1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Up next out Loud with Giano called part of the 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:08,479 Speaker 1: game which Demetrius Griffin Jr. Was just fifteen years old 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: when he was burned alive on the West Side of Chicago, 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: placed in a garbage can, and left to die in 5 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,639 Speaker 1: an alley. The teenager's death was ruled a homicide but 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: remains unsolved. Today. I try to get to the bottom 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 1: of what happened. This is outllowed with Giano calledwell, Welcome 8 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 1: back to allowed with Gianno calledwell. I'm Gianno calledwell and 9 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: on this week's show, I'm talking about violence in Chicago, 10 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: which continues to devastate the city in so many families. 11 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: In fact, over the Loan Fourth of July weekend, at 12 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 1: least a hundred and eight people were shot in Chicago, 13 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: including two police officers and several children. Two of those 14 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: children were girls aged five and six years old. At 15 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 1: least seventeen were killed in the shootings, and another person 16 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: was murdered and as stabbing. And just two weeks earlier, 17 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: over Father's Day weekend last month, a hundred and ten 18 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: people were shot in Chicago. Fourteen of them, including five children, 19 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: were killed. That was in less than three days. I 20 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: want to tackle this tragic situation in Chicago by going 21 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:27,440 Speaker 1: back to one especially horrific case. In fifteen year old 22 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: Demetrius Griffin Jr. Was found dead in a garbage can, 23 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: burned beyond recognition in an alley on the West side 24 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:39,120 Speaker 1: of Chicago. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said he 25 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: was burned alive following an optopsy law enforcement rulee Demetrius 26 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 1: death at homicide, but his case remains unsolved. His family 27 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 1: is unsatisfied, demanding justice for a boy who was described 28 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: as gentle, respectful, and someone who loved dogs. They have 29 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 1: offered rewards for in nation on the Killer or Killers 30 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 1: to learn more. My guests on this week's show is 31 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 1: demetrious aunt Rochelle Sykes, who has continued fighting for a 32 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: nephew and seeking answers. Rochelle is also a woman of 33 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: faith who works at the new Mount Pilgrim Church in Chicago. 34 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 1: With that, I want to welcome Rochelle Sykes to Outllow 35 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: with Giano Caldwell. Thanks so much for coming on. Thank you. 36 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:29,120 Speaker 1: Now you know I've met you before. I actually interviewed 37 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 1: you for Fox News Channel and then I pushed the 38 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 1: Lord Ingram Show to to do the the town hall 39 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: on Chicago violence, and you joined joined us then, and 40 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: then you joined us for a second UM town hall 41 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: the following year. So much has happened in the city 42 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: of Chicago. If you look at the numbers. Some have 43 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: estimated the fourth of July weekend that was over a 44 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: hundred and ten people shot UM so many fatally, I 45 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: believe about eighteen and twenty fatally, including two police officers. 46 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: What the heck is going on in Chicago? I have 47 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: no clue. UM, I see right now, I see if 48 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: you know that your child or your significant other, your 49 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: loved one, your your grandchildren, your children are doing things 50 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: that are not um of legal standards, we need to 51 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: come together and turn these people in. We know that, UM, 52 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: every child is not perfect. Every child is not perfect. 53 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: But when you harbor UM a person that may have 54 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: killed or hurts someone, or you know that they're have 55 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: a thousands and thousands of guns or just a house 56 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: full of gun and ammunition and hanging with the wrong people, 57 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: I'd rather you turn that child in. Dame, you stand 58 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 1: at the great fight and much to lower down. And 59 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: I a hud agree with you as someone who's from 60 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: the city and whose family has also been impacted by 61 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: the violence in Chicago. I would rather much rather even 62 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: a family member go to jail than to see them 63 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: out committing more crimes and endangering the lives of others. 64 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: So I really appreciate you saying that, and I want 65 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: to I want to get into, um, what happened with 66 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,679 Speaker 1: your your nephew, such a young young life, fifteen years 67 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: old when this happened. Can you take us back to 68 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:45,119 Speaker 1: that tragic day in when did you know something was wrong? 69 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: And how did you find out Demetrius was no longer 70 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: with us? Well, it goes back to that Saturday morning. Um, 71 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: My mom's birthday was on the nineties. Um, go back 72 00:04:58,839 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: to that Saturday morning. We were picking her. Um, Me 73 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,719 Speaker 1: and a couple of other church members were picking her 74 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: out to take her out for breakfast to celebrate her 75 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: her birthday because the church's pastor's anniversary was that weekend 76 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: as well. And so when I pulled up to pick 77 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: her up, my sister and my niece was coming out, 78 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: and I'm like, Okay, where is she on this early 79 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: in the morning, because my this is not a morning person. 