A mother’s plea for ambulance, results in the murder of her son as the city of brotherly love is outraged over another Black life taken by white cops
Some say a mother’s love is one of the most powerful forces in the world — even the universe. The act of loving someone who came from you (physically, or emotionally), more than you love yourself is the epitome of selflessness. So then, to call the police on your son, in the hopes of RESTRAINING him — after his diagnosed mental disability grew to the point of outbreak — is an act of love.
For Black women with Black sons, it’s a gamble, even in West Philadelphia. That wasn’t the case on Monday for Walter Wallace Jr.’s mother — she lost that gamble when her son was gunned down in front of her and an audience of millions via viral mobile footage. She didn’t call the cops, she called for an ambulance that never came.
Days after Wallace’s murder, the city of Philadelphia is in an uproar. A curfew of 9 p.m. has been put into place and footage of rioting, especially in West Philadelphia has been in continuous loop. The City has been declared to be in a state of emergency.
“Over the last few days, hundreds of people have gathered to peacefully speak out against social injustice, but their voices are being drowned out by others who are taking advantage of this fragile time in their city to sow mayhem and discord,” Pennsylvania Governor Wolf said.
Footage obtained by local bystanders who were present at Wallace’s murder, shows the victim being held by his mother, while steadily approaching the street. He was said to have been approaching two white police officers brandishing a knife. Prior to this incident, Wallace had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was on medication at the time of his psychotic break.
“I do know that he was on a regimen of lithium and that says to me he was under a doctor’s care, and that says to me officers who are trained — invisible ink — properly should notice certain things when they arrive at the scene,” said family attorney Shaka Johnson.
As Wallace began to approach the police, he was shot multiple times. He was later pronounced dead at local hospital Penn Presbyterian.
Second only to the sound of gunshots, was the shrieking of his mother — screaming, crying, and then running to her son and holding him on the asphalt. Hers might have been the last voice he heard.
At the time of his murder, George Floyd, in addition to screaming “I can’t breathe,” also cried out for his mother.
Several questions continue to emerge as this case develops — first, why weren’t non-lethal measures taken to subdue the victim?
When Wallace’s mother called for an ambulance, why were the police sent?
Why wasn’t the bodycam footage released immediately, and why most times when Black men and women are killed by the police — bodycam footage is either lost, or not used because the cam was off? See, Breonna Taylor’s murder.
Wallace’s murder is one in a string of murders of Black men and women at the hands of police officers. Several had mental health issues — like Wallace. Social media has played a major role in the publicizing of these murders, especially during the Covid-19 global pandemic.
As of Wednesday, 23 officers reported to be injured during protests, according to Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. The two officers who murdered Wallace, have been taken off street duty.