An all too common tragedy

In 1970, when I was a mere 9 year old child, I was told my father was killed at the age of 33, three days shy of his next birthday. I didn't understand the story or the facts and as a young adult went to the New York Public library to find answers from news stories to no avail. When I started asking questions I was told my father who is Afro Latino and an Army Veteran, was out with his brothers celebrating his birthday. Somehow there was a misunderstanding and my father was shot in the back by a police officer. In my early twenties, I found his death certificate and it stated "bullet entry in back." That was enough proof for me this was another execution and a common story that exists forty years later. I couldn't comprehend how a Toy maker who survived the war was shot in the back by a police officer who was trained to serve and protect. Despite the trials and tribulations of what happened back then, I buried myself in books, excelled in school and received educational scholarships. My belief is I graduated from law school so that I could find justice for others so no one would endure the tragedy of losing a parent and to break the cycle of lacking an education. While in Law School I learned so much especially from reknown law professor Muhammed Kenyatta who taught us about Civil Rights and the Law. I am the first to graduate University and Law school despite my mother having a third grade education and having to raise four children on her own after the tragic death of my father. She encouraged me to educate myself and find the opportunities she did not have and so I listened, worked hard and persevered. Today I am triggered by the media and all the tragedies that occur where Black and Afro Latino men and women are being murdered by the excessive force of some police officers. As a former NYC prosecutor some of my best witnesses were police officers and despite what happened to my father, I strongly believe there are good individuals who are unfortunately brainwashed by a corrupt system. Thank you for allowing me to share my story.