Though racism might be rather more discreet in 2025 than it was within the Forties, it doesn’t imply that the old style model of bigotry that’s largely seen as socially unacceptable not exists. The truth is, in case you are Black, queer, a lady, or all the above, and you end up within the mistaken neighborhood, metropolis, or state, you may get a harrowing up-close take a look at how our ancestors have been handled earlier than civil rights.
In keeping with reporting by the Fredericksburg Free Press, a Black, queer, married couple was attacked by a band of violent white folks again in July after pulling over to examine what they considered injury to their automobile. Earlier than Amylah Majors and Jamaria Gaskins, 23 and 24 years outdated, respectively, may get out of the automobile, they noticed a person give them a “thumbs up” sign as he was joined by two others, which led the 2 ladies to imagine that he was providing assist. As a substitute, what they have been providing was hatred as Majors defined on her GoFundMe web page:
Two of them bodily attacked my spouse whereas brandishing a gun and shouting threats. They referred to as us “n*ggers,” instructed us we didn’t belong there, and considered one of them even uncovered himself whereas screaming hate and slurs at us.
She continued:
As we tried to depart, all three of them jumped into automobiles and chased us down the street. Considered one of them rode up beside us on a 4-wheeler and aimed a gun straight at my head by way of the driving force’s window. In that second, we actually believed we weren’t going to make it out alive.
This hate-filled chase induced the women to crash, and Majors was ejected from the automobile and thrown onto the street. She awakened within the hospital with a fractured backbone, damaged clavicle, damaged rib, extreme concussion, and quite a few head accidents.
Supply: Amylah Majors / GoFundMe
Luckily, there may be some degree, nonetheless weak, of accountability available, as evidenced by Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Workplace Maj. Delbert Myrick’s announcement of misdemeanor prices towards Mark Goodman and Elizabeth Wolfrey, with doubtlessly extra prices to come back.
Supply: Amylah Majors / GoFundMe
32-year-old Wolfrey has been charged with one depend of pointing and brandishing a firearm, and 59-year-old Goodman has been charged with one depend of indecent publicity as he was recorded exposing himself to the couple.
In his feedback to the press, Sheriff Myrick acknowledged that his division was nonetheless investigating the incident and acknowledged the general public’s concern.
“The large factor we’re making an attempt to specific is we perceive the neighborhood’s outrage, or issues or nervousness over this incident and related incidents which have arisen locally,” Myrick mentioned. “On the sheriff’s workplace, we guarantee them that we’re taking it significantly and we’ll study this or totally examine this crime and current it to the Commonwealth Legal professional’s workplace to verify due diligence and justice is completed.”
The native chapter of the NAACP is monitoring this case, and so is BOSSIP.
