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Victim of Police Brutality: Another Father's Day At The Cemetery

by Daughter of Rudy
You destroyed my family and I sat watching you in court try to justify his death when there is no justification. I watched you racially profile my father and use his past as a means of ending his life. You failed to look at my father as another human being.
bike1.jpg
[ Photo by Peter Maiden. Justice for Rodolfo "Rudy" Cardenas. ]


To the man who killed my father,

Today is another father's day spent at the cemetery. Another year where I explain to my daughters who their grandfather was. I now turn 30 and am still struggling with understanding why you took my father from me. We all have choices in life and I don't understand why you chose to shoot him in his back and never will. I have anger knowing you know my father's last words and they mean nothing to you. The last moments of my father's life were spent with a man who shot him and watched him die.

You destroyed my family and I sat watching you in court try to justify his death when there is no justification. I watched you racially profile my father and use his past as a means of ending his life. You have taught me many valuable lessons in life. I have learned that no matter what position someone holds they can do wrong. I learned that no matter what someone's stature is we are all human and no life is worth more than another. You failed to look at my father as another human being. To have compassion and understanding.

My father was loved by his children and family very much. To my father, family was very important and he wasn't there for the births of both of my daughters. He won't be there for my wedding and won't be there when I graduate college next year. Each event in my life is a reminder of the empty space in my heart that you took from me. The next time you are faced with the choice to pull the trigger remember how many more lives will be affected. Remember all of the things you could have done differently. With everything I have learned I am still struggling with forgiveness towards you. I will never forget but one day hope to forgive you on my own path of healing.

Sincerely,
Victim of Police Brutality
§Background Information
by Justice for Rudy!
Rudy Cardenas was shot in the back by California State Narcotics Agent Michael Walker while pleading for his life on February 17, 2004.
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/05/18/16813141.php
by family
May 18, 2004

San Jose Demands Justice for Rudy Cardenas
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/06/26/22382.php
June 26, 2004

Michael Walker, Killer of Rudy Cardenas, Goes to Trial
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2005/08/25/35342.php
August 25, 2005

Justice Never Served… Five Years after the Murder of Rudy Cardenas by State Police
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/17/18571572.php
February 17, 2009
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Sun, Jun 22, 2014 3:26PM
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