Quintez Brown was a well known BLM activist, an avid proponent of gun control, a student at the University of Louisville, a former columnist at The Louisville Courier Journal, and was also was running for a spot on Louisville’s Metro Council to represent District 5.
On February 14, 2022, Quintez Brown entered the Louisville, KY campaign headquarters of Democratic mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg, and opened fire with a Glock 9mm handgun in an apparent attempt to assassinate Greenberg. While no one was injured in the attack, one bullet did rip through the sweater Greenberg was wearing.
Two days later, on on February 16, 2022, the local chapter of Black Lives Matter in Louisville, KY posted his bail.
After paying Brown’s bail, Black Lives Matter Louisville (BLM-L) released a statement on his arrest and subsequent release. BLM said that, while they were thankful no one was injured during the shooting, they were also thankful Brown was “taken into custody alive when worse outcomes are so often both tragic and predictable.” They then declared “Just as there is no justice for lost and destroyed Black lives, there is also no concern for their future.”
BLM insisted that while Brown may have attempted to assassinate a political candidate, he did not belong in jail, which would perpetuate “cycles of trauma and oppression.”
They described Brown as a “brilliant and bright leader from the West End of Louisville” and that “He has advocated for a violence-free world, and successfully led campaigns including one against a racist principal to remove police from schools, March for Our Lives, and local and national violence prevention programs.”
BLM also stated “We strive to build a world where our children and their children may never have to traverse the levels of violence we have faced and face now.” Apparently BLM believes that the best way to build a world where children are free from violence is to ensure people who commit (or attempt to commit) horrible acts of violence are allowed to roam free in society.
BLM Louisville organizer Chanelle Helm, claimed Brown would be safer out of prison, and described him as “someone that has mental health issues.” He no only said that Brown need support and help, and anyone who suggests Brown belongs in jail supports “the torture that has taken place in our jails and prisons.”
Black Lives Matter is trying to twist the attempted murder of Greenberg by Brown into a issue of race. And while Brown is black and Greenberg is Jewish (white?), Brown does not represent all people of color, and Greenberg does not represent all “white” people.
At no time during the incident, or in its aftermath was Brown the victim. Yet BLM is not only making him out to be a victim of injustice, but are insinuating his treatment is an example of the injustices inflicted on all black people. As they said in their statement after paying Brown’s bail, “Just as there is no justice for lost and destroyed Black lives, there is also no concern for their future.”
Additionally, if it is true that Brown is suffering from some sort of mental illness which caused him to attempt to murder Greenberg in cold blood, wouldn’t it be in the public’s best interest if he were to remain in custody while he received a psychiatric evaluation and possibly treatment before releasing him? Wouldn’t it be best to ensure Brown would not represent a risk to the public’s safety before setting him free to walk the streets of Louisville, KY?
According to BLM, Brown is apparently the real victim of the shooting he perpetrated, and his freedom should take priority over the public’s safety.