Hi, my friends. I know this probably wasn't the post you were expecting but it has to be said.
On December 10th, 2020, 9:27 p.m., Brandon Bernard was executed for a crime he committed when he was 18.
He was executed for taking part in the murder of a couple in 1999 when he was only 18. And here's the piece de resistance. He wasn't the one who pulled the trigger, and the other accomplices were given lesser sentences while the murderer was executed in September. But that's not the part we need to focus on. According to CNN, "Bernard, 40, was one of five gang members convicted in Texas of killing Stacie and Todd Bagley -- who were youth ministers -- in 1999. The gunman, Christopher Vialva, was executed in September, while the other co-defendants were given lesser sentences." Now, why would he be given a greater sentence than the other co-defendants when he had done nothing to deserve it other than the fact that he was black. A person of color. We all know racism is still a problem in our society. White-supremacy is still a thing, believe it or not. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican, a woman or a man or nonbinary, but if you do not think the execution of Brandon Bernard was an act of pure racism, you are a racist. You can't deny it. There is no denying it. And there was no reason for him to be charged with an execution for a crime someone had been an accomplice in 22 years ago. He wasn't bitter during his term in jail. He didn't even get to hug his daughters before the execution. He apologized to the family. According to CNN, ""I'm sorry ... I wish I could take it all back, but I can't," Bernard said to the family of the Bagleys during his three-minute last words. "That's the only words that I can say that completely capture how I feel now and how I felt that day."The Bagley family thanked Trump and the federal government for carrying out the sentence in their statements." Speaking of the president, Trump had the power to call off the execution of an innocent man. Of course, he didn't. He had the power to save him, but didn't. It makes you think. Do with that what you will.
People will say the system is broken. The system isn't broken. It's working exactly the way it was meant to work. It was set up with the foundation of racism and slavery. It was set up so that people of color could not coexist with white people. So when they started to build their own communities, white people burnt them down. Think about that for just a second.
On December 10th, 2020, 9:27 p.m., Brandon Bernard was executed for a crime he committed when he was 18.
He was executed for taking part in the murder of a couple in 1999 when he was only 18. And here's the piece de resistance. He wasn't the one who pulled the trigger, and the other accomplices were given lesser sentences while the murderer was executed in September. But that's not the part we need to focus on. According to CNN, "Bernard, 40, was one of five gang members convicted in Texas of killing Stacie and Todd Bagley -- who were youth ministers -- in 1999. The gunman, Christopher Vialva, was executed in September, while the other co-defendants were given lesser sentences." Now, why would he be given a greater sentence than the other co-defendants when he had done nothing to deserve it other than the fact that he was black. A person of color. We all know racism is still a problem in our society. White-supremacy is still a thing, believe it or not. I don't care if you're a Democrat or a Republican, a woman or a man or nonbinary, but if you do not think the execution of Brandon Bernard was an act of pure racism, you are a racist. You can't deny it. There is no denying it. And there was no reason for him to be charged with an execution for a crime someone had been an accomplice in 22 years ago. He wasn't bitter during his term in jail. He didn't even get to hug his daughters before the execution. He apologized to the family. According to CNN, ""I'm sorry ... I wish I could take it all back, but I can't," Bernard said to the family of the Bagleys during his three-minute last words. "That's the only words that I can say that completely capture how I feel now and how I felt that day."The Bagley family thanked Trump and the federal government for carrying out the sentence in their statements." Speaking of the president, Trump had the power to call off the execution of an innocent man. Of course, he didn't. He had the power to save him, but didn't. It makes you think. Do with that what you will.
People will say the system is broken. The system isn't broken. It's working exactly the way it was meant to work. It was set up with the foundation of racism and slavery. It was set up so that people of color could not coexist with white people. So when they started to build their own communities, white people burnt them down. Think about that for just a second.
You might be thinking, well what can I do? Well, the executions aren't over. Support Black Lives Matter. Just because the "fad" is over doesn't mean it doesn't matter anymore. It doesn't mean you can mock the lives of Black people and the Black community.
Here are 2 cases of injustice you can still help prevent:
Pervis Payne, who is black and has an intellectual disability, has spent 32 years on death row. He was waiting on his girlfriend to return to their apartment when he discovered that his neighbor had been brutally attacked. He tried to help her, but the police arrived while he was at the house, so he was arrested and convicted of murder the following February. It's been more than 3 decades, and he is still on death row. There is still something you can do about it, though. Below are some things you can do.
Sign this petition: Take Pervis Payne Off Death Row
Educate Yourself About His Case:
Tell Everyone You Know!
Dustin Higgs, who is also black, was convicted and sentenced to the federal death penalty as an accomplice to the 1996 murders of Tanji Jackson, Tamika Black, and Mishann Chinn. It was the first federal death sentence handed down in Maryland in the modern era. Dustin was not the person who actually shot the three women and is pleading his innocence. In fact, it was Willis Haynes who pulled the trigger, and he was sentenced to life in prison plus 45 years after a separate jury spared him the death penalty for the crime. Why would an accomplice to a crime have to serve a greater sentence than the actual person who is guilty? The reason is racism. Help Dustin Higgs by:
Dustin Higgs, who is also black, was convicted and sentenced to the federal death penalty as an accomplice to the 1996 murders of Tanji Jackson, Tamika Black, and Mishann Chinn. It was the first federal death sentence handed down in Maryland in the modern era. Dustin was not the person who actually shot the three women and is pleading his innocence. In fact, it was Willis Haynes who pulled the trigger, and he was sentenced to life in prison plus 45 years after a separate jury spared him the death penalty for the crime. Why would an accomplice to a crime have to serve a greater sentence than the actual person who is guilty? The reason is racism. Help Dustin Higgs by:
Signing these petitions:
Educate Yourself About His Case:
I know this is a serious topic, but it needs to be said. Thanks for reading, spreading the message, and your support.
