Our family and Jack’s friends response to the murder has been to form a foundation, Jack Shockley Warriors for Peace to address gun violence in our city. We provide scholarships to inner city students with mentors throughout high school. We partner with organizations working on the ground to bring change. As white middle class suburban we face the challenge your father faced on the night we lost Martin Luther King to gun violence. And our foundation embraces those same values- fighting for justice for those marginalized and left behind. We embrace peacemaking one person at a time beginning with ourselves and our personal commitments to forgive and grow beyond the forces that divide and stir up hatred. The example of your father and Martin Luther King Jr continue to inspire!
My son, Jack Shockley, was murdered by a young black man August 12, 2020. It was the summer of rage, protest and “racial reckoning” after the shocking death of George Floyd. It was not that long ago but it is hard to remember the anger that turned violent in many of our nation’s cities. Indianapolis experienced destruction of life and property as anger, hatred and violence were unleashed and our civil leaders failed the moment. After the assasination of Dr King Jr, Indianapolis had the tremendous grace of benefiting from the leadership of your father. The young man who targeted and shot him at close range was born into a gang. The most notorious gang in Indianapolis. He has 6 children by 5 women. Those children will grow up without their father as he will spend the next 60 years in prison.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” ... “The silence of good people is more dangerous than the brutality of bad people.” .... “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
. . .
What stance would MLK have taken on the charge of Gaza genocide brought against Israel by South Africa at the ICJ? As with the Vietnam War, I think MLK would not have remained silent, would have stood for justice and peace instead of siding with those dropping the bombs on defenseless people.
"King’s advisers pleaded with him not to speak out [against the Vietnam War] and argued that the political costs would be too high. … But King ultimately broke with his advisers and President Johnson. … In the days and weeks after, he would lose masses of supporters, Black and white alike. He lost hard-earned political allies, including President Johnson. King was also shunned and denounced by 168 newspapers that questioned King’s failure to condemn the enemy … King had no regrets. … For King, a preacher at heart, silence had become betrayal."
"Most poignantly in that 1967 speech at Riverside Church, King detailed the devastating costs of the Vietnam War and described the millions of children and women who were killed by American bombs and bullets and the poor masses who were spared slaughter only to face a slow, painful death by disease and starvation. Then King called for a cease-fire."
"King’s words resonate today. Unlike in King’s time, 61% of potential voters support a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Anti-war protests abound across the nation and around the world. How can the U.S., as King would ask the nation, move forward from here? … In the 1960s, King grappled with this very question. On the one hand, he felt a deep solidarity with the Jewish struggle against persecution, and on the other hand, he rejected the violent occupation of Palestinian lands that would run counter to the noble cause."
"But as the life of King reminds us, speaking out for justice can be costly. Yet he would also say that the cost of remaining silent is far greater."
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." --Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This is why RFK Jr. lost my support. Tired of U.S. politics as usual, I want a true leader who stands on principle when needed, despite considerations of realpolitik and the threat of dark powers in DC. Without this choice, I can only exercise "democracy" with a write-in on a ballot filled with owned clowns who, when hard-pressed, hoist Skull and Crossbones over the ship of state.
Our family and Jack’s friends response to the murder has been to form a foundation, Jack Shockley Warriors for Peace to address gun violence in our city. We provide scholarships to inner city students with mentors throughout high school. We partner with organizations working on the ground to bring change. As white middle class suburban we face the challenge your father faced on the night we lost Martin Luther King to gun violence. And our foundation embraces those same values- fighting for justice for those marginalized and left behind. We embrace peacemaking one person at a time beginning with ourselves and our personal commitments to forgive and grow beyond the forces that divide and stir up hatred. The example of your father and Martin Luther King Jr continue to inspire!
My son, Jack Shockley, was murdered by a young black man August 12, 2020. It was the summer of rage, protest and “racial reckoning” after the shocking death of George Floyd. It was not that long ago but it is hard to remember the anger that turned violent in many of our nation’s cities. Indianapolis experienced destruction of life and property as anger, hatred and violence were unleashed and our civil leaders failed the moment. After the assasination of Dr King Jr, Indianapolis had the tremendous grace of benefiting from the leadership of your father. The young man who targeted and shot him at close range was born into a gang. The most notorious gang in Indianapolis. He has 6 children by 5 women. Those children will grow up without their father as he will spend the next 60 years in prison.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” ... “The silence of good people is more dangerous than the brutality of bad people.” .... “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
. . .
What stance would MLK have taken on the charge of Gaza genocide brought against Israel by South Africa at the ICJ? As with the Vietnam War, I think MLK would not have remained silent, would have stood for justice and peace instead of siding with those dropping the bombs on defenseless people.
https://spokesman-recorder.com/2024/01/15/martin-luther-king-jr-s-vietnam-war-stance-offers-lessons-for-peace-in-the-middle-east/
"King’s advisers pleaded with him not to speak out [against the Vietnam War] and argued that the political costs would be too high. … But King ultimately broke with his advisers and President Johnson. … In the days and weeks after, he would lose masses of supporters, Black and white alike. He lost hard-earned political allies, including President Johnson. King was also shunned and denounced by 168 newspapers that questioned King’s failure to condemn the enemy … King had no regrets. … For King, a preacher at heart, silence had become betrayal."
"Most poignantly in that 1967 speech at Riverside Church, King detailed the devastating costs of the Vietnam War and described the millions of children and women who were killed by American bombs and bullets and the poor masses who were spared slaughter only to face a slow, painful death by disease and starvation. Then King called for a cease-fire."
"King’s words resonate today. Unlike in King’s time, 61% of potential voters support a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Anti-war protests abound across the nation and around the world. How can the U.S., as King would ask the nation, move forward from here? … In the 1960s, King grappled with this very question. On the one hand, he felt a deep solidarity with the Jewish struggle against persecution, and on the other hand, he rejected the violent occupation of Palestinian lands that would run counter to the noble cause."
"But as the life of King reminds us, speaking out for justice can be costly. Yet he would also say that the cost of remaining silent is far greater."
A question -- how many independents and Democrat voters will vote in New Hampshire for -- Trump?
Out of their total disgust with DNC + state security cabal...
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." --Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This is why RFK Jr. lost my support. Tired of U.S. politics as usual, I want a true leader who stands on principle when needed, despite considerations of realpolitik and the threat of dark powers in DC. Without this choice, I can only exercise "democracy" with a write-in on a ballot filled with owned clowns who, when hard-pressed, hoist Skull and Crossbones over the ship of state.
I bet no GOP candidate mentions Dr. King...just guessing