Free Them All: A Daily Hope Ritual
In 2020 on Easter, Nickolas Lee died from covid-19 in Cook County Jail after being denied bail in Chicago, Illinois.
This year Easter was on April 5th. 5 years ago on that day, Iremamber Sykap, a 16 year old Micronesian boy, was shot 8 times in the back by police officer Geoffry Thom in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi.
For those of us who live in the United States, Easter always rings hollow if it is only a pastel colored celebration of hope with a chocolate center. Easter must be grounded in our now: the continued crucifixions that we witness every day at the hands of our military and police; the wealthiest and most expansive military in the world.
I still believe in Jesus because I still witness God among the people and lands around the world. People who have witnessed the horrific deaths of their loved ones and continue to live on committed to create a more just and loving worlds. Lands who have been scorched and doused with forever toxic chemicals that somehow continue to produce food to nourish us.
After the death of Nickolas Lee, I heard the testimony of Cassandra Greer Lee:
“I am the wife of Nickolas Lee, who was sentenced to death by Covid at the Cook County Jail. My 42 year old husband walked in the Cook County jail a healthy man and left out in a body bag. They silenced my husband forever April 12th, Easter Sunday, and I became his voice that day. I am around the city of Chicago shedding awareness about the negligence at the Cook County Jail. They killed the wrong Black man. I will fight for justice for my husband, my heart, my best friend until there is no more me.”
Easter is a hope ritual.
The above image is dedicated to those who hope. To Ms. Greer Lee who continues to advocate for incarcerated people; to the boys, aunties, and grandmas in Kalihi who continue to tell Iremamber’s story; and to the people and lands around the world who dare to live and hope from under the heaviness of empire.
Left: Iremamber Sykap at St. Andrews Church. (Civil Beat) Top: Cassandra Greer Lee holds a photo of Nickolas Lee in front of Cook County Jail. (Scripps News) Bottom: Skyap’s friends hold vigil on Kalākaua Ave where he was killed. (Civil Beat)
The spirit of a Black man killed by negligence in an infected jail does not end in death.
The spirit of a Micronesian teenager shot 8 times in the back does not end in death.
The spirit of the Palestinian people and land put through genocide does not end in death.
The spirit of migrants taken by ICE does not end in death.
On Easters we remember that as the U.S empire continues to crucify us
life and love will always rise beyond death.
May we continue our daily hope rituals:
Organizing and advocating,
Telling stories of friends and leaving flowers on altars,
Daring to nourish and grow in scorched lands.
Easter is a story of State violence and a love that can not be stopped by it. In Chicago, Illinois, Ms. Lee declared a true Christ-like love: she gave her life so that no more are taken and executed by empire. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13 (NRSV)