Chicago Public Schools valedictorian victimized by Chicago police

*There are many reasons I decided to publish this. It’s heart-breaking and real; it happens too often to young men of color; what we read about it is what’s written in official police reports; there’s another side to the story. I wish Jaime the best. VL

By Ray Salazar, The White Rhino

A couple of weeks ago, I asked my mentee Jaime Bautista, the school’s valedictorian, to write a reflection about his new perspective of the world since he started working while in high school.  Unfortunately, Monday night after work, Jaime texted me that he had this ugly run in with two Chicago police officers.  While not all cops are bad, these unjustified acts of victimization by some cops ruin any attempts to establish trust between cops and communities of color.  Sadly, I thought of my own son who turns ten on Saturday.  I know I’ll have to talk to him about what to do whenever he interacts with cops.

I admire Jaime even more for having the courage to tell his story–a story too many young men of color continue to tell.

After a long day of work on Monday night, I decided to go ask one of my female friend’s parents to let her go to prom with me. I waited for her text to go in her home while I was parked on the side of her house. I was confident enough to ask her dad but nervous because I didn’t know him.  I wanted to ask her dad to let her go to prom with me because she’s one year younger than me (she’s 16).  My parents raised me to ask permission to do things.  I wanted her father to know me.  I wanted to gain his trust.

I didn’t realize the end of my car was near a fire hydrant.  But she messaged me to not come in because she just fought with her dad. I texted “What happened?” I wanted to find out before I left. Then, I looked in my side mirror and saw a white van pull up.  It was plain with no markings and looked suspicious.

I couldn’t see it well because it was dark outside but the two guys in the front pulled up next to me and flashed their flashlights at me back and forth in a circular motion. They did this for a minute and continued with no other actions. I thought about  what my older brother told me. He said gangbangers would rob people by distracting them with flashlights and come from behind and pull a gun on them. So I reversed and sped off. This was by 5200 and South Albany, a Southwest side neighborhood known to have a lot of gang activity.

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This story was originally published in Chicago Now.

Since 1995, Ray has been an English teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. In 2003, Ray earned an M.A. in Writing, with distinction, from DePaul University. In 2009, he received National Board Certification. His writing aired on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio many times and have been published in the Chicago Tribune and CNN. For thirty years, Ray lived in Chicago’s 26th Street neighborhood. Today, he lives a little more south and a little more west in the city with his wife, son, and daughter.