Daniel Gwynn Blog Update
Date: 4/25/15
Subject: "Why should I care?"

When I look at the state of our world today, I wonder, "Why should I care?" Nothing has changed since I was last on the streets (in 1995), where rogue police terrorized the black community, and the good cops looked the other way. For years, I was harassed by the police--robbed, beaten and dumped into hostile neighborhoods. There was no incentive to be a good citizen, or to make a positive contribution to our society, when the system is constantly beating you down. Surviving was hard enough with trying to keep a roof over your head and the family fed, but then you had to deal with the rogue police patrolling our streets.

I was a young black man looking out for my younger siblings, active in the church, good grades in school, and helpful in the community. Yet I was still being treated like a common criminal: constantly stopped, harassed and degraded although I had done nothing wrong. Being black was my only crime.

During a police stop, I would be subjected to an interrogation about my identity and actions. O would be thrown against the wall or car then frisked. If I had money on me, it was taken or I was questioned about it. If I didn't cooperate, I was hit. This was the so called, 'war on drugs'.

The police had us selling their drugs, and slated to do their bidding. Rival drug gangs were taken out in an effort to control the area's drug market. I saw a lot of dealers and bystanders fall in that war. Corners changed hands constantly, especially id the current occupant was weak. So much young black potential was lost senselessly, either ravaged by crack addiction, or the violence around it. Not to mention the police brutality.

The black community has been shouting about police brutality for decades, but we were only perceived as playing the victim America didn't then, nor want to now, believe or care that there are rogue police who are corrupt, abusive or prejudice, so long as it doesn't affect them. With the video evidence in their faces today, America can no longer deny this injustice. The public outcry cannot wane in our endeavor for a better world, yet their outrage seems to only live in the moment. During the Trayvon Martin murder protests, the streets were full of people. But where are they now? The rogue police force is still beating down and killing innocent black citizens, and are not even being punished for their actions. Just this month, a young black man out in Baltimore was chased down without cause, subdued by the police and ended up dead days later from injuries sustained during the unwarranted stop. Only 700 people turned out for that protest. I get that everyone has their own troubles, but they can't afford to allow these atrocities to continue. Every citizen should be taking their outrage over the police misconduct to the streets in a non-violent peaceful demonstration and sending a clear message that police brutality will not be tolerated.

Why should I care? Because this isn't just about me. In order to make this world a better place, I need to get involved and become concerned about how the police conduct themselves on the streets. These brave men and women are on the front lines in this war against crime, and it's a very difficult job. They are a reflection of our society, an the type of world we want to live in. Also, I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else.

Why should I care? Because I know that we can be much better than we are.

[Daniel Gwynn handwritten signature]