All American Senior Year: Volume One

No Justice, No Peace (Part Three)

The city of Crenshaw had felt the weight of Tamika Pratt. Leaving an eerie deep silence that had been perceived across the city. The streets had been almost near empty with only a few people walking along the sidewalk. Ever since the news of Tamika, Crenshaw hadn't felt the same. Posters were hung on the windows of stores, restaurants, and light posts. With words written across each poster in big bold letters that read "Justice for Tamika". Olivia felt the tension standing outside of Slauson's noticing how quiet the neighborhood had been. Opposite to what it would usually be like on a Tuesday afternoon. With no space to park, the sidewalks would be densely filled with neighbors, friends, and people passing by. Stopping abruptly to converse with the friends they passed. But as Olivia stood just outside of the restaurant waiting for Kia, the neighborhood hadn't felt the same. It was quiet as the air had felt dense, heavy even.

"What about this weekend? Why not? The city is doing what now? I can't believe this. Okay we'll talk later I gotta go," Kia said hanging up the phone. Olivia walked over to Kia giving her a hug. "Hey, Liv, thanks for coming," Kia said. "It's no problem. Thank you for asking me. This is important to me too," Olivia said. Kia grunted frustrated as she let out a sigh. "Who were you on the phone with?" Olivia asked. "Uncle Flip. The second rally that we were going to do on Saturday has been postponed. He's been hearing word from the street that it's not safe. The last thing I need is for the rally to turn out unsafe for the people that show up. It was supposed to be peaceful like the one we did a few days back, and yet the city got word about it and supposedly is sending cops to patrol the streets. We might even be put on a curfew which is total bs," Kia said. "I don't get how they could do that if it's peaceful?" Olivia asked. Kia shook her head. "Liv they see us with the intent that we are already up to no good. Even if it is peaceful they see us as criminals finding any excuse to break the law. More like giving them an excuse to harass us,". "I've been noticing how quiet it has been since the rally," Olivia said.

Kia looked around to the near-empty neighborhood when she sighed. "It hasn't been the same. It's been pretty quiet in the streets. This is during the day, but at night, it's a ghost town. We don't really know what happened or why it's taken the police this long to show us the video. I mean we still haven't seen it and it's already been days. Everything is up in the air and even for these rallies we're trying to put together, it's pretty hard not knowing anything really," Kia said. Olivia shook her head. "What's the point in holding the footage? Like what satisfaction do they get for holding it without the public seeing it?". Kia shrugged.

"Could be a number of things honestly. It's hard to say but sometimes it takes days to investigate, other times when the police are in the wrong they don't want to release it, hoping in a few days everything will just blow over and it's no big deal,". Olivia crossed her arms shaking her head. "It is a big deal. It's just unfair that again they hold the power over whether or not we get to see the video. They are hiding the truth from us because they know very well they are in the wrong," Olivia said. "Most likely the point it's taking them days. Besides I heard it fell between jurisdictions so the case is being sent around between two different offices. Your mom's office might end up with the case," Kia said. "My mom?" Olivia asked.

Kia nodded. "Yeah, uncle flip knows some people that gave him the intel on what's been happening. Or else we'd be in the dark. Its kind of like the police department is trying to sweep it under the rug and send it to another department so they don't take the fall," Kia said. "Can they do that?" Olivia asked. Kia shrugged. "Honestly Liv, they can do anything at this point. It's unfair, yet somehow they keep getting away with it. Murder after murder. The cops get to go free while we are left terrified that we are next. With no justice insight and our words left unspoken until another innocent murder happens. It's happened time and time again. The problem is now it's happened in our city and I'd be damned if I'm going to sit back and watch them get away with it," Kia said. "Have you talked to your mom to see if she knows anything?".

