Remember His Name: Vigil for Jordan Edwards

On Saturday, April 29th, 2017, fifteen year old High School freshman Jordan Edwards was fatally shot and killed by a police officer as he and a group of friends were driving away from a party. Police officers initially stated that upon arriving to the scene of the party, gunshots were heard and the car that Jordan was in was backing towards them “aggressively,” prompting the officer to fire into the vehicle, striking and killing Jordan. Monday, after body camera footage was reviewed, this was found to not be true, and the police chief of Balch Springs, Jonathan Haber, even stated that the shooting “did not meet the core values” of their department. In other words, it should not have happened, and Jordan Edwards should still be alive today.

Unfortunately, it did, and another family is now grieving a life taken far too soon. Edwards was a straight A student and athlete who was loved by both his family and his peers, and on Thursday, May 4th, 2017, we will come together as a community to honor him and his memory with a candlelight vigil at Virgil T. Irwin Park in Balch Springs, just a few blocks away from where this tragedy took place. Faith leaders Pastor Michael Waters, Iman Omar Suleiman, Rabbi Elana Zelony, Pastor Michael Bowie, Dr. Irie Lyn Session, and Pastor William Carlsie will be in attendance to speak and offer words of prayer. Mother’s Against Police Brutality are an odficial sponsor of this event.

It is heartrending that yet again, we must come together as a community to mourn the taking of a life so young by people who are supposed to protect and to serve. But we will come together in a show of solidarity with the family and community mourning the loss of this bright young light.