written by Chilton Stewart
Jackie Johnson will not stop…she will not quit…she will not relent nor will she retire until the people responsible for the murder of her son are brought to justice.
12 years after his death, there is still no resolve to this case. No murder suspects, no “hot leads.” Just a local and national police force that seem to be content to throw their hands in the air and scratch their heads.
I apologize. For those of you who are not aware of this case, allow me to enlighten you about the history and facts.
On January 11, 2013, the body of Kendrick Johnson (October 10, 1995 – January 11, 2013) was discovered inside a vertical rolled-up gym mat in the gymnasium of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, United States, where he was a student.
After a preliminary investigation and autopsy concluded that Johnson's death was accidental, the family had a private pathologist conduct a second autopsy which concluded that he died from blunt force trauma. On October 31, 2013, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia announced that his office would open a formal review into Johnson's death. On June 20, 2016, the Department of Justice announced that it would not be filing any criminal charges related to Johnson's death.[5]
Johnson's family filed a $100 million civil lawsuit against 38 individuals, stating that his death was a murder and that the respondents were participants in a conspiracy to cover up the homicide, which they claimed involved two sons of an agent of the FBI. .
That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn. Georgia Judge Richard Porter ordered the Johnsons and their attorney to pay more than $292,000 in legal fees to the defendants, accusing them of fabricating evidence to support their claims.
A recent investigation conducted by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s department found no “foul play” in the death Kendrick Lamar
“We already expected this. We know how this city works so we already expected this. It was just like another slap in the face. This is how Lowndes County operates. They are going to stick together and me and my husband are going to stick together too. Because Kendrick Johnson’s life mattered. You cannot turn a murder into an accident. I don't care how you try to make it look. This is what they do in Valdosta Georgia. It's never been where a white person that killed black person has ever been convicted here in Valdosta Georgia. You can look that up.”
It is this steely resolve that has kept Mrs. Johnson and her family sane in a situation that would drive most people to stop under the weight of such incredible grief. Losing a loved one is terrible, losing a child even worse and losing a child at the hands of indescribable and contradictory circumstances is beyond painful. Despite all the madness and injustice the family has no plans to move any time soon. They want to stay and fight.
“I am going to continue to live here. A lot of people ask me why I stayed here. Because my son was killed here. I can’t get justice living way up in Atlanta. I have to get justice right down here. Until those perpetrators are held accountable I’m not going anywhere. I have had windows busted out, tires slashed. I don’t care about any of that, that doesn't scare me. What y’all should have done is left my child alone. Y’all killed the wrong child. You got the right Momma but you killed the wrong child.” She continues “I focus myself on Kendrick. When it's time for them to be held accountable it's going to happen. What I put all of my energy in is Kendrick Johnson. I even hate when they put my son's picture in their picture. Because that’s giving them too much attention.” He will forever be in her heart and mind as she often goes to his grave to visit with him. “When I am having one of my worst days and I’m really emotional and I know I just need to be by myself I get my chair, put it in my car, go out to the grave and just sit out there and just talk. Every time I’m sitting out there the wind will just start blowing. At the end of the day he’s saying "My momma and them are still going!”
With the battles the family has fought to see justice, real fair justice. It makes one wonder where, when or how Mrs. Johnson ever finds peace.“Kendrick gives me peace. Because he knows the type of parents that he had. He knows we will never give up. His murder will not go in vain. For him to be stuffed in a wrestling mat. Rolled up. Left there to die all by himself with nobody there to help him? No. Y’all feel like y’all are higher than God!”
Suspect In Question Told Authorities He Never Saw Kendrick On January 11th However New Footage Shows Different
Even in death Mrs. Johnson still loves and is proud of her son. She thinks of him often and all he accomplished at such a young age. “Kendrick was the baby of the family. He was the big person of the family because he ran the whole house except me. He played three sports: basketball, track and football. Kendrick wanted to play for the Gators. They took all his goals.. He’ll never get to be a father. He'll never get to go to his first prom. He’ll never get married. He didn’t even get a chance to walk across the stage.” She continues “He would go on the road with his Dad. Most people always say it be the Momma and the Son but in this case it was the father and his son. So many memories.”
Despite her and her family’s strength they would love support in their mission. “They just took a piece of me when we buried Kendrick. We’ll never be the same. We don’t even feel like we’re alive anymore, we just exist in this world. Yet in her despair she also feels like the family could use a bigger more high profile spokesperson. “I feel like we got to get a bigger spokesperson to come out and talk about it, a Tyler Perry or an Oprah Winfrey but even if they don’t I’m going to continue to talk about it. This is my child.”
In all of her struggles she keeps in mind that she isn’t just fighting for her son’s justice but for other black children as well. “I’m not just fighting for Kendrick b because Kendrick is dead and gone. I am fighting for your child to make sure there’s never another Kendrick Johnson. Another family that has to go through what me and my husband have endured. We didn’t ask to be here? It was Kendrick in 2013 but who is next?”
Jackie Johnson, Mother of Kendrick Johnson Appears on "I'm Just A Lil Toxic Podcast
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