britticisms:

It is not a series of random acts of violence but rather a deep-rooted, complex, complicated epidemic of a problem.

In this CNN article, Ameena Matthews of Cease Fire, a Chicago-based organization founded to curb (not end, mind you) gang violence, said, “That boy tried,” which is maybe the most saddening thing I’ve read concerning the horrific beating and death of 16-year-old Derrion Albert. He tried. He did what you were supposed to do to not become a statistic. He regularly attended church and was on the honor roll and he still didn’t make it. He told adults and other authority figures that he was regularly threatened and that many of his things were stolen and he still didn’t make it. He tried and yet it wasn’t enough. That is what is most upsetting, most heartbreaking.

I just can’t over it. He tried.