Adriana Younge has brought us together and we must not defile her memory through vicious and disgusting attacks

Dear Editor,

Red Thread stands in solidarity with the family, relatives and friends of eleven-year-old Adriana Younge. The outpouring that this child’s death has generated shows how deeply this has affected us.  We came out – and we must continue to come out – peacefully and vociferously in our numbers across race, gender, geography, class, age, and religion to demand justice for Adriana, to insist on answers, to voice our distrust of the Guyana Police Force and to hold them accountable – and not only in relation to this most recent tragedy. 

Adriana’s death has hit the core of all of us and it forced us into immediate action. This has shown us how powerful and strong we can be when we stand together with one voice against wrongdoing, and when we stand together for justice and for a caring society in which our children can be safe. Together we can ensure the necessary changes to make a system that has no respect for the ordinary citizen work for us. 

While we support and participate in peaceful protests (most recently outside the office of the police commissioner this past Monday), we categorically reject and condemn the horrific and cowardly acts of violence meted out to the children and teachers on the East Coast and the attacks in other communities. We categorically reject and condemn every act of looting and destruction that has taken place. 

Let us be absolutely clear. You cannot support justice and honour Adriana Younge by attacking children, women and men and by looting and robbing. This is a disgrace. This is against and not for life. Those responsible for these vicious and disgusting attacks must be found and must also face justice. 

To use the occasion of legitimate protest for a violent and destructive agenda is to defeat the purpose we set out to achieve, which is to ensure that justice is served for Adrianna, and therefore for all of us across race and community. We call on everyone to be vigilant.  Let us keep our focus on demanding answers and accountability from the powers that be. 

We want justice! And our path to get it must model the kind of society we can only build together, in which no one is above the law, and in which all our children know they are safe and cared for and loved. We owe Adriana Younge nothing less. We weep with her family and loved ones. We will continue to stand with them.

Sincerely,

Joy Marcus

Susan Collymore

Wintress White

Halima Khan

Roshawana Pilgrim

Maeve Ramsay

For Red Thread