Justice for Elijah McClain and many others is on the ballot

Peter Lubembela

This summer Elijah McClain's name became embedded in the anthem for change in Police Departments across the country, who have a consistent history of unnecessary brutal executions of unarmed black people that go untried, unheard, and without justice. 

We demanded that David Young prosecute the case to the full extent and he heard us, went on CNN, a national television station and gave a clear smug denial to our demand. We marched this summer throughout the city, let's make voting polls our next step. On the ballot, vote to replace David Young and smug DA’s across the nation, with someone who has a basic sense of duty to pursue justice to the fullest extent. Let's be the wall of humans who put a stop to police violence by electing officials who make policies and take pride in being for the people, not a system. When the people with righteous rage demanded the system work so that poor Elijah, who used to play violins for the cats in shelters, could get the justice he deserved, the people were ignored. That’s not how things are supposed to work.

It is not only the responsibility of the system to change but of the community to change that system. Malcolm X said by any means necessary, but I simply urge you to vote. That’s the necessary way at this time. On the ballot lies the destruction and the rejection of disgusting politicians who have gotten rich ignoring the demands of the people. We are not voting for individuals but only for the vessel that can realistically give us the policies we need to fill our streets and school with resources. We are voting to combat the racism rampant in the oval office, to suppress white supremacy, to restructure policing, for Elijah McClain, for the judges and DA’s that will stop unjustly putting black men in prison and start prosecuting their killers in uniform. 

Let’s get the justice we deserve. Vote. Once we the people get ownership of the ballot, elected officials will know longer listen apathetically to our demands, because they know we will vote them out. When the current District Attorney Candidates For the Adam County Race to replace Dave Young were asked if they would prosecute a police officer who shoots an unarmed black man, Tim McCormack (R) says it depends…, Brian Mason (D) said yes. What does it depend on? An answer like that should scare us to vote.

Elijah McClain’s killers should have been without a doubt prosecuted, and this election we need a candidate that doesn't parade their disconnect but emphasizes what the people need. This discount has a pipeline to the hate we see in the White House today. Let's do our job locally in getting Elijah's justice by ensuring young people's souls receive justice and are represented by elected officials who will listen to us. 

The American political system isn’t perfect. We are given options we might not 100% agree with but let’s be critical so we can put the right people in positions that will protect our interest, our lives. Justice for Elijah McCain is on the ballot in Adams County, Colorado but justice in general is on all of our ballots.