He was held accountable, and that’s progress, according to one local mother of black children.
Officials in the city of Martins Ferry acted swiftly after a former police officer posted a disparaging message concerning the Black Lives Matter movement, terminating the man’s employment after 16 years on the job. Martins Ferry Mayor John Davies’ message was clear during a Wednesday press conference:
“We in the administration deem it inappropriate and feel we have taken proper steps to resolve the issue,” Davies said. “That being said, this administration will not, in any way shape or form, allow this type of posting or speaking or product to be put out by the administration, or city officials.”
April Schrump, a Wheeling resident who is the mother of two black sons, views the move as progress.
“I think it’s great because the problems that we face today are because when things have taken place, the officers were never held accountable,” Schrump said. “The fact that the officers haven’t been held accountable is what is causing all of the good officers who do their jobs well to be thrown into this basket with the officers who don’t do their jobs the way they should.
“No, it’s not fair to them, but that’s what happens, and we all know it,” she continued. “So, for the city of Martins Ferry to hold this officer accountable for his actions so quickly is impressive to me, and I pray it spreads across the valley and the country because that’s what should have been taking place all along. We always hear that if we don’t commit a crime, the police won’t bother you, but what if an officer commits a crime? Too often, there haven’t been consequences, so this does please me because what happened in Martins Ferry is progress.”
Someone Has to Speak
Schrump chose to be heard because she’s aware of many others who birthed black children and worry about their children’s lives because of a lack of equality in the country.
In other words, racism.
“I think it’s important for people to realize what Maezi and D’arrae will likely face when they are grown men out in the world by themselves when their white mother isn’t around,” Schrump explained. “Since they were born, I’ve worried about that, and that is because of how often incidents take place against black people and the lack of attention those crimes get from the majority of people. I’ve known from the beginning that loving my children isn’t going to be enough.
“I read on Facebook that some people believe the officer in Martins Ferry was only telling the truth, but was the truth he was telling that he is a racist? That’s what it looked like to me,” she said. “If he truly feels that a movement to make blacks equal is (crap) coming out of a dog’s ass, I have to wonder how he feels about black people. That’s what it says to me, and I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t want my black son to get pulled over by that officer. No officer should have hate in their heart, and that’s what I saw.”
Progress? Yes. Change? Not Yet.
For Schrump, it’s about mindset, and she realizes hate is passed down from racist parents to their innocent children.
Sometimes, though, it doesn’t stick.
“I think it’s difficult to make a racist a non-racist,” Schrump said. “If that is their mindset, they’re probably going to stay that way, and yes, that’s sad. What I believe is happening now is that people who were complacent because it didn’t impact their lives are now paying attention, and they are finally stepping forward because they’ve recognized the problem and don’t want their world to be like that.
“But there’s no way for someone to be slightly racist or on the fence with it, and I know there are people out there who love my children even though they are black but only because they are my children,” she insisted. “My hope is that because I am speaking up that those people can love my children for the people they are and not just because they are my children.”
On May 25, for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, a slow death took place in Minneapolis, and since peaceful protests have been staged across the nation. In Wheeling in June, nearly 300 people of all ages and races collected in front of the Ohio County Courthouse in downtown Wheeling to deliver the same #BlackLivesMatter message.
“I believe his murder changed the views of a lot of the people because they saw it, and it impacted their hearts,” Schrump said. “I think that helped them see what black Americans go through in this country every day.
“But I also think that, if you don’t have a connection to that triangle that I talk about because they don’t have any skin in the game, you probably found it easier to hurt for a couple of days because of what happened to George Floyd, and then forget about it,” she added. “Now, I don’t think those people are racists, but I do believe we still have a long way to go before I can be confident that my two black sons will be treated equally in this world.”
