Badge of Audism: the lack of media that has been covering Deaf Latino man by the name of Magdiel Sanchez who was murdered by a police officer. Why not? Because in America, the majority of country is sound-oriented and looks at Deaf people as invisible. Police officer who killed Sanchez used his uniform, his badge, and his loaded gun, to stop, intimidate, and murdered him right front of his yard. And oppressors wonder why Deaf people do not trust cops. Why?

Deaf people are the most vulnerable and voiceless people. David Prater, Audist and a district attorney for the state of Oklahoma, knew that Deaf people had no social power, and had no chance to speak out because they are voiceless. The media continues to exploit Deaf people on the parts of white “silence” who came to control Deaf people in Oklahoma.

Who hold the highest badge of law enforcement? David Prater. Yes, the District Attorney. Not the judge. Not the police officer. It is a privileged white system. District Attorneys actually have more power than the judges today in the courtrooms. Believe it or not.

Two summers ago, when I read Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness and discovered that the prosecutors or district attorneys have more power even than the judges in the courtrooms, I was blown away!

If the media covered this story well, especially the culture of police authority, they ignore Deaf people because in Prater’s oppressive words, “being Deaf is irrelevant.”–is being taught in the society. Totally wrong!

Like a cop killed Magdiel Sanchez in cold blood, life moves on but the pain continues. How can we breathe and stay alive? That’s the badge of Audism. It’s always relevant. Deaf people are irrelevant…..That’s the face of media today in America where Deaf people are easily oppressed. Including the members of Oklahoma Association of the Deaf.

The United States Constitution —First Amendment that holds the five highest principles for human rights: Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Petition, and Freedom of Press. They all are entitled to assemble, exercise their speech through lawful petition in the eyes of press.

Isn’t it time for a bigger protest this time? We need more Deaf faces in the process of developing a new consciousness to overcome fear, ignorance and humiliation and we will not be silenced. Prater’s words are now irrelevant. It has already become too painful to deal with this crisis. The power of oppression has been taught to ignore discrimination, no Deaf people may be neglected for their own loss.

-JT

Copyright © 2018 Jason Tozier

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