The National African Student Association grieves with the family, friends and loved ones of Irvo Otieno, a young 28 year old of Kenyan descent. As we have learned, Irvo was battling with mental health issues and needed care that the system failed in its duty to provide.
The killing Irvo Otieno proves how the justice system, specifically American’s incarceration system, is not built for people of color. This is not the first incident of the death of a defenseless black man, however it is a call to action for change. We believe that more advocacy and change is needed to not only make the minority community feel safe around the people that meant to protect them, but also to raise awareness on mental health.
As immigrants coming to a new environment, the pressures that exist here make it hard for many to assimilate without the proper support systems. These pressures range from making ends meet to trying to live up to the expectations of those we leave back in our home nations.
To learn more about the incident, please read more on this NY Times post: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/21/us/irvo-otieno-virginia-police-video.html
If you or anyone you know would like assistance to gain mental health resources, feel free to reach out to us and we shall connect you with any resources we can. Below are some initial resources to consider.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
