CALUMET CITY, Feb 1—Today’s rally marked another year no justice served for the racist murder of Stephon Watts.
Five years ago, on the morning of February 1, 2012, Calumet City kkkops William Coffey and Robert Hynek forcibly entered the home of 15-year-old Stephon Watts and shot him dead in his basement. The Watts family still struggles with the pain of losing their loved one, and the fact that his racist murderers are still free to terrorize other working-class youth and their families. PLP was active in planning the rally that marked the fifth anniversary of his murder, continuing the fight for justice for Stephon and for all other victims of capitalist state violence.
Shot and Killed for being Black with a Butter Knife
To those who knew him best, Stephon is remembered as a vibrant child who loved working with computers. He was diagnosed at an early age with Asperger’s syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. On the morning he was murdered, his father had called 911, as instructed by medical professionals, to deal with an outburst Stephon was having before school.
The two kkkops, both of whom were familiar with Stephon’s condition, pushed their way into the house although Stephon’s father insisted that the situation was under control by that point. Upon seeing Stephon with a butter knife in his hands at the bottom of the stairs, the racist thugs opened fire, killing the youth instantly.
Despite the outrage and tireless fightback of family, workers, and students, the racist courts soon declared the murder justified and threw the case out. While supporting the family in their struggle, the comrades involved have consistently put forward the communist analysis of the class role of the police and the courts under capitalism. The kkkops are the cutting edge of fascism for the capitalist class, who need racist and sexist terror in order to divide and oppress workers and protect their profit system. In the instance that the racist bosses or their kkkops are put on trial, the courts work hand-in-hand with them to ensure that they receive no real punishment for their crimes.
Working-Class Anger Prevails
Two scores of fighters showed up in support of the 5th anniversary rally, the result of extensive planning work of the family, PLP, and various other community organizations. Stephon’s sister kicked off the event by speaking on the memory of her brother and the need to continue the fight on his behalf.
Two kkkops from the Calumet City department had the gall to walk up to Stephon’s mother and offer their “services” for the demonstration. She quickly shouted them down for their racist crimes. The cops scattered off.
After the crowd was fired up, we took to the streets to march on the Calumet City Police Department. PL’ers sharpened the political tone with chants of “White cop, Black cop, all the same! Racist terror is the name of the game!” and “Racism means, we got to fight back! Sexism means, we got to fight back!”
The majority of those present received a copy of Challenge, and we made some new contacts.
Once arriving in front of the police station, different speakers took to the microphone. A teenager with autism gave a moving speech about the daily struggle of living with special needs under capitalism. Two other mothers of Black youth murdered by the kkkops told their stories and echoed the demand for justice. A number of comrades spoke on the bullhorn about the need to reject the latest reform scheme and instead to help organize the fight for revolution. It was empowering for everyone involved to participate in a direct action blasting the racist brutality of the system.
Justice for Stephon means Communism
As communists, we must never hold any illusions about the plans the capitalist bosses have for our youth. The bosses will only offer the majority of us more fascist police terror and racist wars, because that’s what their system needs to survive. Our goal remains to win more and more workers and students to communism, a world where racism will be outlawed and police terror will only be a nightmare of the past. Justice for Stephon! Justice for the international working class!
For more information on Stephon Watts and ways to contribute to the struggle, please visit justiceforstephonwatts.com.