Magazine, The Immigrant Experience, #STOPTHEHATE
In a devastating incident that unfolded in Florida, Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens, a black Nigerian-born mother of four, lost her life when she was shot through the front door by a white neighbor. The shooting occurred as Owens attempted to retrieve an iPad taken from her child, according to civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
During a news conference, Owens’ family, friends, and community leaders joined civil rights attorney Ben Crump in expressing gratitude to the sheriff for making the arrest and urging for justice for Owens. The incident, described by Crump as an “unjust killing,” took place at a housing complex in Ocala, where Owens’ children had been playing near the apartment complex. They faced a confrontation with a 58-year-old unidentified white woman who hurled racial slurs and demanded they leave her property.
According to Crump, the woman took possession of an iPad accidentally left behind by Owens’ child. When Owens’ child went to retrieve it, the woman callously threw it back, hitting the boy and causing the screen to crack. Owens, driven by concern for her child, crossed the street to address the situation with her neighbor.
Tragically, Owens was met with a hail of gunfire when she knocked on the neighbor’s door. Allegedly, the woman fired a fatal shot through the door, taking Owens’ life. Owens, unarmed and posing no threat, sought only answers regarding her children’s mistreatment.
The shooting has ignited condemnation from Bishop J. David Stockton III, the Marion County NAACP president, who denounces the unrelenting violence faced by Black individuals in their daily lives. Stockton highlights the pervasive fear endured by Black people, even within their own neighborhoods, and calls for a world free from this perpetual anxiety.
Pamela Asobo Anchang, Founder of The Immigrant Magazine, sees this tragedy as a rallying cry for unity among the African and Black communities in the United States. Anchang, an immigrant herself, recognizes the profound concerns experienced by Black mothers when their loved ones are outside, further intensified by the worry of hostile neighbors.
In a significant development, Susan Louise Lorincz, the white neighbor responsible for the shooting, has been charged with manslaughter with a firearm, culpable negligence, battery, and assault. The decision to press charges comes in response to mounting pressure on authorities to hold Lorincz accountable for her actions. The incident also reignites the discussion around Florida’s stand-your-ground law.
Recent reports reveal the disturbing nature of the events leading up to the shooting, with Lorincz allegedly subjecting Owens’ children to racial slurs. Witnesses attest to Lorincz’s derogatory remarks, deepening the gravity of the tragedy and raising important questions about the role of racial animosity in the incident.
As we reflect on the untimely death of Ajike ‘AJ’ Owens, it serves as a poignant reminder of the persistent racism that lingers in America. The African and Caribbean immigrant communities must unite with their African American counterparts to combat hate and ensure that tragedies like this never happen again. This incident calls for a critical examination of laws that may contribute to violence and injustice, emphasizing the need for meaningful change.
#RememberingAJ #AjikeOwensLegacy #JusticeForAJOwens #BreakingBoundaries #ForgingUnity #JusticeForAJ #AfricanImmigrantSolidarity #AfricanAmericanUnity #UniteAgainstHate #EndRacialViolence #TogetherAgainstBigotry #SeekingJustice #BlackLivesMatter #StopHateCrimes #StandTogether #EqualityNow #InclusiveCommunities #JusticeForAll #UnitedAgainstRacism
For Resources on how to combat hate against you or in your community click here
This reporting was made possible thanks to the support of a grant provided by the California Black Media through work from the State of California Library Stop The Hate grant campaign