80 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 1: She said, well, Demeter has didn't come home last night. 81 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: And I was like, okay, what do you need he 82 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: didn't come home last night, because that made no sense 83 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: because he's never missed a curfew. And she said, well, 84 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 1: he didn't come home last night. And but some odd 85 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: meason right away to my mind came what I saw 86 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: in the New nes is that they found the body 87 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: of block and a half away in a garbage camp, 88 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:54,280 Speaker 1: burned beyond recognition. Um. They had said it was a 89 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 1: small frame. Um man, they said it was a man 90 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: at first. So we went on to breakfast and we ate. 91 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: We sat in eight and what we was uneas everybody 92 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 1: at the time it was unneas. So we came back, 93 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: we came to the church, We did what we needed 94 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: to do at the church and bringing that by time 95 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 1: we got back to the house, he would have showed 96 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: up when we would know his whereabout. And when we 97 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: came back to the house, she said she hasn't seen him. 98 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: No one had seen him. And so um, I said, well, 99 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: you know it's time that we contact the police because 100 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 1: this is not of his nature. And I did speak 101 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: to someone at the police station. They and they asked 102 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: me some questions about you know, how tall was he, 103 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: how big was he? And and things of that nature. 104 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: And then UM, the first thing I had spoken was 105 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,040 Speaker 1: teld me, well, I think you wouldn't need to get 106 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:56,760 Speaker 1: some gentraal records. UM. Amberler did go up. I did 107 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: um authorize for them to pick up his central records. 108 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 1: And at that point it was a way. Yet we waited. 109 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: UM that was that was out. Saturday we waited. Sunday 110 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: we attended church. UM we helped our pastor celebrate um 111 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: his anniversary because that's what we would have done naturally. UM, 112 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: and we just prayed that the outcome wasn't the outcome 113 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: that we were feeling it love. UM. We did not 114 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: tell pastor. UM. We did tell one of the associate 115 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: ministers so that someone at the church wouldn't know what 116 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: was going on because the meet was also a member 117 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: of the church and baptized and UM Christian at New 118 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:50,239 Speaker 1: Mount killed me. So we didn't tell pastor. UM. Monday 119 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 1: came around. I didn't let him know that Monday, and 120 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: UM he was a little bit distraught about it. UM 121 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 1: about three something, UM I got calm um to come 122 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 1: that the police was there and my time I got 123 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: there that you will leave it and they had identified 124 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: him UM by his dental records stepped out? Was him? 125 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: I mean if the house was full of people and 126 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 1: polsal screaming when I when I walked up, folks we screaming. 127 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: You can just hear people screaming from outside. And to 128 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: say that when I say that, I pulled up in 129 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: a car to a house where the door was closed 130 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: and I can hear screaming, you need to No one 131 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: heard him scream in that alley. He was birth alive. 132 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 1: No one heard him scream in that alley. Are we 133 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: going about our business so much that we don't recognize 134 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: when there's something wrong and to report it? Are we 135 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: that afraid that we cannot report when the client is 136 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: going on. When you see something out there, you don't 137 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: say anything you see something wrong. If you saw a 138 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 1: young person walking down the street with a handgun in 139 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 1: the hand, you wouldn't call the police. That's the part 140 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: that disturbing to me is that we are allowing them 141 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: to take over, and then they are getting younger and 142 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,520 Speaker 1: younger people to do these clients because they're getting a 143 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: flap on the rim. At some point we have to 144 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: stand up and say enough is enough. And it starts 145 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: you're you're absolutely correct. And every time I hear this story, 146 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:43,640 Speaker 1: it really brings tears to the eyes of so many 147 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: that Loria Ingram heard the story and she began crying 148 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: on air. Um, I think that is it's just deplurable. 