Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 7-12-16 Online Edition

Opinions
Local
Three Killed In Weekend Accident
Residents Voice Opinions About Police Shootings
MICAH JOHNSON ... Alleged gunman
Christopher Stewart and Kathrin Pitock (left), and Brittany Lewis.
On Saturday night, three young people died in a car ac- cident on Highway 98 in Lake- land, just before midnight.
Lakeland Police said Brit- tany Lewis, 24, Christo- pher “CJ” Stewart, 22, and Kathrin “Katie” Pitock, 22, died in the crash.
Police said Stewart was driving north on U.S. 98 near Plaza Drive when Michael Marrero, 26, of Lakeland, lost control of his car, crossed over into the northbound lanes, and hit Stewart’s vehi- cle.
Investigators said Stewart and Pitock died instantly. Lewis died in the hospital.
Michael Marrero was hospitalized, and investigators said he is in stable condition.
A family member reported that the trio were riding to- gether, and Stewart was tak- ing Lewis home at the time of the accident. Stewart and Pitock were dating, and Lewis had been friends with Stewart since high school, po- lice said.
Investigators believe speed was a factor in the crash.
Maintaining Good Family Relationships
Lord, I pray for (name of child) and her (his) relationship with all family members. Protect and preserve them from any unresolved or permanent breach. Fill her (his) heart with Your love and give her (him) an abundance of compassion and forgiveness that will overflow to each member of the family. Specifically, I pray for a close, happy, loving, and fulfilling relationship between (name of child) and (name of family member) for all the days of their lives. May there always be good communication between them and may unforgiveness have no root in their hearts. Help them to love, value, appreciate, and respect one another so that the God-ordained tie between them cannot be broken.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. MATTHEW 5:9
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last Thursday, what began as a peaceful protest in Dallas, Texas turned into a tragedy after a gunman opened fire on police. In the wake of the shooting, five police officers were killed, along with seven other police and two civilians being injured.
The gunman, identified as Micah Johnson died after police used a robot to detonate a bomb. Some Sentinel read- ers voiced their opinions about the shooting. The comments are as follows:
Danny Green said, “I don't think they should be killing police offi- cers because there are some good police officers and there are some bad police officers. My condolences go out to the po-
lice officers’ families.
“But on the other hand,
people are getting tired of Black people getting killed by police officers who are getting away with murder. So, now they start to act out. If they did not let police officers get away with murder you probably wouldn't have this problem. The bottom line, cops need to stop killing Black people.”
Pastor Karen Jackson Sims said, “I am sick- ened that our country has come to this and be- lieve God is not pleased. We've got to get Him back in our homes and families. We have got to pray. Then we have to get up and take a stand. We cannot continue to allow lives to be taken when we have the power
to do something about it. “Guns do not belong in
everyone's hands. What are our lives worth to Congress? It is obvious that they prefer to continue to take money from the NRA than pass laws to pro- tect all our citizens. We must vote in this coming election --- register at any AME church in Tampa. Engage in the political process, make our voices heard and move those dead moun- tains called politicians out.”
Ronnie Moorer said, “What hap- pened Thursday night was just as hor- rific as the two Black men who were killed by cops. Two wrongs don't make it right, because innocent lives were lost in both incidents. We "all" should be treated the same way when being arrested. “Too much frustrations has been built up from these last two killings. I feared this would happen like you and many others, and sadly it hap- pened. One said on TV, “Their worst nightmare had hap-
pened.”
“We need to pray that a
"POSITIVE CHANGE" will come out of this tragedy. There are too many good cops out here protecting us and doing a great job. Thank you TPD!!”
Dr. Samuel Wright said, “I am sad-
dened by
the violence
in any form;
however, we
all must
stop this
killing. I know that Black lives matter, so it is critically impor- tant that our young Black men see the need to stop killing each other. When this hap- pens law enforcement will think twice about killing an- other person of color.
“After seeing the recent video killing of the brother in Baton Rouge, I knew that it
was inevitable that there would be some resistance from folk who have problems with the police. It appears that every- one is not Black either. People are fed up and those of us with Black male children and are Black males ourselves--live continually in fear.
“I pray for the families who have lost their loved ones for their grief must continue to mount after having lost loved ones in this manner. Dr. Mar- tin Luther King said it best, "we must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Ms. Sherna Blair Rich
said, “I re-
member
when I was
a young and
aspiring
journalist,
the movie,
Network, made quite an im- pression upon me, an already developing scathing writer, I was all too wrapped up in and with the main character’s tirade, “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any- more.”
On the one hand, as a Black-American woman in America in the aftermath of two Black men that were gunned down in America, I share the following emotion and response,
“...Sadly, the tragedies that are unfolding before our eyes are just a fraction of the vio- lence that has been happening off camera in our nation for far too long,” Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club.
“On the other hand, as a Christian in the aftermath of the devastating images of five policemen being gunned down in America, this too, also in- vokes injustice. For I know that the whole of this situation nei- ther makes sense nor is it right. It never will be right. When we take matters into our own hands whether black, brown, white, yellow, red, or "blue," we invite God out of the situa- tion.
“So, America, my question is, shall we resoundingly ac- knowledge that our challenge and charge is, “Houston, we have a problem!” Okay, so now, what are we going to do about it? Or better, shall we ask, “What Would Jesus Do?”
TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7