In 2008 I lost my grandfather, one of the best men I’ve ever known, to a racist hate crime. He was murdered outside of a Trump owned casino, after a man began harassing him and he was told by an employee that they both needed to leave, rather than removing the agressor (THREAD)

Of course, Trump/his casino claimed that there were no video cameras on that night. Let me repeat that: No video cameras. In an ATLANTIC CITY CASINO. His murderer recieved a five year prison sentence and is free today. For FOLLOWING my grandfather to his car and MURDERING him.

In what world is stabbing someone in the neck RECKLESS MANSLAUGHTER? The murderer (an armed aggravator) claims that he was in fear for his life.. Of my 61 year old, unarmed grandfather who required a cane or walker to walk.

The murderer’s lawyers painted him as a victim to the media, claiming the killing as an accident. So why was the first wound on a major artery in his neck? Why did he then, after administering a fatal injury did he proceed to stab my debilitated grandfather in the FACE? And body?

Was it so we couldn’t have an open casket? Because we couldn’t. And then while in mourning we were completely humiliated by the prosecution & judge with both the judgement and our treatment in the courtroom. 3-5 years. I will never understand this.

tw: blood. It hurts me so bad to post this picture. But it’s too important not to. The killer was photographed waiting calmly at the scene covered in my grandfathers blood. NOT handcuffed. NOT detained. The police even gave him water.

This man just committed MURDER with an illegal weapon. Yet black men are detained and killed by the police for what? Failure to use a turn signal? My grandfather was not pronounced dead until he was at the hospital yet EMTs are casually standing around chatting with the murderer?

The case got some publicity but being pre-social media most the media it received was very one sided. Guess the side. This was NOT the first murder of a POC on the property (on top of cases of sexual assault/trafficking of minors) and this is what Trump had to say about it.

The pain I endure waking up every day in a country where the president is personally accountable for sweeping my grandfathers murder under the rug is unimaginable. The pain I feel knowing that 12 years later nothing has changed is even worse.

We know the truth. You were the funniest, kindest, gentlest man I’ve ever known. I’ve never met someone else like you. I look for your blue eyes in every kind face. I will never forget the moment I lost you. And I will never stop fighting for you, Poppy.

As painful as it is to talk about this so publicly, I cannot let his story be repressed anymore. not now. #BlackLivesMatter #BLM #notanotherblacklife