From the ashes of many great fights against injustices often rises a savior figure that brings justice back to the people and the underrepresented.
Since the shooting of the unarmed Stephon Clark by local police officers this past March, Sacramento has been on edge, uncertain about the fate of the two police officers and if the charges will ever go through.
But through this devastating tragedy comes a possibility, a chance, for real change to be made. On November 19th, Stevante Clark, the older brother of the deceased Stephon Clark, filed paperwork tied to his mayoral bid for the 2020 election, according to The Sacramento Bee.
“I don’t have the most experience, I’m not the smartest guy. At the same time, I’m from the city of Sacramento and if there’s anybody who’s going to listen to the people of Sacramento and who knows the problems of Sacramento, it’s me. Even though I did decide to run for mayor after the death of my brother, I’m not making this about me in retribution and revenge.”
Clark said if he is elected, his goals center around mental health advocacy and the reformation of the police department and officer training. He wants to implement reforms that would hire more people of color as officers who are familiar with more “urban” and “underdeveloped” areas.
Clark has made it very clear that he wants to address mental health issues in the Sacramento community. “Mental health is one of the biggest things I want to combat.”
While Clark claimed his campaign isn’t about getting revenge, and I believe his motives to be mayor are just, I don’t know if when I vote for the first time in 2020 my vote will be cast for Clark.
I agree that there are many changes that need to be made in terms of mental health awareness and treatment, and that the death of Stephon Clark shook Sacramento, and made the national problem of police brutality, and by extension the normalcy of institutional racism, a very close and personal thing to the people of Sacramento, myself included, but I still can’t pledge my loyalty to Stevante Clark.
I remember being downtown during the protest led by the Black Lives Matter movement that closed Interstate 5. I remember feeling the pain and raw emotion while hearing the protesters chant. I remember seeing the sadness and anger in the people around me, screaming and pleading for change.
I think we all love a good redemption story, but I don’t know if politics and direct redemption mix well. Although, maybe it does, as long as plans of political action are well thought out and planned. Clark’s reform and focuses do seem very pertinent and play along the lines of my personal political interests and changes I want to see in my city, state, and country, and seems to appeal to others’ as well.
While I’m skeptical of Clark’s success in 2020, I wish I wasn’t. I want this to be a happy ending, but I’m not the biggest fan of non-politicians running for office. I don’t think it ever works out (just look at our current presidential office and standings.) I don’t think Sacramento is ready for Clark; I don’t think we’re ready for such a change, but we need it.