#blacklivesmatter #blm #racismawareness #racialinjustice #justiceforbrandonbernard #sayhisname
Oh my goodness. This is completely outrageous. He was murdered for being born differently. Everyone else got a lesser sentence! Thanks for posting this and bringing attention to it.
ReplyDeleteI know. This is completely outrageous. I can't believe the system is still built on racism. Don't thank me for bringing attention to a topic everyone should know. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI didn't mean the topic I meant this story...But that's not important.
DeleteOh. Well, I agree, he shouldn't have been executed just because of the color of his skin. Sure, he commited a crime but he was 18 and he's changed! Justice for Brandon Bernard.
DeleteREAL justice that is. Not the twisted ideas of current times. #blacklivesmatter
DeleteYes, for sure. Black Lives Matter!
DeleteThat is horrible! Everybody should know about this! I'm definitely gonna hit people up about this, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI know. It is horrible. Please tell everyone you know. Thank you for commenting.
DeleteI feel really bad now I will also let my friends now about this...
ReplyDeleteThank you! Telling anyone you know about the situation will help. Justice for Brandon Bernard! Black Lives Matter!
DeleteIvanka, this is amazing. #blacklivesmatter is such an important topic in the community. I will share this with my friends and family and support this outrageous act of racism.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this information- I entirely agree with you.
Please post more stories in the future if you can, we need to share them!
#blacklivesmatter
Thank you for commenting. It really is a topic of importance in our community and nation even now. Anything to spread the message will help. I will be posting Dustin Higgs story here in just a moment. Justice for Brandon Bernard! #blacklivesmatter!
DeleteIvanka- this is horrible and I must admire you for having the courage to write this. Thank you so much. I will most definitely share with family and friends. It's important for people to know of this. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt really is horrible. I feel as a citizen of the world, it is my responsibility to spread awareness. Anything to spread the message will help the cause. Thanks for commenting!
Delete#blacklivesmatter #blm #justiceforbrandonbernard
This is awful. All three stories are completely unfair and all of those people don't deserve what they got.
ReplyDeleteThey really don't. Fortunately, you can still help Pervis "Payne and Dustin Higgs. If you would like for them to finally get the justice they deserve, please sign the petitions linked in my post. Thanks for commenting. #blacklivesmatter #blm #justiceforbrandonbernard #justiceforpervispayne #justicefordustinhiggs
DeleteHi Ivanka...this is just horrible. The three stories are just completely sad. It was completely unfair for them. They did not deserve this. I'll share this with my friends and family. It is important to know about this. Black lives matter is an important topic in the community. We should really pay attention to these things. we have our rights and so do they.
ReplyDelete#blacklivesmatter
Hi Poornasai. Yes, it really is horrible. They are sad and unfair, but you can still help Pervis Payne and Dustin Higgs. If you would like for them to finally get the justice they deserve, please sign the petitions linked in my post. We should be paying more attention to this topic. Thanks for commenting. #blacklivesmatter #blm #justiceforbrandonbernard
DeleteHello Ivanka,
ReplyDeleteThis is horrible! Outrageous! Monstrous! Atrocious! Disgraceful! These three stories are very upsetting and no one should be treated differently because of their skin color. Some of my friends and I have been treated differently because of our race and it makes me fuming mad that this happens. I do admire your courage to write this post, and as you do it, you sound confident and strong which are a couple of the things that I admire in a person. This isn’t fair. I will be sharing this with my friends and family so they can take a look at it and spread the word. This isn’t right and must be put out there so the world can learn what is right and what is wrong. I was taught, we are all created equally and even if we all look different from each other it doesn’t mean we are not the same. We all have feelings. We have thoughts. We have ideas. We are all fair. Nobody in the world deserves to be hated, bullied, or abused by how they look. Nobody deserves any type of hatred for their skin color. We all have rights and so does everyone else and we need to respect that. We are all the same. We are all human.
#blacklivesmatter
Hi Maddie,
DeleteIt really is outrageous. I'm really sad that you and your friends have been treated differently for something you were born with. It really is disgusting. It isn't fair and all people are human. No one deserves hatred like you said. I would appreciate it if you spread the word. Thanks for commenting. #blacklivesmatter #blm
I just have to say, i went on your blog and read your Brandon Bernard post and it is so amazing and inspiring, i have no words, the fact that you did that was just... WOW, i really think that you are right and everyone should be treated equally, thank you
DeleteThanks for reading! Everyone should be treated equally. I'm happy to know you find this post inspiring. I'm just spreading the message.
DeleteHi Ivanka. This is a comment on my friend's behalf. I just showed her this post and this is what she has to say about it - "That is horrible that black are treated unfairly, but there has to be a reason why black people aren't treated fairly like me."- my friend (she wants to stay anonymous.)
ReplyDeleteHey Unknown and Unknown's friend if they are reading this.. It really is horrible that people of color(they do not like to be called "blacks") are treated unjustly. There really isn't a reason unless you count the fact that a long time ago some random white European decided to take people from Africa and make them our slaves. Then came a long period of racism and discrimination, which we are still trying to demolish. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Delete