Say Her Name - Sonya Massey

It’s safe to say, we are witnessing the downfall of America. If we aren’t witnessing two old white men roast each other on TV, we are seeing people lose their lives unfairly. It’s always the same story: innocent black people are seen as ‘threatening’ by white police officers, eventually being murdered by them. Then we see the internet pick apart the case, reposting videos of the incidents, demanding for some form of justice. It’s a heartbreaking cycle, and Sonya Massey recently fell victim to it.

Sonya Lynaye Wilburn-Massey. A name that must be remembered. The name of a woman who had a history of mental illness. The name of a woman who called the police for help, but within thirty minutes, was dead.

After a call regarding reports of a prowler by her home, the officers had checked her garden and the surrounding areas. With this search being clear, they entered her house, ordering her to turn off the stove where a pot of water was boiling.

To this, Sonya spoke about ‘rebuking’ the officers, ‘in the name of Jesus,’ but was fatally shot in the head.

Now let’s remember, Sonya has a history of mental health troubles. But regardless of whether she was having some form of episode, instead of supporting this woman, or calling for backup (if they really believed she was a threat), they murdered her.

Sean Grayson. A name that should also be remembered, but for differing reasons.

The now-terminated Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy has been indicted on three counts of first-degree murder. Yet again begging the question as to why was a gun, the first response? Simply distancing himself would have sufficed, potentially even tazing at most.

Sean’s disciplinary file shows he has a history of bullying individuals, abusing his power, lying and misconduct. If only people had identified his red flags and aggressive behaviour prior.

Malachi Hill Massey and Jeanette Massey are now left without a mother, because a man decided that shooting their mother in the head, was a justified response. Sonya will never again do her children’s hair, or spend time with her loved ones – things she is said to have adored doing.

May I add, prior to the horrific situation, Sonya had told the two officers that she loved them, thanking them. This further evidencing the claims or just how beautiful of a human she was.

And this isn’t a one-off problem. There is a real history of violence against Black people in America. We remember George Floyd and the entire cultural reset we witnessed with the Black Lives Matter movement. Lives are taken, their names pointless, just ending up as statistics.

These are people’s parents, their children, their siblings. Unfortunately, we must refine these lives to being someone’s family member to highlight just how critical the situation is.

According to data from the Mapping Police Violence project, Black Americans are three times more likely to be killed by police than White Americans. As well as this, they are more likely to experience use of force during police encounters, as shown by a report from the U.S. Department of Justice.

This disparity raises critical questions about the motivations and practices of law enforcement, showing an alarming systemic bias.

Change is not only necessary; it is imperative. To address police violence, we must prioritise comprehensive police reform. This includes calls for defunding the police and shifting resources toward community programs that address social issues like mental health, housing, and education.

Additionally, instituting policies that focus on de-escalation tactics and diverting non-violent offenders away from the criminal justice system could significantly reduce the violence inherent in police encounters.

We could start to see a real change by implementing robust training focused on cultural competency and implicit bias can help equip law enforcement officers with the tools they need to better serve all communities. We need effective oversight and accountability measures that ensure officers who engage in violent or discriminatory behaviour face consequences for their actions.

In an era where conversations about police reform and accountability have taken centre stage, the tragic death of Sonya Massey should serve as a harrowing reminder of the systemic failures that continue to take lives. Sonya is not just another statistic; instead, a stark representation of the desperate need for reform in law enforcement practices, particularly when it comes to mental health and people of colour.

Sonya Massey should not be remembered only as a victim of police violence but as a symbol of the urgent changes we must implement to ensure that such tragedies become a thing of the past. It is crucial to keep her story alive, to speak her name, and to highlight her humanity. She was a person with dreams, aspirations, and a right to live—a right that was taken away from her too soon.

To give her the voice she no longer has.

Say her name. Sonya Lynaye Wilburn-Massey.