149 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 1: What has happened to your nephew and what has happened 150 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: in the city of Chicago, and it seems to be 151 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: no answers to what's going on one in fact, things 152 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: have gotten worse, not better. They've gotten worse. And you 153 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: wonder and you mentioned you said, you know, they get 154 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: a slap on a risk and that goes back to 155 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 1: the County prosecutor's office, who's allowed over twenty five people 156 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: off without charging them. And these were felony cases, some 157 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: of them include murder. Knowing what happened to your your nephew, 158 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 1: how does that make you feel? It makes me sick 159 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,599 Speaker 1: to my stomach because one of those people could have 160 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: been the person that murdered my nephew. I have no answers, 161 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: I have no closure. I've had no sleep. I mean, 162 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: I have nothing. Nothing we had we went from we 163 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: didn't even have a funeral. There was nothing to say 164 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: goodbye too. They met us at the at the funeral 165 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: I mean at the cemetery with the casket. That's how 166 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: we said Goodbut we had a memorial service and it 167 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,160 Speaker 1: was over seven. Well here, but it's not the same. 168 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: That's not the same. It's different when there's someone that 169 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:12,199 Speaker 1: passes yea um um elder age and someone that passes 170 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: that has been sick, because then you get too to 171 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: sit with that person and you get to um talk 172 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: with that person and get to you know, let them 173 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 1: know that it's okay. But when someone is matched from 174 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: you with no means of an explanation of m it's 175 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 1: a hard thing to deal with. My family is torn apart, 176 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 1: and I for sure there's other families like mine with 177 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: no no resolution, no answer, and one't why this is 178 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 1: continually to happen. And then some people won't say anything 179 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: or do anything until it hit your front door. You 180 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 1: need to start thinking to now, you need to start 181 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: doing something now. Anybody in my family know that I 182 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 1: will turn them in without a doubt. I will have 183 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: the stuff without a doubt. I'd rather you be alive 184 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 1: and locked up, and then my whole family know through 185 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: the misery of having to put you in the ground, 186 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,480 Speaker 1: not knowing what happened to you and wishing we could 187 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,080 Speaker 1: have done something new. And and with that being the case, 188 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: as you just as you just said, you would rather 189 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 1: someone go to jail than throw their lives away by 190 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: shooting someone else and then possibly in and up dead themselves. 191 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: You would rather them go to jail. And I understand that. 192 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: And let me ask you this question. And I know 193 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: that your nephew you were responsible for him. Was his 194 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 1: mom not around? Was his dad not around? What was 195 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: the situation there? No, his his dad was around. His 196 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 1: dad recently died. Um of Ana. Yeah, I think it 197 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: was from a bloken heart, but they will around. But 198 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:07,120 Speaker 1: he was my only nephew, so he's the teeth baby. UM. 199 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,719 Speaker 1: When Demetrius was born, he was pretty um I think 200 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: he weighed a little bit less than three pounds and 201 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: he had these beautiful bluish gray eyes. So he became 202 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 1: everyone's baby because he was the baby of the family 203 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:22,560 Speaker 1: for a long time. And then he was so little 204 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: for his age, so he was everybody's baby. So even 205 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 1: though I did a lot of things for him, everybody 206 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: actually did a lot of things for him, and UM 207 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: took they just took him into his wing because he 208 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: was a lovable kid. He had an old soul um. 209 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: He loved animals, He did things for the native he 210 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: saw someone carrying that he would want to help and 211 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,719 Speaker 1: take their spains in the house. Just the type of 212 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: kid he loved. Now I'm not he was a good kid, 213 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: not involved in any of the gangs or any of 214 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: the trouble in Chicago, which typically when I was growing up, 215 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: the way people were shot. Of the reason why is 216 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,319 Speaker 1: because they were involved in gangs, they hung out with 217 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: the wrong people. And certainly these days that doesn't matter anymore. 218 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: It's not the same thing. It's not an affiliation thing. 