Olivia rolled her eyes. "We are not in the best of talking terms these days. Even if we were she wouldn't be able to say anything. I asked her if she could come on my podcast a few days ago, and she denied it saying she couldn't discuss the case. She's been on edge lately,". Kia bit her lip when she nodded. "Yeah...I don't know, that's pretty tough,". "Since we can't rally what's our next options?" Olivia asked. Kia opened the door to Slauson's when she thought for a moment. "We are the generation that could not only use our voice in person but also online. Actions speak louder than words and right now the police are showing their true colors. We are going to have to start going to social media and sharing our voices. Demanding for them to release the video and hold that officer accountable," Kia said. Olivia nodded. "We can't let them win. We can't normalize this,". Kia agreed the moment the both of them ran into Mo.

"Hey Kia, I just want to thank you for the rally we put together a few days ago for Tamika. The family is very grateful to have a young girl like you pull the community together. Even if it wasn't the turnout we were expecting. We still were able to make enough noise to get the local news to broadcast us," Mo said when she smiled before turning towards Olivia. "Olivia right? My name's Monique but you could call me Mo. I love your podcast. I think it's wonderful that two young women are fighting for justice and curving the way for young girls that come after you to follow in your footsteps. It's really beautiful to see, and I'm thankful to have the two of you helping the community. I just don't know how your mom's okay with it. Being that she's the D.A on this case," Mo said when Olivia's smile faded.

"I thought the case was still being decided?". Mo shook her head. "Not after today, it's all over the news. Your mom's office is taking over the case. They have the body-cam footage and they won't release it. Says a lot about your mother,". Olivia's mouth parted when her eyebrows tensed the moment everyone's phone rang. Notifications popped up on their screens notifying them of the latest press conference. The Los Angeles police department was live on television holding a press conference discussing Tamika's case.

The owner of the restaurant turned on the television to the news station. Everyone's eyes darted towards the television, while the police chief was on-screen standing before the podium. "Good afternoon everyone my name is James Matthews, I'm the police chief of the Crenshaw police department. This past week, one of our officers was involved in an incident involving a young woman who lost her life due to a fatal shooting. Our condolences goes out to the family. As of right now, this case is being handed over to the Los Angeles police department for further investigation. We are doing everything in our power to help the Los Angeles police department gather any information they need to continue their investigation, thank you," police chief James Matthews walked off stage as the reporters started to ask questions.

"Wheres the video? Why are you guys hiding the footage? Is the officer going to be apprehended for his actions?" The reporters called out as the conference switched back to the newscaster. The people in the restaurant groaned when Mo turned back towards Olivia and Kia. "And these are the people that are supposed to be protecting us? Giving us a press conference with no real answers? Says a lot about this department. It took them almost a week to come out and say these lies that we already knew about. We want to know the truth and they are wrong for hiding it from us," Mo said.

Olivia stayed quiet as her blood boiled in anger. She'd been frustrated at the police department for not taking Tamika's case seriously, and at her mother for not taking a stand against the department. She'd felt sick to her stomach, as her emotions ran through her. Olivia thought back to how closely similar her incident was to Tamika's. The only difference was that Olivia had a mother that had been a D.A. Saving her and her friends time and time again from the run in's with the cops. Olivia knew if her mother wasn't there to save her, it could've been her or Spencer on the news. She'd felt frustrated knowing there was only one person to confront. "Hey, Kia I'm sorry but I think I should go," Olivia said. Her mind raced and with every thought, she'd become angrier. "No, yeah you should go. We could meet up in a few days," Kia said. Searching her eyes, she grabbed Olivia's hand.

"Hey, you okay?". Olivia's face went pale as the blood rushed from her head. Her eyebrows tensed when she gave a slight nod. "Yeah, I just need to go. I'll call you later?" Olivia asked. Kia gave her a slight smile. "Sure, we can brainstorm ideas,". Olivia exited Slauson's making her way back home. If there was one person she needed to talk to about the case was the same person who's working in the same department the case is being investigated in. Even though they weren't on the best of terms, Olivia knew she needed to confront her mother.