If I played a role in a bank robbery along with three other people, got caught and testified against my accomplices to save myself, that’s what you’d call snitching.
Not only am I guilty, but I’m selling out others to protect my own neck. Those are the actions of a snitch.
Zurana Horton, a mother of 12 with another child on the way, was gunned down in broad daylight outside a Brooklyn, NY public school last week. Zurana was unfortunately caught in the crossfire while protecting students from a rooftop gunman who opened fire on a rival gang member.
The section of Brooklyn known as Brownsville is considered one of the most violence stricken neighborhoods in New York City. While the community mourned Zurana, witnesses to the shooting refused to cooperate with the police, fearing being labeled a snitch or suffering retaliation from the gang members.
When will people realize that it’s not about snitching, but about not letting someone become another unsolved statistic? When you stay silent, you’re only hurting yourself and your fellow man.
After Zurana was killed, community leaders rallied for an emotional vigil in honor of the slain mother. They shouted and chanted:
“It’s not snitching, it’s saving a life, we are tired of going to funerals, it’s gotta stop.”
And they are right, as I was putting the finishing touches on this blog post, an 18-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with Zurana’s shooting. The NYPD received a tip which lead to the arrest.
The message is clear, if you want to save a life, you must stop the silence and speak up. It’s the right way to end the vicious circle of violence.
I post stories like Zurana’s on my Facebook page from time to time and most of my friends will comment and say things like:
“We should stop taking it to the police because they don’t give a fu*k about us.”
I often reply, telling them it’s not the police or cops fault, it’s our responsibility, this is our doing. We can’t put this one on the police this time, it’s time to stop killing ourselves.
We have to lead this young generation in the right direction. Otherwise they end up dying a horrible death like Zurana or worse, they become her killer.
–S.G.
