Why Shaneka Thompson's Life Matters

by Thandisizwe Chimurenga

"...One would think that Thompson would receive widespread support and concern for her well-being..."

29-year old Shaneka Thompson was the first victim of Ismaiyil Brinsley, the man alleged to have executed two NYPD officers on Dec. 20. Thompson suffered a 9-millimeter gunshot wound to the abdomen about 8 hours before Brinsley – the man she had been dating for about a year – made his way to New York. She remains in critical condition as of this writing. She is also the starkest example yet of how little Black women’s lives matter to media and the NYPD – those who say their job is to protect and serve – and their union and their supporters.

And that’s because the media, the NYPD, its union and its supporters have seized upon the deaths of NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos not as a tragedy but as an opportunity. This opportunity, evidently too good to pass up, seeks to demonize a legitimate and righteous movement against police terror the likes of which has never before been seen in this country. A movement that rightfully calls into question police policies, practices and procedures, and decries the impunity of police actions.

One would think that Thompson would receive widespread support and concern for her well-being as she could have very easily died by Brinsley’s hands. While Baltimore media did their due diligence in acknowledging her presence, The New York Times didn’t get around to telling her story until approximately two days after officers Liu and Ramos were shot. To my knowledge, neither Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake or New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, NY Police Commissioner Bill Bratton or NY Patrolman’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch have even uttered her name.

One would think that concern about Thompson’s well-being would be leading nightly newscasts since, as a survivor, she is in the best position to provide valuable insight into Brinsley’s motivations. According to the Daily Mail, a United Kingdom-based news organization, Brinsley called Thompson’s mother to apologize for having shot her daughter. Thompson’s relationship with Brinsley, described as “on again-off again,” was obviously substantive and could possibly provide clues to Brinsley’s other relationships.

One would think that as a member of the US military, Thompson would be seen as a comrade-in-arms of law enforcement, a worker whose job description also entails risking her life in various situations. And one would think that as a member of the US military, acknowledgement would be made that Thompson also took an oath to protect and defend. In their rush to demonize this movement, both media and New York police have exalted a local institution – a police department – over that of the United States military.

"The life of Shaneka Thompson matters, even if does not serve the greater police narrative..."

One would think that the story would begin with Thompson – because it actually does – but that actual narrative does not serve the current project to place police and any criticism of them off limits.

Whose Life Really Matters?

Brinsley had a history of aggressive and violent encounters with other women before he shot Thompson at her apartment. Such actions typically foretell of future violent behavior. Given this, one would think that the NYPD’s counterparts in other cities would take a long, hard look at themselves and the role they may have played in this scenario. But that would mean that womens’ lives in general and Black womens’ lives in particular mattered.

According to a timeline provided by the Daily Mail, Baltimore police began monitoring Brinsley’s actions around 6:30 am on Dec. 20 through Thompson’s cell phone which Brinsley stole. They ascertained he was on the way to New York but did not alert police in New York until seven hours later.

One would think that the NYPD and their counterparts in other cities would take a long, hard look at themselves and what may have gone wrong with their policing. The NYPD’s demanding of apologies and delineating themselves as a “wartime’ police department” that “will act accordingly” sounds nothing like self-reflection.

Members of the #BlackLivesMatter movement understand that nationwide protests against police murder and lack of accountability must continue while also acknowledging the loss of life of NYPD officers Liu and Ramos. The NYPD, its union and supporters, as well as the media, have shown by their actions that only police lives matter to them.

The life of Shaneka Thompson matters, even if does not serve the greater police narrative to shut down any and all criticism of police misconduct. Thompson's life matters as part of the current search for justice and accountability; principles that even the NYPD should be able to get behind.

One would think.

Thandisizwe Chimurenga, a freelance journalist based in Los Angeles, CA, covered the trial of Theodore Wafer for the murder of Renisha McBride for Color of Change and Black Agenda Report.

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