Missouri's Stand-Your-Ground Law and the Shooting of Ralph Paul Yarl

Ralph Paul Yarl was picking up his two siblings. He went to the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri. The White man who opened the door did not see a lost 16-year-old boy. He saw a threat. Shot Ralph, twice. Once in the head to kill him. Somehow Ralph survived. 1/ pic.twitter.com/TWXTCUUkBO

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 17, 2023

If arrested and charged, the White male shooter will almost certainly deploy Missouri’s stand-your-ground law to claim (White) homeowners have a right to murder (Black) children who mistakenly ring their door bells. Because racist violence is usually projected as self-defense. 2/ pic.twitter.com/tMCYRWF3lt

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 17, 2023

If Ralph was White, he would be playing with his siblings right now, or in school, or playing his instrument. But because he happens to be Black, he is hospitalized. 3/https://t.co/c7rhhjumc2

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 17, 2023

This is the murderously racist nation Black children are growing up in. Where Black children are looking at Ralph and thinking he could be me. Where parents of Black children are looking at Ralph and seeing their child. 4/ pic.twitter.com/5qI58EXZUI

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 17, 2023

Where we recognize it is dangerous to be a Black child because racist Americans view Black children as dangerous. Where we recognize our antiracist struggle against racism is a struggle to protect the lives of our children—protect their joy, protect Black futures. 5/ pic.twitter.com/IkXcNTnmkV

— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) April 17, 2023