Chigoziri Ibechem: Do black lives really matter in Merced?

Black people in America have been trying to explain the constant injustices we face. “Black Lives Matter!” we shout, but instead of trying to understand, we hear “All Lives Matter!” in response.

Yes, all lives matter; but do ours? It doesn’t seem like it, especially not after what happened at Chandelier’s Hookah Lounge in Merced last Sunday.

My friends and classmates witnessed firsthand police brutality and use of excessive force. I wasn’t there, but I saw their tears and felt their heartache as they told me what happened. So while some are justifying the police actions that led to innocent young people being wounded, threatened and slammed on the floor by Merced police, I have a different set of questions.

If black lives really do matter as much as other lives, why are situations like this so common? If black lives really do matter, why were my friends treated as if they were murderers when they were simply trying to have fun?

Finally, if black lives really matter, why are folks so quick to say “police officers are just doing their jobs” rather than asking why black people were treated that way? Maybe black lives do matter, but when I see people trying to rationalize the pain of my friends, it becomes hard to see.

This story was originally published July 14, 2017 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Chigoziri Ibechem: Do black lives really matter in Merced?."