After watching the news with her grandmother and learning about the Dallas shooting which occurred last Thursday, a compassionate nine-year-old decided to give gifts rather than receive them for her birthday.
Detroit-based CBS News reports that the young activist, Samya McLaughlin, was disheartened to learn that five police officers were killed when Micah Xavier Johnson used his sniper training to gun down the law enforcement workers. Reportedly, the military veteran was disgusted with the nation’s systemic police abuse and decided to punish an entire community by opening fire on officers not involved with the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile.
In the wake of the disaster, hundreds of people lined up to give hugs to the officers and show their support for the police department during a ceremony at Thanks-Giving park. McLaughlin’s activism, however, is also worth acknowledging.
The young girl used her birthday money to pack bagged lunches – made up of sandwiches, chips, fruit and a cookie – then presented them to the officers. The workers were delighted by the offering.
“I was thinking that I should feed the police officers because I wanted to show them that I support them and I thank them for all that they do,” McLaughlin said. “I wanted to show them that all lives matter.”
A nine year old girl celebrates her b-day by buying lunch for DPD 11th Precinct. My LIVE report 11:03 @WWJ950 pic.twitter.com/HFLY7yaCiD
— Jason Scott (@JasonScottWWJ) July 9, 2016
Bagged lunches prepped & presented to DPD's 11th district by 9yr old girl who used her b-day cash to do so @WWJ950 pic.twitter.com/rEwaX4xCZP
— Jason Scott (@JasonScottWWJ) July 9, 2016
Samya’s mother makes a point to ensure that her daughter is informed about current events. She told the press:
“We discuss things that’s going on. I always ask her how she feels about it.”
When the young girl’s father was asked about the activism, he said:
“It makes you feel proud. She has a big heart and she knows how to care, and she knows how to appreciate what’s going on.”
Like a handful of other inspired young activists, Samya has also passed out around 30 bagged lunches to homeless citizens in Detroit, Michigan.
Police brutality is a big concern in the U.S., but it is important to remember that there are good and bad people of every faith, ethnicity, and profession. Not all officers abuse the law, and McLaughlin seems to understand this.
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