The Legacy of Honestie Hodges
LITTLE GIRL’S DAY BECAME A NIGHTMARE
A Michigan teenager who pleaded “No, no, no!” as she was being handcuffed by cops at gunpoint when she was 11 years old in a case of mistaken identity has died of Covid.
The disturbing story of the victimization of Honestie Hodges by Grand Rapids Police outside her home in December 2017 made national headlines.
The little girl, her mother and another family member were leaving to go to the store when the cops turned their day into a nightmare.
Put your hands on top of your—,” an officer ordered before he was interrupted by Honestie’s mother screaming, “She is 11 years old, sir!”
PLEADED WITH COPS
“Stop yelling!” the officer told her and ordered Honestie to walk backward toward him with her hands up.
A second officer grabbed her arms, pulled them behind her back and handcuffed her.
Honestie pleaded “No, No, No!” when the officers put the cuffs on her.
Police said at the time they were looking for a 40-year-old woman in connection with a stabbing.
When they realized their mistake cops removed the cuffs from the traumatized child.
THE HONESTIE POLICY
No officers were disciplined for their actions that night but after a year of increasing community outrage, the department adopted the ‘Honestie Policy’ to better interact with youths.
Honestie tested positive for Covid two weeks ago and was hospitalized in Intensive Care. She was on a ventilator and received a blood transfusion before she died on Sunday. She was 14 years old.
A sad example of the current reality. Racism in the police force and the all too real threat of the Covid virus taking the young as well as the old.
Yeah, it’s tough for kids of color.