Video of 9 year old Asean Johnson has taken off over the web, after he took the podium and energized a crowd, organized to protest the closing of more Chicago city public schools. In the video young Asean passionately explains why his school, Marcus Garvey Elementary should not be closed.
Asean is definitely not alone in his passion or concern about violence in the streets of Chicago. Just over this weekend alone 17 people were shot in Chicago. Chicago is heavily plagued with gangs and violence. The mayor could not have selected a worst time to close 50 schools in our communities. We are tired of being forgotten and so are our young ones.
In my opinion, our children are going to suffer we are going to lose even more of our young people. I am not sure how Mayor Emmanuel will rest at night when that blood is on his hands. So to hear the passion in this young man with no script, no memorization of what he was to say just his raw honest emotions mirror all of ours. How can a decision so heavy, that affects so many, be made so hastily?
It is my hope more children are allowed to speak. They need to be heard. Out of the mouth of babes. It does look like racism, based on the schools targeted. It makes sense that the conclusion we all come to is that the Mayor simply doesn’t care about us. He is failing children and our communities The elementary school I graduated from was on the original school closing list and it was saved at the last minute because I’m sure the current gang war in that neighborhood played a major role.
The violence and lack of prevention of it it is simply devastating. I applaud this young man. His fire and passion at such a young age is urgently needed. We all need to stand with him and continue to fight the powers that be, defend our children and unite as one for a quality education for our babies!
BMWK family please view the video of Asean below and let us know your thoughts in the comment section! This video will give you chills.