HINDS’SIGHT The lonely crusade of Courtney Crum-Ewing’s mother – in a place of short memory

A FEW weeks ago I was approached by slain activist Courtney Crum-Ewing’s mother. She asked me to use my voice to help bring justice for her son. I was humbled by her request. She spoke in a quiet and dignified tone, but her frustration was evident. As I stood there for those few minutes I saw visions of my own mother having that conversation with someone. That short exchange forced me later that night to reflect on my own participation in protest politics which started some four decades ago. My mind went way back to that day when I was part of a small group of mainly mid-teen boys which listened to a talk by Dr. Walter Rodney at the then County High School in Buxton, which was run by Bro Eusi Kwayana.

‘KILLED’: Courtney Crum-Ewing

I remember going away from that talk with a new sense of excitement. Walter had told us, little boys, that we could be shapers of history. I had not heard that before. I approached my Aunt Cecilia, my guardian, and told her I had heard this man, Dr. Rodney, and I liked what I heard and would like permission to join “the thing”. She had not heard of Dr. Rodney, but her response was swift: “So long is Teacher Sydney (Bro Eusi) think you can join up.” From that moment I officially became an activist.
The journey from then to now has been an interesting one. I have taken my activism seriously. For me, activism is the essence of political participation. But, I never really thought of the impact of my activism on my immediate family. The conversation with Courtney’s mother has changed that; I now think about it constantly. I would never forget the look on her face that night as she spoke with me on her way out of the venue in Georgetown where a group of us had met to celebrate the birthday of a young activist, Norwell Hinds. Her voice was my mother’s voice.
My sister-comrade, Karen DeSouza, recently told an interviewer that during the heady days of our activism, fear was not a factor for us. She is right; we never thought of fear. We were changing the world. And that act is incompatible with fear. But, unlike Courtney, we are alive – thankfully. Courtney Crum Ewing is dead; he has been for three months now.
On Friday last, I briefly joined a picketing exercise mounted by his parents and friends at the corner of Middle and Carmichael streets to draw attention to the fact that there is still no justice for Courtney. As I approached the picket line, I was struck by the small number of picketers. Then I saw Courtney’s mother standing in the line, picket in hand. I went straight to her and apologised for not yet honouring my promise to do something to highlight her plight. She understood – I think. This column is part of honouring that promise I made to her.
I could have been in Courtney’s place. Many of us could have been in that grave. So in highlighting Courtney’s case, we are highlighting the plight of all activists. The few of us on that picket line looked like a lonely bunch. Others passed in their cars or on foot and a few curiously looked at us. One or two stopped to enquire what the picket was about. The majority went about their business as if we didn’t exist. Absent was the huge crowd that attended Courtney’s funeral. The politicians were nowhere in sight. It felt lonely. The media, it seems, could not be bothered; they were absent. Oh what a place of short memory!
Will there be justice for Courtney Crum Ewing? I am told his partisan preference was the AFC. We know he died urging support for the APNU+AFC Coalition. The Coalition is in office now. Courtney’s killers are walking free. Why must the blood of poor people always be shed in vain?
I stole a few glances at Courtney’s mother and I saw the loneliness in her demeanour. It could have been my mother in her place. I walked across to her again and asked if she and her husband would appear on Cuffy250’s TV show, African Drums, heard on Channel 9 on Sundays at 8pm, to speak about justice for her son. She agreed. I have arranged for the interview to be aired this Sunday.
(Dr. David Hinds, a political activist and commentator, is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Caribbean and African Diaspora Studies at Arizona State University. More of his writings and commentaries can be found on his YouTube Channel Hinds’ Sight: Dr David Hinds’ Guyana-Caribbean Politics and on his website www.guyanacaribbeanpolitics.com. Send comments to dhinds6106@aol.com)

By Dr. David Hinds