Yes, the first lady made a political point. And why not? Chicago’s homicide rate skyrocketed to 500 last year for the first time since 2008. The crime wave is spiraling out of control so fast that some law enforcers claim that Americans have a greater chance of being killed in Chicago than U.S. troops do in Afghanistan.
Forty people were killed in Chicago in January. It’s a crisis that calls for immediate attention.
Walsh chose the funeral of a slain black teenager to mock the first lady, bring up race and accusations of political posturing?
Really?
Walsh is heartless, disrespectful and racially insensitive. I’m glad he no longer represents the state of Illinois in the U.S. Congress. There’s no place on Capitol Hill for Walsh’s kind of outdated thinking.
The First Lady’s presence at Pendleton’s funeral signaled to America that the White House cares about the Pendleton family and deplores gun violence, which is disproportionately claiming the lives of black teenagers, and black boys in particular.
Before the funeral, Obama met privately with Pendleton’s family and 30 of the slain teen’s friends. The family also received a handwritten note from President Obama on the back of a funeral program.
“Michelle and I just wanted you to know how heartbroken we are to have heard about Hadiya’s passing,” the president wrote. “We know that no words from us can soothe the pain, but rest assured that we are praying for you, and that we will continue to work as hard as we can to end this senseless violence. God Bless, Barack Obama.”
The first lady made the right decision to attend Pendleton’s funeral. She didn’t say one word, but her presence was powerful.
I hope Congress was watching.
COMMENTARY: Michelle Obama’s Quiet Mourning of Slain Teen Speaks Volumes While GOP Mocks Her was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
