The shooting death of 16-year-old Brooklyn teen, Kimani Gray, at the hands of the New York Police Department, has deeply divided many in the city. As protests and demonstrations continue to take place in Gray’s honor, the boy’s mother is taking a stand of her own in denying contact with mayor Michael Bloomberg.
As reported by the New York Times, Carol Gray has not returned calls from the mayor’s office for an audience and to offer a word of condolence. Considering that Mayor Bloomberg saw no wrongdoing on the officers’ part that gunned down the boy, it could be noted that the Gray family’s disdain is justified.
“We weren’t interested in the photo op,” said Gray family attorney, Kenneth J. Montgomery. “In the totem pole of important things and important emotions, that would come somewhere at the bottom.”
At center for the Gray family is they feel the mayor waited until tensions in the city reached a fever pitch, before reaching out in support. Montgomery acknowledged that city officials have been requesting a meeting since the March 9th shooting, but has followed the family’s wishes in protesting the unusual gesture.
Echoing the Gray family’s sentiment, city councilman Charles Barron also feels the mayor was lax in his approach. “He did not reach out when he should have to the family,” he said. “He made some feeble attempts through other folks later on. But the mayor knows how to get in touch with people when he wants to.”
Speaking about gun control in recent Times interview, Mayor Bloomberg expressed some frustration in trying to contact Ms. Gray. “I’ve tried, and the woman, the mother, is not taking any calls, changed her phone number so I can’t, but I did reach out,” he shared.
Over the weekend, a wake and funeral was held for Kimani Gray. The wake was attended by hundreds, reported New York Daily News.
The gallery features photos of Kimani Gray’s wake and funeral on the following pages.
