Sandy Speaks: The Aftermath of Sandra Bland's Death
Start writing a post
Student Life

Sandy Speaks: The Aftermath of Sandra Bland's Death

Another victim of police brutality. When will it stop?

126
Sandy Speaks: The Aftermath of Sandra Bland's Death

On July 10, 2015, another human life fell victim to the hands of police brutality when Sandra Bland was found dead inside her jail cell in Waller County, Texas, around 9 a.m.

Sandra was 28-years-old and had relocated to Texas for her new job at her alma mater, Prairie View A&M. On her way to begin her new job, she was stopped by the police for failure to signal during a lane change.

During this stop, Bland was forcefully thrown to the ground and her head was injured in the attack. Officers accused Bland of being combative with them and charged her with assault.

Luckily, a witness was able to catch the attack on video from a distance. In the video, Sandra clearly says, "You slammed my head into the ground. Do you not even care about that? I can't even hear."

Three days later, right before her family could bail her out of jail, she was found dead. Her cause of death is claimed to be "self-inflicted asphyxiation" -- in other words, she hung herself. But is this completely true? Bland's family is certain that this, in fact, was not the case.

Bland was an advocate for Black Lives Matter and human equality. She was also a devout member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., as told by Heavy's website . One of Bland's sorority sisters even spoke to Watch The Yard about Bland's death:

“Sandra Bland is my line sister. Her personality and outlook on life alone DOES NOT resemble uncertainty or depression. She was a strong force that took life head on. Suicide would be the LAST thing on her mind as she was on the brink of starting a new chapter of life: a new job, a strong cause to fight for and a thick network of support. There are just too many discrepancies and holes in the official report. As far as her friends, chapter, alma mater and family are concerned: Sandy is still speaking and somebody is gonna listen.”

Ever since this horrific, senseless incident has occurred, topics such as #IfIDieInPoliceCustody and #IfIDieInJail have been trending on Twitter.


Hundreds of thousands of people are outraged over the death of Sandra Bland, and another example of the police brutality incidents that have been occurring for decades.

Innocent lives are being lost at the hands of police brutality. The crime, in law enforcement's eyes, is being black. Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Mike Brown, and recently Sandra Bland are only a small portion of the lives that have been lost due to these immoral and inhumane acts of violence.There are many more accounts of this kind that go unannounced to the public.

But the serious question is, why has it reached this point? Why are people having to vouch for themselves in the event of a death induced by law enforcement officials? People of color seem to be the only targets of these hate crimes. Police officers are supposed to serve and protect the entire community. People are not feeling safe at the hands of people who are supposed to be keeping them safe. When will this stop?



Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

97014
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments