By Sharon McCoy
I don’t know how to start this article. One hand, I want to shout the truth from the tops of every mountain. On the other hand, I don’t want to be another source of trauma to us! Then I remember, we are resilient, and the blood of our female warrior ancestors flows through our veins, so we can take it. While noir tears have no value in western civilization, the loudness of our battle cry will never be ignored! Warrior Queens, our voices are needed right now!
Steven Perkins was born and raised in Lawrence County, a small community in Alabama. He was known as a good student and athlete with an infectious personality. He was well liked. He graduated from his local highschool. He was actively involved in his church and community. In 2016 he met the love of his life, and in 2019, he married her and together they had two beautiful children. Together, they created a beautiful life for their family. They were living the American dream: family, work, church, community!
On Friday, September 29, 2003, Steven Perkins heard a noise outside his home. He was the only one home at the time. Grabbing his flashlight, he walked outside to see a tow truck driver trying to take his car. The tow truck driver informed him that he was repossessing his car. Steven, knowing that this was wrong, told the tow truck driver that he was at the wrong house. From the side of the house a police officer stepped out and shot Steven Furtick 18x’s. On Friday morning, September 29th, Steven Perkins was murdered in his home.
The Decatur City Police Department tried to cover up the story and spin it in a way that the community who knew Steve Perkins knew was a complete lie. They told the media that the tow truck driver called the police department stating that Steve had flashed a gun at him while he was attempting to repossess the car. They also said that after the police were called, Steve pointed the gun at them, and they shot him according to protocol. However, a surveillance camera from a home across the street uncovered the truth.
The camera showed the tow truck driving up Steve Perkin’s driveway. The truck driver got out of the driver’s side and a man got out of the passenger side, drawing his weapon as he stood on the side of Steve Perkin’s home. Steve Perkins walked out with a flashlight in his hand. Words were exchanged, as Steve Perkins insisted that this repossession was an error. The camera also shows the police officer emerge from the side of the Perkin’s home and he unleashes 18 bullets into Steve Perkins body, some of the bullets even damaging the neighbor’s home. The tow truck driver did not call 9-1-1 until after Steve Perkins was dead. Steve Perkins had a flashlight. The police officer was a personal friend of the tow truck driver. The Perkins family has since released receipts confirming that the repossession was an error! It was all a lie. To make it all worse, many of the police officers (including the chief of police) work out with Steve Perkins at a local gym in Decatur, Alabama! They knew he was a good law abiding citizen, provider, husband, church member, father, and health enthusiast. The chief of police is resigning. The mayor has announced that he will not run for office in this next election. The community is asking for the resignation of a city councilman.
This story has not gotten national attention. There has not been national pressure on the local government to arrest this man for acting outside of his police protocol. This man is protected. He has not been arrested. The tow truck driver has not been arrested. The peaceful protests have been met with some resistance, but overall, the local businesses have fully supported the #iamsteveperkins movement! All of the city council has shown support for seeing justice for the Perkins family, except Councilman Hunter Pepper. His stand is openly, “No comment” when asked if he wants to see justice for Steve Perkins. This week, the chief of police has apologized to the public for releasing lies to the public regarding the murder of Steve Perkins. This is unacceptable!
Warriors, we need nothing but your voice. While our beautiful noir tears have no value in this western culture, our voices have greater power. We are resilient. We are femme. We are powerful. We will not allow ourselves to be ignored. Here are ways that your voice can be heard:
- Continue to use the #iamsteveperkins at the end of every social media post.
- Join the movement: https://www.facebook.com/groups/863046881624208/
- Look up the story and post your spin on it to your social media platform.
- If you live in the Tennessee Valley you can show up to our peaceful protest.
- Donate to the family https://www.gofundme.com/f/clay-steve-perkins-innocent-black-man-killed
- Register to vote, and vote to keep this from happening in your community Vote.gov
- Run for local office. You would be surprised how many local government positions have no opposition. www.youcouldrun.com
- Interest yourself in civil rights law.
- Use your creativity to be a voice for those affected by injustice.
- Use your creative spaces to put pressure on those apathetic to injustice.
Because our voices will not be silenced, I am confident that “Justice will roll down like water, and righteousness will flow like a never ending stream!” In other words, we are just that eff’n powerful! So, let your voice roar, my warriors, against this injustice! Justice is our inevitable right as human beings. #iamsteveperkins #justiceforsteveperkins
For more information, and to join the movement click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/863046881624208/
Sharon McCoy is a Gary, Indiana native, who currently resides in Decatur, Alabama. She is the founder of www.devastatedtoflourish.com a blog and future 501(3)© dedicated to giving abused people the tools necessary to begin their healing journey. She went from being a cult survivor to having two Masters Degrees in Early Childhood Education and ECE SPED. She is an empoweress who is passionate about education, mental health, spirituality and healing. She looks forward to using her writing to bring people one step closer to the power found in their healing journey.
