It is so tragic that the horrific beating video of an honor student has gone viral. Rapper Nas wrote an open letter to the Chicago youth involved in the beating. We send our prayers to the young man who was slain in the attack. [WARNING THE VIDEO IS EXPLICIT VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED]
Dear Young Warriors fighting the wrong wars! Killing each other is definitely played out. Being hurt from the lost of a love one was never cool.
Dear Young Warriors fighting the wrong war! I know that feeling, that frustration with life and needing to take it out on someone, any one. But….
We chose the dumbest things to go the hardest for. I remember seeing deaths over 8 ball jackets, Fila sneakers, and name plate chains. Deaths over “he say, she say”!!!!! “I’m from this block or I’m from that block”, or “my moms n pops is f*cked up now the whole world gotta pay”!!!
I remember feeling like I was the hardest “n*gga” breathing. And I couldn’t wait to prove it. But let’s think. What are we really proving?? And proving what to who?? Everybody knows Chicago breeds the strongest of the strong but I just feel, me, being ya brother from another state feels your pain as if I grew up with you in ya very own household. [HHW]
Three teenagers have been arrested and charged as adults with first-degree murder in the beating death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert as he walked home from Chicago’s Fenger High School last Thursday, the Chicago Tribune reports.
The three teens were scheduled to be arraigned today.
USA TODAY’s Judy Keen reports from Chicago that people gathered today at the high school to remember the slain honor student and to call for an end to violence.
Albert was beaten to death during a melee between two gangs that broke out on the street.
Several police vehicles were parked outside the school, which was reopened today for the first time since the incident. Ministers and anti-violence activists gathered outside in advance of today’s vigil.
A pot of white flowers stood in front of two posters featuring photos of the slain youth. One poster was covered with handwritten memorials. “Derrion, you will be missed,” one read.
Mary Washington, 69, who lives in the neighborhood, said it has long been plagued by gang violence. “They’re killing our children, our hope for the future,” she said. “When will it stop?”
“I’m praying and hoping that out of this will come something positive,” said Rev. Martin Watt of the Disciples of Christ Church in Harvey, Ill.
Meanwhile, police are continuing to investigate the killing, including video purportedly taken by a person at the scene, the Associated Press reports.
The video, which shows several people beating and stomping a person believed to Albert, has been turned over to police. The authorities say the video is being used to identify people at the scene. [source]
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