WHEREAS, It is with great sadness that members of this chamber learned of the death of Demetrius Griffin, Jr. on September 17, 2016 at the age of fifteen; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by the Honorable Emma Mitts, Alderman of the 37th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Demetrius, known as Nunnie, was the youngest of two children, his mother's only son,
WHEREAS, Nunnie, was a freshman at Steinmetz Academic High School, a lover of all animals, dogs being his favorite, and a typical teenager that did not participate in gangs , did not steal, smoke or drink and everyone spoke highly of; and
WHEREAS, With this brief look into his life, it is sad and heartbreaking that someone stole this young life full of promise in the early morning hours of September 17, 2016 when, for the first time, Nunnie did not meet curfew. Two blocks from home, Nunnie's body was found burning in a trash bin, changing the world for his loved ones; and
WHEREAS, This resolution is not to only focus on Demetrius, but all African-Americans who've lost their lives and their loved ones who are still grieving their familial losses caused by incomprehensible, heinous crimes.
WHEREAS, According to the most recent figures, from accredited resources such as Time Magazine, The Chicago Tribune and CNN, the homicide rate towards African-Americans has reached its highest, including but not limited to, the death of Demetrius Griffin Jr., who was fatally burned alive, at the young age of 15 - an age where our children are supposed to be enjoying life in all of its innocence and glory
WHEREAS, We all understand that we may never see Demetrius and others that have perished again. We may never see justice unfold nor a decrease in senseless murders that have taken the lives of our people and we may never get the chance to be seen in a brighter light than the dull one that is typically shown of our people, but what we do know is that we live in a country that stands strong in its decree ...
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