Where was Bush when Harold Butler Jr. needed him?

by Phil Wolff in Current Affairs, Issues, Letters To Editors.

Oaklander Harold Butler Jr. was gunned down a week ago by American gunfire. In an East Oakland store.

Butler was 17, an honors student, college bound, and working nights at UPS.

President Bush, where were you when our child needed you?

Butler was the 31st Oakland homicide this year.

An assault rifle was used. Four other people were shot.

President Bush, why haven't you removed the weapons of mass destruction right here at home? You might have saved Butler.

Why did you cancel Federal funding for the Oakland community police who might have prevented this murder? Is this how you take care of our families?

Where is your compassion? Where is your strength on law and order? Why aren't you keeping our neighborhoods safe for us, for our children, for Harold's five brothers and sisters?

We have real problems at home, Mr. President. Oakland isn't waiting for your first photo-op at Harold's Skyline High School memorial. We're waiting for results with tears on our faces. And blood on the street.