, how we start holding our own accountable?
Thank you for your response, Jay. Police officers are public servants and they are granted the privilege of carrying arms and serving as law *enforcement*. That includes laws that govern police as well. We have law enforcement officers because we know that citizens sometimes break the law, sometimes in the most heinous manner. We cannot say, therefore, that if no crimes ever occurred, there would be no need for the police and, therefore, no one would get hurt. It sounds okay in theory; but that is simply not our history as humans, Jay. We call it “police accountability” because the police are not above the law. You cannot just bumrush somebody’s house without consideration for some of the major elements involved—including the presence of children. There is a reason why Officer Weekley is being charged (by his own police department) and maintaining rules of engagement, even for our law enforcement, is absolutely necessary. I did not attack the police in this post but they are most certainly included in the discussion surrounding Aiyana’s cause of death. EVERYONE needs to be accountable. EVERYONE. And that includes the police. Thank You.
You sound like a criminal sympathizer. Charles Jones and that entire brood of TRIFLING negroes is the reason Aiyana is DEAD! Charles Jones killed his daughter… so did that stupid grandmother, the cousins, aunts, ALL of the adults who aided and abetted Chauncey Owens. I hope the Officer is acquitted. I Hope that Owens and Jones are murdered in the same way that the KILLED Jerean Blake.
This is a great post. Thank you and Google for chance to read it.