On April 29, 2017, Officer Roy Oliver shot a rifle into a car full of unarmed teenagers leaving a party in Balch Springs, Texas, killing 15-year-old Jordan Edwards. Oliver then lied in an attempt to cover up the murder, saying the car was backing up toward him.
Police officers usually don’t get convicted for the murders they commit, but millions of ordinary citizens organized to call for media attention and Oliver’s arrest.
Although the police chief eventually recanted his original statement that the boys were aggressively reversing toward the officers, the public was still fed a lie intended to demonize Black youth.
By mischaracterizing their victims, police frequently succeed in justifying their actions. So, to combat that, many articles written about Jordan Edwards focused on his scholastic endeavors and athletic ability.
But though those details provide a fuller scope of who he was, Jordan deserved life and humanity regardless.
Jordan’s death made many realize how white youth are often seen as “reachable” and redeemable, while Black youth are painted as criminals. The community challenged the cops’ lies and they’re our blueprint as we fight to abolish the police altogether.