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NEWS & LETTERS, March 2004In memory of Larry Darnell Harper Jr.Chicago--Larry Darnell Harper Jr., 24, was killed in a robbery on Dec. 16, 2003. Larry is the son of Gwendolyn Hogan, whose husband Kelsey Hogan was killed in 1999 by an off-duty Cook County corrections officer. The disinterest and disrespect with which the Chicago Police Department treated Larry’s murder--not responding to calls from the family for assistance--demonstrates once again why the police are held in such low regard. At the Police Board hearing on Jan. 15, Larry’s fiance Patricia Streeter pointed out that she hadn’t been contacted by police detectives in the month since his killing. This is despite the fact that the killers had taken Larry’s wallet with his identification, his cell phone--upon which they or somebody called his home--and his house and car keys. As Patricia stated, "I don’t even know if it’s safe to go back to my house." Gwendolyn spoke at the meeting as well. She said, "I had to come here five years ago because an officer killed my husband. Now I have to be here again. I know who killed my husband. I don’t know who killed my son, but it is shameful that I have to come here to try to get you all to do your jobs." As often happens, the police had finally contacted the family on the day of the Police Board meeting. Perhaps they do that to spare themselves public embarrassment. It only serves to make them look even worse. I attended the Memorial Service for Larry at First Corinthian M.B. Church. Larry leaves behind five children. He and Patricia were to be married in April. As heartbreaking as it was, it was still wonderful to see the way hundreds of friends and community members turned out to honor him and to support his family in their moment of grief. Larry had clearly touched a lot of people with his humor--he seemed to have an endless supply of jokes at the ready--his sense of style, and his essential humanity. It was also very moving to see how Gwen, in the midst of her own sorrow, was so intent on reaching out to the other people there who were facing the dangers of everyday life in Chicago. It is amazing that this woman who has lost so much still finds the strength to reach out to others, as she did at Larry’s service, and as she has at so many demonstrations over police brutality, Mumia Abu-Jamal, the war in Iraq. No one should have to be as strong as Gwen has had to be. More than sympathy, she deserves our gratitude and our renewed efforts to make this world a better place. --Gerard Emmett |
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