George Floyd's death has brought up painful memories for Atatiana Jefferson's family as they are reliving the trauma they experienced last year.
In response to a question about how we can do better, Noella Jefferson, Atatiana’s stepmother, told CBS DFW we need to “make sure nothing is in vain."
"None of the lives, none of the struggle, none of the problems that have arisen from many of the situations that we’ve seen now across the country," Noella said of the need to find purpose in the wake of these tragedies.
"Make this tragedy a triumph," Lapaca Jefferson, Atatiana’s uncle, said.
Noella is encouraging Black people to protest strategically in addition to participating in marches and gatherings.
"When situations like this arise, there are other means to protest," Noella said. "Use your skills, use your knowledge, use your power, use your wealth to help contribute."
Marquis Jefferson, the father of Atatiana, launched the Atatiana Tay Jefferson Foundation to help communities in need following her death. Jefferson passed away weeks after his daughter's killing, as Blavity previously reported. The foundation is now aiding another organization: Lighting Up 2020. The organization partners high school graduates with community members who can help provide resources and opportunities.
"When you look at the riots you see across the country, it's not just about the death of George Floyd," said Bruce Carter, founder of Lighting Up 2020. "There are people who feel they have no value in the United States. We have never talked about how we financially strengthen those who can then go back to those communities and pass that torch on and that's what it's all about.”
Atatiana’s sisters, Amber and Ashley Carr, have partnered with siblings of other victims of police brutality to create Sisters of the Movement.
“Our common goal is to raise awareness through legislation. To prevent this police brutality from even happening," Ashley told WFAA.
Alissa Findley, Botham Jean’s sister; Tiffany Crutcher, Terence Crutcher’s sister; Victoria Davis, Delrawn Small’s sister; Shante Needham, Sandra Bland’s sister; and Natasha Duncan, Shantel Davis’ sister, are all founding members of the organization.
“Yes, it’s a different name, but it’s the same situation. So, for all of us, it’s very traumatizing to see another person dying at the hands of a police officer," Findley said. ”It is like pouring salt into an open wound every time there is another case."
The group is demanding the “use of force” standard be changed through federal legislation, mandatory investigations of use-of-force cases that end in death or injury, the abolishment of qualified immunity for police officers and increased oversight of federal money to state and local police departments.
“We would like to be a shoulder for these families,” Ashley said. “Let’s just face the fact. We keep saying these hashtags just keep continuing. So, we don’t want people to feel like they are alone. We are all in this fight together.”
