The Dead Queen, The Dead King/Royal Family & Black Lives Matter in London

The Dead Queen, The Dead King/Royal Family & Black Lives Matter in London

Mere days before Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8 (September 5), London, UK Metropolitan Police Force (the MET) encountered a car that had been flagged as having been involved in a gun crime (for most, the mere possession of a gun in the UK is a crime).  After a short chase, MET officers boxed the driver of the car (an Audi) in the Streatham Hill district of South London.  With little warning, a MET officer fired a gun into the driver’s side of the car.  The shot struck and killed 24-year-old father and aspiring rapper, Christ Kaba (also known as Mad Itch).  Of course, MET officers found no gun.  Furthermore, the Audi that Kaba was driving wasn’t even owned by him.  The MET didn’t inform Kaba’s family for over 11 hours of what had happened.  The family released the following statement not long after being informed of the tragedy, “We are devastated; we need answers, and we need accountability. We are worried that if Chris had not been Black, he would have been arrested on Monday evening and not had his life cut short.”  In the days that have followed, momentum has grown in London to hold the MET accountable for Kaba’s death.  Just yesterday (September 13), thousands of protestors gathered in London demanding justice for Kaba.  In addition to this situation, protestors have also been highlighting the June 4 case of Oladeji Adeyemi Omishore…who was tasered by police and basically forced to jump off London Bridge to his death.  To say the least, a country known for its’ lack of crime certainly seems to have a problem with police brutality.

When I found all this information out, it certainly changed my perception of all of the images around the death of Queen Elizabeth II.  While I think it’s undeniably important to love/show compassion to anyone facing tragedy…the privileged and unprivileged alike…I can’t help but wonder how Chris Kaba or Oladeji Adeyemi Omishore fit into all of this.  The short answer is that they don’t.

The United Kingdom (and for that matter much of the world) only seems to be concerned about the pomp and pageantry.  The only history on display is of course selective/selected history…as I don’t see anyone involved highlighting the violent (often genocidal) history of colonialism.  So as the collective gaze of a people is focused on the casket of Queen Elizabeth II, marchers are in the street demanding justice for Kaba and Omishore.  Such a dichotomous moment presents a spiritual truth.

There was a man hanging out listening to the teachings of Jesus.  From the context of the text, one can assume that the man was rapidly growing more and more interested in the teachings.  One could also fairly surmise that these teachings were everything that the man had been looking for.  Finally, such rapidly progressive interaction culminated in Jesus looking at him and declaring, “Follow me!”  Excitedly, the man replied, “Ok!  But let me go bury my father first.”  Without hesitation, Jesus replied, “Let the dead bury the dead…”

Right now, the London Metropolitan Police Department is giving lip service to doing the right thing “our condolences…” “we’re going to investigate…”. Unfortunately, I’ve heard it all before…here, across the pond.  But the call of justice demands so much more.  It demands our attention…our effort…our lives.  You see…in the midst of the injustices faced by black people in London…the mourning of the city, the United Kingdom and even the world is the dead burying the dead.  Jesus is standing with the families and supporters of Chris Kaba and Oladeji Adeyemi Omishore.  Those who are alive are the ones out in the streets demanding justice.  Without a doubt, the life of Queen Elizabeth II mattered…but not more than the lives of black people.  As the dead continue burying the dead, may we be the vessels of life…specifically as advocates for the lives of our neighbors.

It’s clear that Queen Elizabeth II is dead.  It’s becoming clearer that King Charles III is as well.  It’s also clearer that the rest of the royal family is too.  How can I be so sure?  Because…I’ve yet to hear the names Chris Kaba or Oladeji Adeyemi Omishore proceed forth from their lips.

Amen.

for further info: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/14/chris-kabas-family-demand-body-camera-footage-iopc-investigates