219 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:15,480 Speaker 1: A kid was twenty well, young man twenty years old 220 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: on the l just the other day, was a student 221 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: of the University of Chicago. A bullet shot through the 222 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: train station window and paralyzed them, and his parents just 223 00:14:30,160 --> 00:14:32,960 Speaker 1: recently had to make the tough choice of taking him 224 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: off of a ventilator. It's happening to a lot of 225 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: people in the city of Chicago all over, and it's 226 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: not just frustrating. It's become a war zone. You don't 227 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: know if you're gonna you enter, you may not survive 228 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: and leave. It's horrendous where you need younger and younger 229 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 1: killing gun Why absolutely, you're correct to ask that question, 230 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 1: and more importantly, why is the Cook County Prosecutors Office 231 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: letting people off the hook with a slap on the 232 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: wrist for doing serious crimes creating more creaking, more havoc 233 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: in the communities. Now I want to ask you. I've 234 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: read that your nephew, Demetrius, he was murdered by other 235 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: black kids because he refused to join a gang. But 236 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: some have said in the media that, um, they don't 237 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: really know and the case just remains unsolved. Do you 238 00:15:31,720 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: have any information as to the motive of why this 239 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: would happen to your nephew. No, I do not. It 240 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:43,680 Speaker 1: may know, it makes it makes no sense because Demetrius, 241 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: he was fifteen, but he looked to be nine. He 242 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: was only ninety seven pounds. He was only four nine 243 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: in heights, so he was a little for his age. 244 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,360 Speaker 1: He had a he had a major problem with sitting 245 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:00,120 Speaker 1: in with his age group. So because he didn't he 246 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,360 Speaker 1: fit with them, he played with kids that are younger 247 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: than he was because he were more of their size. 248 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 1: When he was growing up, there's nothing that you could 249 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:16,440 Speaker 1: not knock on my mother's door and say, well, Demetrius 250 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: did this or Demetris did that. There was nothing that 251 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 1: you could knock on her doing to tell her never 252 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: had any problems with Demetrius and stood never had to 253 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: go up there for him, never had I've never had 254 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,920 Speaker 1: up there with him. When he got in high school. 255 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: I'm the one that had him in road. He was 256 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: only there two weeks. I've never got a call about 257 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: that because think he did not play that. My thing 258 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: is Demetrius was a little bit scary because he was smaller, 259 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: and like I said, he played with smaller kids because 260 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: of his weight and height. So when they say that 261 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 1: they wanted him in a game, and I my only 262 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: thing that comes to my mind is for what he 263 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: can't do anything. He's too scary and he know his 264 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: t t A is not going to play that. He 265 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: never drank he and he never smoked any marijuana or 266 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:16,520 Speaker 1: didn't even drug. So if they were trying to recruit him, 267 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: what would be the purpose of recruiting him, and why, 268 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 1: what would be that purpose? And so that because he's 269 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: little work, you think he would get off, but he 270 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: wouldn't bloom again we because he knows that's not what 271 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: Lee is still into him. We need to pause here 272 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:38,400 Speaker 1: for a break. We will be back. You know, it's 273 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: it's one thing that kills some one, but this was 274 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: done in such a gruesome way, burning Demetrius alive live, 275 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: leaving him to dine a garbage can in the alley. 276 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: This is just next level of torturous. There was no 277 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: one in his family that was involved in anything that 278 00:17:55,880 --> 00:17:59,440 Speaker 1: they were trying to um to respond to and trying 279 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:01,439 Speaker 1: to get to my that was beloved in your family. 280 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: There was nothing like that or anything, um that you 281 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: can think of that that possibly could have occurred in 282 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: my immediate family. And as far as I know, we 283 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: have no gang members. And if it is, it's something 284 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:20,920 Speaker 1: that I don't know. Um, I don't have any brothers, 285 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 1: so it's just me and my sister, and I have 286 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 1: a step sister, and UM, my sons are not gang related. 287 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: My sons don't even hang on the corner because they 288 00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:42,000 Speaker 1: know that. I don't allow that. I cannot imagine what 289 00:18:42,119 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: it could have been, or I mean, I've heard a 290 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:47,159 Speaker 1: bunch of things. I heard it. I've heard it was 291 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,080 Speaker 1: gang gang, you know, they wanted him to join a game. 292 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: Then I heard it was some some some um skinheads. 293 00:18:55,600 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: I heard something about that, and then somebody said he 294 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: might have saw something. None of it makes sense. Nothing 295 00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 1: that you can say would make sense to take someone 296 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: life by burning them alive. Nothing you could say would 297 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 1: make sense of me hearing this kid yelling for help 298 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 1: and me not doing anything. None of that makes sense. 