Justice for Mubarak Soulemane
Donation protected
On January 15, 2020, my brother, Mubarak Soulemane suffered a schizophrenic episode and had knowingly been reported missing by his brother that day. For everyone who has a loved one who struggles with schizophrenia, you know that the mind of a schizophrenic is jarring and dark which leads them to behave in peculiar ways. On this particular day, that was the case for Mubarak when he pulled a pocket knife out at a store and carjacked. It is important to note that the police were familiar with his illness and were aware that he had a pocket knife. However, instead of de-escalating the situation, providing emergency service, and giving Mubarak the care that he needed, the State Police and the West Haven Department barricaded him in the car which is when State Trooper Brian North proceeded to take a military approach and emptied his gun out on him (7 bullets). Per the dashcam footage released, Mubarak was sitting in the driver seat of a car, seatbelt on, with a closed window and not threatening the officer, and yet he lost his life that day. Mubarak Soulemane should still be alive today.
Our Mubarak was someone who could light up the room with his genuine smile and open heart. His light was craved by many because he was a respectable, thoughtful, and kind human being. Mubarak was the kind of person who would provide shelter for a friend because they had no other place to stay. When his loved ones were in need, he would be the first to ask how he could help—even if it meant giving away the only spare change he had left. His patience and understanding with children amazed me. He gave them room to make mistakes by saying, “he’s just a kid” when his little cousin accidentally broke his remote control, or when he would patiently answer all of his younger siblings’ trivial questions.
Our Mubarak was ambitious, intelligent, and goal-driven. He was only 13-years-old when he began his business selling tie dye socks. I remember the glee in his eyes when he sold his 10th pair; I couldn’t help but think, “wow, we have a businessman in the family.” He had a love for sports and put all his efforts in excelling at every one of them, whether that was basketball or lacrosse. His ambition to make a name for himself led him to Notre Dame High School where he graduated with a 3.5 GPA and further had aspirations to pursue a degree in Business.
Our goal with this campaign is to raise money for attorney fees, purchasing a headstone and living expenses while pursuing Justice for Mubarak against all the departments that were complicit in his death. As a family, we are also looking to eventually create a foundation, on behalf of Mubarak, that centers around providing black boys with mental illnesses the funds to pursue their education and to aid in denouncing the stigma surrounding mental illness in the Black community.
There is no dollar amount that will ever equal Mubarak's life, so this campaign will do everything in its power to secure as many relief funds and justice pursuits for my family.
PETITION here: Justice For Mubarak
Our Mubarak was someone who could light up the room with his genuine smile and open heart. His light was craved by many because he was a respectable, thoughtful, and kind human being. Mubarak was the kind of person who would provide shelter for a friend because they had no other place to stay. When his loved ones were in need, he would be the first to ask how he could help—even if it meant giving away the only spare change he had left. His patience and understanding with children amazed me. He gave them room to make mistakes by saying, “he’s just a kid” when his little cousin accidentally broke his remote control, or when he would patiently answer all of his younger siblings’ trivial questions.
Our Mubarak was ambitious, intelligent, and goal-driven. He was only 13-years-old when he began his business selling tie dye socks. I remember the glee in his eyes when he sold his 10th pair; I couldn’t help but think, “wow, we have a businessman in the family.” He had a love for sports and put all his efforts in excelling at every one of them, whether that was basketball or lacrosse. His ambition to make a name for himself led him to Notre Dame High School where he graduated with a 3.5 GPA and further had aspirations to pursue a degree in Business.
Our goal with this campaign is to raise money for attorney fees, purchasing a headstone and living expenses while pursuing Justice for Mubarak against all the departments that were complicit in his death. As a family, we are also looking to eventually create a foundation, on behalf of Mubarak, that centers around providing black boys with mental illnesses the funds to pursue their education and to aid in denouncing the stigma surrounding mental illness in the Black community.
There is no dollar amount that will ever equal Mubarak's life, so this campaign will do everything in its power to secure as many relief funds and justice pursuits for my family.
PETITION here: Justice For Mubarak
Organizer
Mariyann Soulemane
Organizer
New Haven, CT