PJP’s Statement on Sinzae Reed; It’s just us.
It is upsetting and absurd that our children can be murdered, and no one is held accountable. Krieg Butler killed Sinzae Reed because he is a violent, racist, and murderous person. Our so-called “justice system” did not even look into this case. They took the word of Butler, who claimed that Sinzae Reed, a child, posed a threat to a 38-year-old grown man. Butler claimed he was acting in self-defense against a child. This is outrageous. It clearly shows that these disgusting stereotypes can be used against us and further showcases “justification” for the murder of our children in our communities. But we shouldn’t be surprised; it hurts and is upsetting, but this has always been how the system has worked against us.
Our city has prioritized a violent police department that has a history of killing children. This past week, the Columbus Police Department shot a 16-year-old child that they have “suspected” to be involved in a crime. At the same time, Franklin County has prioritized the police and the imprisonment of our people while failing to invest in our communities.
If the state claims to be dedicated to “safety” and “justice,” why is there no justice for Sinzae Reed? Why are there 1000s of children missing? Why are there people dying in our jails? Why is there no justice for the dozens of people murdered by CPD?
Kreig Butler's ability to continue to live his life as he pleases while Sinzae Reed’s life was cut short at 13 is a display of power from the state. They are showing us that they do not care about us, our communities, or our children. We need a change now. There is no time to wait around for our city to give us what we want to survive or what we need to thrive. These systems are not working for us because they were never made for us.
Now, Adam Coy’s sentencing is being delayed, even though he was proven guilty. He was guilty of the murder of Andre Hill, which we already knew in 2020. We have to understand these contradictions and understand that our city does not and never gave a damn about Justice; it’s just us!
Written Statement by Bryanna Chambers, Community Organizer at People’s Justice Project
