Loyola Stritch Medical Students Participate in National Justice Action
The
following remarks were delivered by first year student, Kamaal Jones at a
“die-in” on December 10, 2014 in the Atrium of the Loyola University Chicago
Stritch School of Medicine. This event was part of a nation-wide day of action at medical schools calling
attention to the need to become a more just and inclusive society toward
persons of color. The staged “die-in” specifically expressed solidarity with
all seeking justice for deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. This action
was student-led and coordinated by Chizelle Rush.
Good afternoon, my name is Kamaal Jones and I am a first
year medical student here at Stritch. I first would like to briefly acknowledge
all those involved in making today happen, specifically Chizelle Rush, who
really took the lead in mobilizing and organizing us for this event.
Today we, along with over 1000 medical students across the
nation, are here to stand in solidarity with the recent protests which have
captivated our country. For those who may lack some familiarity, these
demonstrations have been born from a long history of issues with racial
profiling and police violence in our society, and specifically, the grossly
disproportionate levels at which the lives of Black and Brown people are taken
by officers in this nation. The tipping point which has served as the catalyst
for these most recent events was the August 9th killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown by a police officer in
Ferguson, Missouri, as well as the July 17th killing of an unarmed man named Eric Garner by an NYPD officer in
Staten Island, NY. In both of these incidents, Grand Jury’s decided not to seek
any charges against the officers.
We are here today because we recognize that these acts have
not happened within a bubble. What we are witnessing now are the continued
ripple effects of a dark history of oppression and aggression,that has left no
generation of Americans untouched and has socialized us all, to in many ways
and often subconsciously, fear that which we identify as Blackness. These
learned biases have lead to a distorted and reduced perception of the value of
Black lives. It is uncomfortable. But it is our reality.
Further, we give recognition to the fact that this is not
all police officers-- it is about a system. We additionally recognize that such
biases are not relegated to the criminal justice system. In fact they have
trickled into and permeated every aspect of our society. The same biases and
prejudices which have been shown to be dangerous when affiliated irresponsibly
with a badge, can be just as dangerous when affiliated irresponsibly with a
white coat. The taking of life, in all of its forms, is a heinous act and one
which we as society can no longer stand for. But the pain of such an incident
becomes that much more magnified when it is carried out by someone who has been
sworn to protect us or to heal us, and when time and time again, there are no
institutional repercussions or ramifications in place.
Therefore, if the established system refuses to make an
indictment, today, as a society, we indict ourselves. We indict ourselves as a
medical community, for the creation of a system which fails to protect people
of color. On this day begins a shift towards a new paradigm. One in which we
openly recognize the troubled history of this nation’s past, acknowledge the
present privilege and responsibility that comes with wearing these White Coats,
and pledge ourselves to create a future in which the lives of all people, are
held at a high and equivalent value within our society.
As today is recognized as International Human Rights Day, it is only fitting to end with an excerpt from the Declaration of Professional Responsibility:
Medicine’s Social Contract with Humanity. It reads,
“today, our profession must reaffirm its historical commitment to combat
natural and man-made assaults on the health and well-being of humankind. Only
by acting together across geographic and ideological divides can we overcome
such powerful threats. Humanity is our patient." Thank you.