299 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: Nowhere around does that make sense. And that's why. On 300 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: the corner of Cortez and Centrol there's a bench, there's 301 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: a big red cross, there's a book box for books 302 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: for children. We keep that corner clean because you're gonna 303 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: remember that this kid was over here and you said nothing. 304 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,920 Speaker 1: We make it clean. I keep it clean, I weeds. 305 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: I keep that clean. So children can go and sit 306 00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 1: on that bench, they can get in a book out 307 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: that book box. They can feel comfortable sitting right there 308 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:09,919 Speaker 1: on that corner. Nothing of it, no, nothing makes sense. 309 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: All is killing, moll is shooting, shooting up in the air. 310 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: What would be the purpose of that. Get a job. 311 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: My grandmother her in her grade now because she is 312 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: on a plantation, and what we had to go through 313 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,879 Speaker 1: to be where we are now, and then look pulling 314 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: on that back from us. Yes, and I absolutely agree 315 00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,600 Speaker 1: with what you're saying, do you feel any level of 316 00:20:34,600 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: frustration with the law enforcement or the politicians that were 317 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: around during this time. I think Rama Manuel's in office 318 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:47,199 Speaker 1: during this era. Yes, I do. The superintendent at that 319 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 1: time and the mayor at that time, we contact them 320 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: thirty days. I had thirty days of confirmation numbers where 321 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,439 Speaker 1: I had called three one one. We have yet to 322 00:20:57,480 --> 00:21:00,439 Speaker 1: hear from either one of them. Are you here? Is 323 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: I kid you not? Let me tell you just I 324 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,400 Speaker 1: just want to make sure I'm hearing you right, you're 325 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:11,760 Speaker 1: saying Mayor Rama Manuel and the superintendent of police at 326 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:14,400 Speaker 1: that time. Neither one of them followed up with you there. 327 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: Their office is no one touch base. No, we've never 328 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: heard from that. And at that time I did contact 329 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:24,919 Speaker 1: Kim Fox's office because I just needed some help or 330 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: where to the county prosecutor. Kim Fox is who you're 331 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 1: referring to, and I was told that they couldn't do 332 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: anything until there's an arrest. They couldn't help me until 333 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:39,440 Speaker 1: there was an arrest. That's what I was told by them. 334 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: I sent a letter to the White House to our 335 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:47,280 Speaker 1: former president. I got a letter back. I didn't send 336 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: a letter requesting any money from him. I needed some help. 337 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,080 Speaker 1: I needed help. I didn't know. I don't I don't 338 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: know what to do. This is the first this, this 339 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: is the first trinity in our family. I don't know 340 00:21:59,600 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: what to do. I need help. I sent back. Then 341 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: I got a letter back from the White House. Then 342 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,800 Speaker 1: they don't do donation. That's not what I asked you for. 343 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: I asked you for help because at that point, we 344 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: didn't know if it was a serial killer out here, 345 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: because who does that to a young person, a child? 346 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:22,399 Speaker 1: So we didn't know if it was a serial killer 347 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: out here. We've had a go find me page, We've 348 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: had that open too. I did get a foundation set 349 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: up for him to help with maybe getting detectives, just 350 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: to help with the justice for that, and then to 351 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:45,640 Speaker 1: try to help other young people. Barry ten thousand dollars, 352 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: and five of that came from Laura. Laura Ingram donated 353 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:54,000 Speaker 1: to the to the foundation. Yeah, yes she did. She 354 00:22:54,000 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 1: she donated five thousand dollars. But my my, my mom 355 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:03,879 Speaker 1: always say you have and and and and I'm not 356 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:07,959 Speaker 1: I'm not a racist person or anything like that. And 357 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 1: I know people donate to things that they want to 358 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:14,359 Speaker 1: donate to. And I just you have. My mom was 359 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:18,760 Speaker 1: very upset because the two little girls that came up 360 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 1: missing in Indiana. And my heart went out Today's family 361 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:25,840 Speaker 1: because I know how they felt. I know how the 362 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:29,480 Speaker 1: family felt, because you know, we've lost our loved one too. 363 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: But her thing was is that they had got the 364 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:36,520 Speaker 1: FBI and and then they had got all of this 365 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: money from I guess the state, and here he is. 366 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: We're out here, we're passing out flyers. Were having fund 367 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: raisers on Mother's Day. We stand out there on the corner. 368 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,040 Speaker 1: We give out Mother's Day guilt, to give out Father's 369 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:53,960 Speaker 1: Day gifts. We have a um A community block club 370 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: every year for the kids. We give our book bags 371 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: and clothes and persons and thinks of that nature. They 372 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 1: have or found that they have um A college thing 373 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,439 Speaker 1: at at New Mount Pilgen, where Demitrian was a member. 