Who killed Freddie Gray? Thirteen-plus months have gone by, yet this question begs for an answer. Opinions have been expressed — some negative and some positive. Freddie can't speak for himself, as he's dead and buried in a grave.
When a medical examiner examined his battered body, the conclusion was that the wounds that lead to his death were clearly not self-inflicted. Homicide was the final decision rendered, but the question remains, who killed Freddie Gray?
Some would like to blame his death on the impoverished and socially-depressed community into which he was born and lived out his life. Other's would blame the many mistakes and bad decisions he made in life. Perhaps he had become a symbol of all that was wrong with his neighborhood and the community to the point that his elimination would somehow cure all the evil there.
Recently, our judicial system decided that even though a homicide took place, no homicide was committed ("After Goodson's acquittal, other officers in Freddie Gray case ask judge to dismiss charges," June 28)! We have now watched trial after trial without a victim to speak on his behalf. Freddie Gray could not take the stand — his testimony inadmissible by default.
He could not defend the fact he was arrested without cause. He was there not there to describe the brutal force inflicted upon him during his arrest. He could not testify about his ride in the van where he was face down on the floor, his hands cuffed, the smell of urine in his nose. He wasn't there to speak about his unanswered cries for help and medical attention when a ride that should have lasted a few minutes lasted an eternity.
Freddie could not testify on his own behalf because Freddie Gray is dead. Perhaps Gray was dead long before that fateful day. He was invisible in life then and now he is invisible in death.
Not guilty? I don't think so. The facts show we share a multi-count verdict:
Guilty — for turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the suffering of countless young people around us.
Guilty — of allowing a double-standard justice system to survive as long as it has.
Guilty — for condemning the product of our years of neglect in providing and meeting the needs of those who are less fortunate than us.
Guilty — for giving law enforcement a license to use "any means necessary" to keep the peace.
And now this guilt has turned us against each other. It is time that we, the citizens of Baltimore, do some serious self-examination. We must begin to do what we know we must do. Our survival depends on our unification.
What you put into life is what you will get out of life. Let us resolve to sow together in unity so that we will not reap the harvest of failure.
Rev. Alvin J. Gwinn Sr., Baltimore
The writer is president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore.