Niece of Rayshard Brooks describes her family's pain after uncle’s death
Chassidy Evans, niece of Rayshard Brooks, a black man who was killed by an Atlanta police officer on Friday, talked during a press conference on Monday about the pain her family is going through, and that they are pleading for justice and change.
Video Transcript
CHASTITY EVANS: My Uncle Rayshard. On June 12, one of our biggest fears became our reality. Not only did we lose another black, unarmed male, this time it landed on our front doorstep. Blessing, Memory, and Dream will never get to see their father again. Not only was he a girl dad, he was a loving husband, caring brother, and, most importantly to me, a uncle I could depend on. Rayshard Brooks was silly. He had the brightest smile and the biggest heart and loved to dance since we were kids.
Me and my uncle are both 27 years of age, 27 years of age. No one walking this green earth expects to be shot and killed like trash in the street for falling asleep in a drive-thru. Rayshard has a family who loves him, who would've gladly came and got him, so he could be here with us today.
The day after-- after my uncle's murder, his oldest daughter is set for her father, in her birthday dress, to come and take her skating, and to look across the room and know that is never a possibility anymore breaks my heart. Me and my family are still grieving the loss of my grandmother when my uncle's life was a horrifically taken away from us. Not only are we hurt, we are angry. When does this stop?
We're not only pleading for justice, we're pleading for change. Zone 3, where my uncle was killed, is the same zone we've represented and loved all our lives. We stood with the Atlanta Police Department when they were just tearing up our city and said, this doesn't happen here. Leave them alone. And here we are three weeks later. Those same police took something away from our family that we'll never get back, Rayshard Brooks.
Most of us haven't slept or eaten since we viewed a video of a man being murdered to only get a phone call moments later to tell you it's your loved one. This entire situation has traumatized me and my entire family I'm sure for the rest of our lives.
My uncle did not die in vain. His life mattered. George Floyd's life mattered. Breonna Taylor's life mattered. Michael Brown's life mattered. Sandra Bland's life mattered. I'm not only asking the city of Atlanta to stand with us, I'm asking for everyone in this nation to stand with us as we seek justice for Rayshard. Thank you.