374 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:08,920 Speaker 1: We give out stuff, look the kids that are going 375 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,719 Speaker 1: away to college. We do all of that. And it 376 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 1: seems as though that because of the color of his skin, 377 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 1: this is her feeling and I and I understand, she 378 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: seemed like it's being fresh um brushed up under the 379 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:29,480 Speaker 1: rug because it doesn't get that same priority toy and 380 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 1: part of the reason for that, and this was very 381 00:24:32,800 --> 00:24:39,719 Speaker 1: gruesome um event, obviously, the murder of your nephew. Chicago. 382 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 1: The politicians there, and I'm sure you would agree, have 383 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 1: completely failed the citizens. And it's become a weekly or 384 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: daily occurrence of bullets piercing through skin and that's all 385 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: it is to them, it seems to be, so why 386 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:57,800 Speaker 1: do why is it that people continue to support the 387 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:00,879 Speaker 1: same the Kim Fox, the Lordy life to the world, 388 00:25:00,920 --> 00:25:04,320 Speaker 1: the ones who aren't making a difference. Is these politicians? 389 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: Why do people continue to support them in the city 390 00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 1: of Chicago knowing that they have not gotten any results. 391 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:14,840 Speaker 1: Could it possibly be not necessarily that they're getting so 392 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:19,240 Speaker 1: much support. Is that so many people are desensipized and 393 00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 1: they don't support at all. So that makes the small 394 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:27,040 Speaker 1: amount that do support things so large because there are 395 00:25:27,080 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: so many people that do not vote. There are so 396 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:35,119 Speaker 1: many people that do not vote. Because I talked to 397 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:39,400 Speaker 1: people that have not voted. My vote don't make no difference. 398 00:25:39,600 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: But how you know your vote don't make no different 399 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: Your one vote could be the vote that made the difference. 400 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: They feel that there is no change, They feel that 401 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 1: things are still gonna be the same. It's going to 402 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: be the same thing. There's going to be people making 403 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:59,359 Speaker 1: decisions for low income people that are not low income. 404 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:05,639 Speaker 1: There's a there's people making decisions for people that have 405 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: five and six people living in their households and they're 406 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:15,960 Speaker 1: living in a mansion. They want people to make decisions 407 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:20,199 Speaker 1: that live the life that they live. You go on 408 00:26:20,240 --> 00:26:23,800 Speaker 1: the West side of Chicago, you can ride down Madison Street. 409 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 1: Tell me how many groceries, schools for food markets you 410 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:34,240 Speaker 1: see in the black neighborhoods. Yeah, their food, their food, deserts. 411 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:40,200 Speaker 1: You got corncus need I mean, what restaurants do you have? 412 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:46,240 Speaker 1: I mean they feel that you're taking away everything from them, 413 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: So why should they vote. It won't make a difference. 414 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 1: We're talking to Rochelle's Sykes, who's fifteen year old nephew 415 00:26:52,440 --> 00:26:55,439 Speaker 1: was tragically murdered in Chicago, who got much more with 416 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: her on the unsolved case. In the violence in Chicago 417 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:04,239 Speaker 1: more broadly, right after break it's not making sense at 418 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 1: all the policy decisions that are being made. It's not 419 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: making sense, and it's actually making so many other people 420 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 1: in the community less safe in the city of Chicago. 421 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: It's it's beyond troubling, is disgusting, and I wish things 422 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: could could change, but it doesn't seem as though there's 423 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 1: been as much value on the black lives that matter 424 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: and the folks who just like you mentioned you said, hey, 425 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:31,240 Speaker 1: these people are if you're walking down the street with 426 00:27:31,280 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: a gun, that someone needs to call the police, if 427 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,119 Speaker 1: you know who the shoot is, they need to be 428 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: turned in. Those black lives matter, and if you if 429 00:27:40,359 --> 00:27:43,280 Speaker 1: you don't, If you don't, then you're obviously saying, um, 430 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,440 Speaker 1: the antithesis of it that they don't matter in that case. 431 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 1: So it really needs to be outraged full scale, not 432 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: just with the people like you who you're you had 433 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: this beloved nephew who died in a very gruesome way, 434 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 1: who was murdered in a grucive way. But everyone needs 435 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,080 Speaker 1: to live their voice up. It needs to be a 436 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 1: complete community that refused to capitulate to the gang members 437 00:28:07,560 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: who want to take over their neighborhoods. Absolutely, would you 438 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,560 Speaker 1: would you agree with that? I agree with that, And 439 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:15,960 Speaker 1: then they shouldn't have to live in their house and 440 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 1: be afraid that if I turned you in, they're gonna 441 00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: tell you I turned you in, and then they're coming 442 00:28:21,880 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 1: after me or I turned you in and you get 443 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,920 Speaker 1: to court and because the system is over proud, and 444 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 1: they let you go, which has happened a number of 445 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,879 Speaker 1: times in Cook County, especially in the Cook County Jail 446 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 1: during the COVID area. A lot of folks were let 447 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:38,719 Speaker 1: out who went on to commit crimes. And that's not 448 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,040 Speaker 1: just in Cook County, but that's across the country. People 449 00:28:41,080 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: were let out and they went on to commit other crimes, 450 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: including killing people. You know, I want to ask you, 451 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:50,160 Speaker 1: because I know you're a woman of faith and you 452 00:28:50,280 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 1: work for the new Mount Pilgrim Church in Chicago, how 453 00:28:54,640 --> 00:28:57,960 Speaker 1: is your faith factored into how you've dealt with demetrius death. 