The Invisibles: Living Among the Violence Chasers

Judy Salamon

Look at the beautiful smile - wasn't she lovely!  She had so much light to give!  You know I try to inflect my words with laughter primarily to get your attention - make you feel good and hopefully inspire you to reflect and take action.  A family friend once said: "I am most serious when I am laughing". My friend and neighbor Judy Salamon had a great sense of humor. Intelligent and compassionate she always had a smile for me, Mrs.Parker and Fricke I will miss seeing her and giving her hugs! When I heard the news that she had died I  was quite suddenly shocked out of my mind and involuntarily brought back to the real nature of violence - despite scientific break throughs and the availability of over the counter medications violence is unpredictable and offers and equal opportunity to inflict pain to anyone who happens by.

Alaysha Carradine

Almost a week earlier and not far from Where Judy was killed, eight year old Alaysha Carridine was shot at a sleep over, at point blank range as she ran to answer the front door. This child did what your kids do ran to the door when the door bell rings. The question is and the problem remains there has not been a solution to nor a viable and inclusive discussion about what are we doing to prevent these Violence Chasers from killing us? The Invisibles are a growing community of people who take life for granted and whom do not know boundaries or boarders - no line drawn in the sand is going to keep them out and away from our us, our children nor our pets. WE have to live with them.

Saturday is for many, a time out day but I don't feel much like laughing - I really want to scream!  I will try to talk to you in "gentle woman speak" although  it is difficult to remain unemotional about violence,  because for me people whom I call "Violence Chasers" are junkies whose fix is never enough, they always want to up the anti on their next victim - will it ever end - no, it can only be contained.  I don't speak modestly about the future because I don't take the future for granted. I want children like Alaysha to grow up I  want the Judy Salamon's of the world to live a prosper - Judy was not some dowdy old lady sitting on her porch ( and even if she were ) she was an out spoken, vivacious neighborhood leader who was shot in her head for her purse? her cell phone?

 "The Violence Chasers" are invisible because ugly wears no mask. The Invisibles are our family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and representatives. STOP thinking that "this can happen here"  You are not immune nor protected from The Invisibles -  there is no standardized test for who will commit violent acts - only suppositions. You are not alone animals face the worst danger - they can not speak and tell us.

Abused and Neglected Young German Shepherd dropped at OAS May 30, 2013 

Have you heard a howling or a whimper you can not identify? Trust your instincts, intuitively you know something is not right don't run from it. On May 30, 2013 a young German Shepherd was brought to Oakland Animal Services after obviously living a life of hell.  Was this  ( repeated ) act of cruelty revenge? Did a man angry at his woman and take it out on the dog?  Did mentally and morally corrupt kids  relieve their boredom on this young canine? Was it  a small business owner who dropped the dog off because abused dogs are bad for business? As of this date all of the above is unclear and unfortunately the poor dog can not tell us. BUT someone did bring the dog to OAS - aahh a ray of hope! Someone, somewhere gave damn! Proof that the possibility of civilization continuing exists! BTW - The Animal Cruelty syndrome is  relevant to violence against people this same group, attacks animals and humans alike. Review the case of "Phoenix", the officer who tried to save her life and  the community who came together as a result of this vicious act of violence - courage is based  on actions, not feelings. Do innocent people like Judy and Alaysha and the dogs people call "pets" have to bring this point home?

The Beautiful Dog known as Phoenix who later died of  injuries sustained by two "bored"  Baltimore twins. 

So you see, the future may be bright. Because of Judy's death neighbors who did not speak now do. Because of Alaysha's death little black children ( whose murders are not as well covered as caucasian child victims - everyone knows Jon Benet Ramsey do you know Sherrice Iverson? ) may have a shot at the finish line without the stigma and stereotype of living with ( and expecting ) to experience violence before their 13th birthday.  Yes I am sad and mad at the violence that has happened so close to my front door but I am hopeful that WE, the collective WE ( as I am fond of saying ) can look past our own busy ( insular ) lives at the reality that having a nice house for example to live in is not enough WE have to look to The Invisibiles - The Violence Chasers and make sure their houses are in order to.

Sherrice iverson raped  and murdered in a Nevada casino bathroom stall by two college age men "who were bored and wanted something to do"

Be Safe Be Well and Want this for Others- YOUR happiness and safety depends on it:)  In loving memory of Judy, Alaysha, Phoenix, Jon Benet, Sherrice and the Little Shepherd brought to OAS - Alyssia