Vigils to be Held Coast to Coast For Sonya Massey, Victim of Unconscionable Police Shooting
Public horror and sorrow has swept across the United States following the tragic death of Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old Black woman from Springfield, Illinois. Massey was fatally shot in the face by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean P. Grayson in her own home, an incident which was captured on video and has sparked fervent calls for extensive police reform and a federal investigation.
Details of The Tragic Incident
Massey had called emergency services on July 6 to report a potential home invasion. Two deputies responded to the call and during their house search, Grayson become agitated with Masseys’ actions. Massey, fear-stricken and carrying a pot of hot water she had been given the permission to fetch from the stove was confronted by Grayson, who despite standing in an adjacent room, aggressively demanded that Massey drop the pot and then threatened to shoot her. Autopsy reports confirm that a single bullet entered beneath her left eye, causing fatal damage.
Outrage and Mourning Across The Nation
Grayson has since been charged with murder and has pled not guilty. Amid the rage and grief caused by the disturbing incident, human rights activists have declared Sunday a National Day of Mourning in honor of Massey. Cities from New York to Los Angeles and Massey’s hometown of Springfield are expected to hold vigils as part of the National Day of Mourning.
Famous civil rights attorney Ben Crump expressed his anguish at Massey’s funeral. He compared the emotional impact of the video showing her death to the photos of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old lynched in Mississippi in 1955, and the videos of Laquan McDonald, shot 16 times by police in Chicago in 2014; and George Floyd, murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis in 2020.
National Day of Mourning
The National Day of Mourning intends to draw attention to such cases of police brutality against Black citizens while remembering Sonya Massey. The day will feature rallies and gatherings in multiple cities including New York, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Commemorative gatherings have already taken place in places such as Kansas City, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Wilmington, North Carolina with mourners expressing their outrage and grief.
The Response of Vice President Kamala Harris
In a touching display of empathy and solidarity, Vice President Kamala Harris extended her support to Massey’s family. James Wilburn, Massey’s father, stated that the Vice President gave her condolences and assured them of her support, acknowledging the need for a cessation of such senseless violence. A visibly moved Shadia Massey, Sonya’s cousin, expressed that this condolent gesture held immense significance for the family.
Looking Ahead
The tragic death of Sonya Massey, in a grotesque abuse of police power, rightfully continues to spark national outrage. As the public mourns her, the collective hope is for an exhaustive federal investigation into the incident, the murder charges against the officer, and much-needed police reform. It is the hope of many that the planned vigils provide a space for communities to collectively express their grief, healing, and a commitment to change.