454 00:28:58,600 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: That's the only thing that had count me. Um I 455 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 1: Um was once asked and I had to look at 456 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: myself and I did What did I forgive the person 457 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: that killed the Matris? And I have to be honest, 458 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: Even though I believe in God, I know God as 459 00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: ahead of my life, I don't forgive them. I feel 460 00:29:23,640 --> 00:29:27,080 Speaker 1: sorry for them because there has to be something seriously 461 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: wrong with you to do what you did and be 462 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: able to sleep at night, because like I said, I 463 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 1: haven't slept in five years. I leapt straight through a 464 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 1: night in five years. I can hear it that look 465 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: what calling my name? I can hear him calling. So 466 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:47,680 Speaker 1: I feel sorry for you because there's no way you 467 00:29:47,800 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 1: can be resting, and for everybody that hurts him and 468 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:53,240 Speaker 1: didn't say nothing. There's no way you could be wrestling. 469 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,760 Speaker 1: I wasn't there and I ain't resting. But if it 470 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:58,120 Speaker 1: wasn't for God, I don't think I would have bade 471 00:29:58,160 --> 00:30:00,880 Speaker 1: it through this far. I don't even sit on that corner, 472 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 1: poor weeds. I don't think I could put the events together. 473 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: That's God in me, and I knew that this outcome 474 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:11,440 Speaker 1: has something, something bigger. I don't know what it is, 475 00:30:11,480 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: but I know it does. Now. What would you tell 476 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 1: Demetrius if you can speak to him today, in this moment. 477 00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:21,200 Speaker 1: I'm sorry T T let you down. I am so 478 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: sorry because I always told him I would take care 479 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: of him. I always told if you t T will 480 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:30,239 Speaker 1: always be here for him. And I feel like I 481 00:30:30,320 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 1: have failed him, and I would I. I just would 482 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:38,760 Speaker 1: say I am so sorry because you had to be 483 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: through some tremendous pain for that to happen to you, 484 00:30:43,280 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: and I am sorry. And if if I could trade 485 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:50,960 Speaker 1: places with him. I would trade places with him right down, 486 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:54,680 Speaker 1: because I don't know what he had was capable that 487 00:30:54,760 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: could have been the next president. I am sorry. I 488 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 1: would I am so sorry, And if I could trade places, 489 00:31:01,560 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 1: I would trade places like I would beg he ever 490 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 1: looked to just take me and let him go. That 491 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:10,800 Speaker 1: is very tough to hear. But I can tell you 492 00:31:10,920 --> 00:31:14,200 Speaker 1: right now you did not fail your nephew, not one bit. 493 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 1: And I'm sure if he was here, he would thank 494 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: you for continuing to fight on in his name, like 495 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:23,360 Speaker 1: there's so many other young people in Chicago who lost 496 00:31:23,400 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: their lives and they didn't have Rochelle Sykes too, to 497 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: chase down the police if you will, to try to 498 00:31:32,440 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 1: get answers and work with politicians to try to get 499 00:31:35,760 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 1: something done, solve solve this, this hainous, hainous crime. So 500 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:44,000 Speaker 1: I'm sure he would be thankful for you being there 501 00:31:44,040 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: for him and in the family as you have been. 502 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:53,160 Speaker 1: Thank you. Yeah, but it hurts so bad, I mean 503 00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: especially I don't know if it's the not knowing or 504 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: do I really want enough? And I just my heart 505 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: hurts to see all these young babies, you know, they 506 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 1: don't know one day from another riding in the back 507 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 1: of a car, and the next thing you know, they're 508 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,360 Speaker 1: they're they're dead. I mean, you've got all these young 509 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: mothers and fathers and I don't know where the term 510 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,720 Speaker 1: because you know you you took in my breath away. 511 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:28,560 Speaker 1: You took in my breath away. I mean, to give 512 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:31,360 Speaker 1: birth to a child, it's not an easy thing, and 513 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 1: deniting raising one is even harder. And then someone else 514 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:39,840 Speaker 1: that has no care about life just can walk past 515 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: and take all of that away from a person when 516 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:48,560 Speaker 1: they killed. Do they know how prominent that is. You're 517 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:54,240 Speaker 1: hurting the person you killed, You're hurting all the other 518 00:32:54,280 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: people who left behind, even your own family when they 519 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:04,560 Speaker 1: catch you. You got Mama at the courthouse crying, Grandma 520 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: at the courthouse crying. We got cousins and stuff, gotta 521 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: send you money, with money on your books, you got 522 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: the person that was murdered. Family don't know how to 523 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 1: put stuff together, don't know how to get it together. 