A roomful of stray cats, cooped up in the shelter, unwanted, unloved, scared, forgotten by most of us. He also signed an executive order directing the Attorney General, Phil Weiser, to investigate and possibly prosecute the officers involved. But there’s a quote in the Tao Te Ching that gives me some comfort: “What is a good man but a bad man’s teacher? What has his mom said about the cops involved? This time was different. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. He’s speaking to the officer on top of him. I’m sorry. How to Write an Essay about Yourself for a Job? “You are all phenomenal. “I can’t breathe. ( Log Out / Elijah McClain was a massage therapist, a gentle soul who loved to play the violin. I don’t eat meat! When paramedics arrived, they reportedly administered a dose of ketamine to "sedate" McClain and calm his anxiety. I have my ID right here. “Colorado Gov. The Aurora Police Department received a call from a civilian about a "suspicious man" walking around. From powerless to powerful. Someone had called 911 to report a “suspicious person” who was wearing a ski mask and waving his arms. Colorado Music related Elijah to a “quirky, a pacifist, a vegetarian, enjoyed running, and known to put a smile on everyone’s face,” according to UpWorthy. To witness the interaction through Elijah’s words, you realise just how dangerous it is to be judged “abnormal”—particularly as a Black man. I will do anything. The Richmond City Jail as a Component of the American Police State, The Rise and Fall of the Shining Path: Lessons for North American Insurgents, The Subjectivity of Authoritarianism and Special Pleading as Ideology, The Ten Core Demographics of Alternative-Anarchism/Pan-Secessionism, The Thoughts That Guide Me: A Personal Reflection, United States of Mass Murder: Only Mao Killed More, Unity in Diversity and Against War and Statism, Voltairine de Cleyre: Anarchist without Adjectives, Wayne Sturgeon Interviews Wesley Whitman on Distributarianism. Towards an Anarchist Theory of Geopolitics, Are Pan-Anarchism and Pan-Secessionism Enough? This is a largely accurate transcript of what McClain said in a video recording of his encounter with police in August 2019. “Yeah, I’m good,” the officer says shifting his weight. My name is Elijah McClain. To know that this man was pure love and they killed him. 68. I don't do that stuff. Iraq, New Orleans and the Prospects for Armed Struggle. 25 June 2020. I’m sorry.". He was definitely a light in a whole lot of darkness". The drug caused the young man to go into cardiac arrest on his way to the hospital. I have no gun. My name is Elijah McClain. I … An attorney representing McClain's family said the officers involved slammed McClain into a wall immediately after apprehending him. ( Log Out / That’s my house. I have my ID right here. Some medical experts worry about its use during police calls", "Aurora officers on leave after altercation leaves man hospitalized", "Rally in memory of Elijah McClain shows police brutality protests are moving closer to home", "Elijah McClain's Mother Pleads For Concrete Change Following Protests", "Denver artists create murals featuring Elijah McClain, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor", "Thousands gather in Aurora to protest Elijah's McClain's death; tensions rise as evening falls", "Elijah McClain: police use pepper spray to disperse violin vigil", "Cops in Riot Gear Stormed a Violin Vigil for Elijah McClain", "Aurora police hit with federal lawsuit over response to Elijah McClain rally last month", "City of Aurora sued over police response to 'violin vigil' following Elijah McClain death", ABC News video "What happened to Elijah McClain? [8], The body cameras became unattached from the police officer's uniforms during the encounter, but the audio can still be heard. Their lawsuit also demands that the Aurora Police Department stop using chemical agents, stop shooting projectiles indiscriminately into crowds, only allow crowd dispersal when there is an urgent danger to other people, and require all police to have their body cameras on at all times. I’m not showing up—not like Elijah. “2 Million People Signed This Petition Demanding Justice For Elijah McClain.” The officers involved in the incident have reportedly been named as Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema. My name is Elijah McClain. The coroner's report states that McClain was 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m) tall and weighed 140 pounds (64 kg). Aurora Fire Rescue later injected him with ketamine in an attempt to sedate him, police said. I don’t eat meat. By creating an account you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Appoints Special Prosecutor To Reopen Probe Of Elijah McClain Death.” More coverups. You all are phenomenal. I have my ID right here. I will do it. On Aug. 24, 2019, a 23-year-old Black man named Elijah McClain was walking home from the store when he was stopped by police officers in Aurora, Colorado (part of the Denver metropolitan area), after they received a report of a “suspicious person” wearing a ski mask. (crying) Oh, I’m sorry. He also announced an audit on the body cameras of the Aurora Police Department to further investigate how well Aurora police officers comply with body camera policies. degree. "So the less people gonna share his story, the more time they have to get away with murder.". Ow, that really hurt. https://www.thecourierdaily.com/elijah-mcclain-last-words-police-video/21546 I’m just different. All I was trying to do was become better. Leona Ford is a freelance copywriter, originally from Toronto and now living in London with her Brit husband, Sri Lankan street dog, and Siberian cat. Share, post, sign petitions, donate…Do anything you can in this fight for justice #Blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/MSsvaLo9ew, I have my ID right here. The example he set—without ever having any intention of being an example. A year ago today, on Nov. 22, 2019, the Aurora police department announced no charges would be pressed against the three police officers in McClain’s case. I know I’m not one of them. Andy Cross/MediaNewsGroup/The Denver Post via Getty Images. Last August, Elijah McClain was walking home after buying iced tea at a neighborhood convenience store. You all are phenomenal. The Associated Press. But I don’t judge people, I don’t judge people who do eat meat. Elijah McClain’s last words are heart-breaking as the “introvert” repeatedly tells the policemen that he “can’t breathe.” Take a look at the entire verbal communication Elijah had with the officers before suffocating to death. Gandhi said we can judge the moral progress of a nation by how it treats its animals. "All I was trying to do was become better. It’s so obvious from this video that Elijah was a sweet, gentle, innocent soul with a personality that radiates positive energy. Elijah McClain Last Words To Police VIDEO: A Pure Soul Who Played... Rayshard Brooks Shot Dead by Atlanta Police, Who is Joyette Holmes? Elijah McClain was a massage therapist who played violin for shelter kittens on his lunch break in his hometown of Aurora, Colorado, because he thought the animals were lonely.