“Mom, I’m shot!”–Sandra Parks
Remember Sandra Parks. One of the more recent tragic episodes in gun violence highlights inner-city crime with this heart-breaking story. Just this past week, for example, sitting in her home in Milwaukie, Wisconsin, a stray bullet took Sandra’s life. As a 6th grader Sandra penned an essay in a city-wide school competition. The annual contest honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Beside her tragic death, what makes Sandra noteworthy: She received 3rd place for her essay on gun violence!
Remember Sandra Parks for the tragic irony of her death. In an effort to keep the memory of Dr. King alive, Sandra challenged her generation to uphold his goal: we shall overcome. Sandra wanted to see faith and hope for a better tomorrow. But, she admitted, she fails to see it. Instead, she sees “examples of chaos almost every day” and “little children” who become victims of “senseless gun violence.”
Two Truths
Remember Sandra Parks for her two truths:
1. We must care about each other. We can do this, she says, through empathy, reducing nasty comments, and loving ourselves and those around us.
2. We have to have purpose which she saw as education, the means to making the world a better place. “We will become the next President, law enforcement officers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, and law makers.” Therefore, she concludes “it is our responsibility as future leaders.”
“I miss her a lot,” says her mother. “I can’t go anywhere without crying.
Cold Facts
How did this happen? we wonder. How could it? One man was charged with several counts. But cold facts don’t matter. What counts is remembering Sandra’s young life and her effort to make a difference in reducing gun violence.
Sandra deserves our attention and our memory, even our grief, both for herself and as representative of the many young people whose lives are lost each year to gun violence. A Go-Fund-Me account exists to help the family with funeral expenses.
How To Remember Sandra Parks
- Read Sandra’s 6th grade essay: “Our Truth”
- Pray for Sandra’s mother and family for God to comfort
- Donate to Sandra’s Go-Fund-Me Account.
Sandra Parks’ Essay
[Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/teen-who-wrote-award-winning-essay-on-gun-violence-was-shot-and-killed-by-stray-bullet]