524 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 1: I don't want how to make decisions from that moment forward, 525 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:28,280 Speaker 1: because all they knew was their child, their grandchild, their cousin, 526 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 1: their nephews. They need to know the extent of that 527 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:40,240 Speaker 1: one decision that they made. It's not hurting that person 528 00:33:40,360 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: you killed, it's hurting me everybody else because now this 529 00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:47,960 Speaker 1: community is to us. Now, this lady get to go 530 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 1: to the grocery store to get her groceries because somebody 531 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: killed somebody on the corner. Now you've got a whole 532 00:33:53,880 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 1: lady that I can't get food in her own home. 533 00:33:58,000 --> 00:33:59,960 Speaker 1: He had to go sit on her porch, can't stay 534 00:34:00,080 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 1: play out in the streets. Something's gotta give. We gotta 535 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:11,560 Speaker 1: stand off of something because we're falling down for everything. Yes, ma'am, 536 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 1: do you think you've ever run for public office? No, 537 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: I'm honest. I'm honest, and unfortunately I might not have 538 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:27,720 Speaker 1: a good filter owner on my mouth, but I'm honest. 539 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tell it like it is. If it ain't right, 540 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 1: it ain't right. Yes, ma'am, and and and and I'm 541 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 1: with you. And I want to thank you for sharing 542 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 1: demetrius story. And as you fight on, um, I definitely 543 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:48,600 Speaker 1: want my listeners to be involved in the fight with you. 544 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,400 Speaker 1: So if you will let us know where can people 545 00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:56,960 Speaker 1: donate or help in other ways to find justice for Demetrius. Well, Um, 546 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:01,040 Speaker 1: they can go into any US banks and give them 547 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:05,120 Speaker 1: justice for Demetrius Griffin Jr. He has an account set 548 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:10,279 Speaker 1: up there. UM there's also a god funding page. We 549 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:14,760 Speaker 1: would love to have a a community youth center where 550 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:19,680 Speaker 1: we teach life skills till UM ages five to eighteen, 551 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:22,319 Speaker 1: help them apply for college and make sure they get 552 00:35:22,360 --> 00:35:24,719 Speaker 1: into make sure they get a g D. If they 553 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:29,840 Speaker 1: need tutoring, if they need counseling. To um help provide 554 00:35:30,239 --> 00:35:33,239 Speaker 1: all of that for them. Um, they can do that, 555 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 1: or they can just if they want to just send 556 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:39,160 Speaker 1: a check they can always then one to New Mount 557 00:35:39,200 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, but make it out to Justice 558 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:48,040 Speaker 1: for Demetrius and the addresses forty three oh one West 559 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:54,480 Speaker 1: Washington Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, six o six to food. They 560 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:59,320 Speaker 1: can do either you those and anything will help. And 561 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,759 Speaker 1: its Metrius, uh and you want to spell it for 562 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: folks how its spelled out? D E M E, T 563 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:11,280 Speaker 1: R I E S and Griffin g R I F 564 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 1: F I N jor Okay, Well, we're gonna be praying 565 00:36:14,680 --> 00:36:19,120 Speaker 1: for you certainly, and and and hope people donate to 566 00:36:18,920 --> 00:36:22,600 Speaker 1: the to the cause especially, but we really appreciate your strength. 567 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:26,960 Speaker 1: I'm certain that your nephew is really, really thankful for 568 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 1: what you've been able to do in keeping the family 569 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:32,640 Speaker 1: together and keeping his memory well and alive. Thank you 570 00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:34,560 Speaker 1: so much for joining me on out Live with Gianna 571 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:50,400 Speaker 1: called well Okay, thank you so much. I want to 572 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,080 Speaker 1: thank with your fights again for a powerful interview. If 573 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,440 Speaker 1: you enjoying the show, please leave us a reviewer with 574 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:58,719 Speaker 1: us with five stars on Apple Podcast. If you have 575 00:36:58,719 --> 00:37:01,920 Speaker 1: any questions for me, please email me at out loud 576 00:37:01,920 --> 00:37:04,919 Speaker 1: at gingristre sixty dot com and I'll try to answer 577 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:07,759 Speaker 1: them in our future episodes, and please sign up for 578 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:12,120 Speaker 1: my monthly newsletter at Gingristre sixty dot com slash out loud. 579 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:15,239 Speaker 1: You can also find me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and 580 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:19,200 Speaker 1: parlor at Giano Caldwell. And if you're interested in learning 581 00:37:19,239 --> 00:37:21,320 Speaker 1: more about my story, please pick up a copy of 582 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,840 Speaker 1: my bestselling book title Taken for Granted, How Conservatism Can 583 00:37:24,880 --> 00:37:27,399 Speaker 1: Win Back to the Americans at Liberalism Failed Special Thanks 584 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:31,600 Speaker 1: to our producer John Cassio, researcher Aaron Klingman, and executive 585 00:37:31,640 --> 00:37:34,440 Speaker 1: producers Debbie Myers and speaker New Gingridge, part of the 586 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:35,840 Speaker 1: Gingrids three sixty network