His name was Rezwan Kohistani and he came to this country from Afghanistan with hopes of a new and better life.
Instead the friends he made during his short time here mourn his passing and his family, already uprooted from its home once, is leaving the supposed promised land of southwest Missouri hoping to find a place where the hate runs less rampant and the American dream is a reality.
Tomorrow will mark two weeks since the Webb City High School freshman's body was reportedly discovered on the baseball field.
It took 11 days for school officials to release a guarded statement, which did not tell us much of anything.
The statement began with an immediate deflection.
The district has been asked by local media to provide information regarding the events that took place on May 5th that resulted in the death of one of our students.
That would seem to indicate that if the media had not kept asking about it, Webb City R-7 officials would have been content to remain silent.
Blame the media.
In this area, that usually works.
Why is the media asking questions? Because every media outlet has been contacted by Webb City residents who want answers.
And they are not getting any answers from school officials. Nor are they learning anything from local law enforcement.
Not one word.
Not one word about the bullying that Rezwan Kohistani reportedly endured since his arrival in our community.
Not one word to even let the community know the circumstances surrounding the boy's death are under investigation.
Not one word to indicate Rezwan Kohistani ever existed.
A Go Fund me page has been
established to raise money for the Kohistani family to help it as it leaves the nightmare that southwest Missouri has been and settle in Texas.
The Kohistani family is grieving the tragic loss of Rezwan, their beloved son and brother. The teenager Rezwan took his final breath in Southwest Missouri. He left behind his parents, four brothers and sister, who will miss him dearly.
The Kohistanis are refugees from Afghanistan who recently resettled in southwest Missouri. In light of Rezwan’s tragic passing, they are starting a new chapter in Texas.
Members of the Joplin community are raising funds to help the Kohistani family with this transition. All donations will go directly to the family to compensate them for loss of income, moving expenses, food, gas, and other costs that may arise.
We want to ensure that they have the resources to endure this difficult time without a heavy financial burden. Let’s come together as a community to support the Kohistanis. Please consider making a donation. Any amount helps.
As of this writing, $8,404 of the $10,000 goal has been raised.
The Kohistani family has left Missouri. And perhaps if the situation that led to its departure remains shrouded in a veil of silence, soon we will no longer be talking about him, no longer wanting answers about what happened to him and life will go on in this community like Rezwan Kohistani never existed.
We cannot let that happen.
We owe it to ourselves.
We owe it to all of those who are bullied because they are different from us.
Most of all, we owe it to Rezwan Kohistani and his family.
***
Readers,
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21 comments:
This is heartbreaking and appalling! How could this have happened???
This is despicable in every way!!! A young man was murdered and not a word about it until pressed. For all of you saying nothing needs to be said about it....shame on you! This was racially motivated and everyone knows it. White supremacy is alive and well in SW Missouri!
So let me see if I understand this correctly. The author of this post takes the position that whatever happened to this teenager must have been done out hate and now the family must move to a place where " the hate runs less rampant and the American dream is a reality" (They are moving to Texas, which is the cradle of all things hate-filled if you ask a liberal). However, it is apparent that the author does not know what happened because of the massive cover-up by the school district and law enforcement. The author even admits that the circumstances surrounding this tragedy are still unknown to the media and the community at large, yet makes the conclusion that it is based in hate. Regardless, of what happened the loss of life is a tragedy and maybe it was caused by something nefarious but to use such inflammatory rhetoric, especially in today's climate is simply irresponsible and reprehensible. Remember folks, this is not an actual news site with actual journalism, but is a fun place to come get your daily dose of liberal tripe.
@12:12 I've seen Randy spit facts, but never liberal tripe. Maybe you're struggling to cope with the leftist lean of reality.
If you were closer to the facts, you would know that the district acted out of respect for the family's wishes. There was no cover up, no hate in this tragedy, only sorrow for the loss of a young life. To bring racial hatred, disparage both the school and law enforcement only indicates a personal bias without a factual basis.
amen
Well said. What happened to waiting for all evidence to come out? We need to not be so quick to stir up dissension.
Some of these family’s are still in a protected status. The enemy is still hunting them. Many of them came to our door steps with problems of their own.
Truth is, we do not know any details. Let’s wait for facts before forming conclusions.
I am tired of seeing the narrative that the family wanted privacy. The family doesn't speak English and even other people who share their language here have a hard time understanding them , so tell me- how do you think webb city officials knew they wanted privacy? They didn't. They tried to ask for an investigation. The mosque in joplin was their only way of communication, and they say things aren't what they seem. They are using the fact the family cannot speak up for themselves to try and brush this under the rug. The facts are, this kid was bullied. Webb City used to be a sundown town. Why are they hiding SO MUCH? Not even a basic statement to the media? Why are they hiding so much when someone close in the family(the one person who can speak english) says they didn't ask for privacy? Why in a district that is 89% white is the "suicide" of a minor poc being brushed off when a white child killed themselves a few years ago and it was all over the news? When a district fully comes together to hide something like this, it seems like they are covering something up.
Agree
@1:21... Randy was "spitting" facts here so much that he himself admitted that nothing was known in the media or to the public that this was hate motivated. I guess to a liberal if it's your feelings or the way you wish it, it is a fact.
4:26 Who is investigating this, other than the Webb City PD (if they even are)?
Webb City is known for covering up bullying. I say don't let this drop. This young man's death was senseless. Step up Webb City schools and put a stop to the bullying.
I would assume he has a source that he got his info from. The author of this article probably has police officer or someone at the morgue that gives him info. That's how reporting works.
If you fled your home country as an enemy of the Taliban (for aiding the U.S. government in military operations), I would guess that you may want privacy for yourself and your family as well. Why do you think you don’t see personal interviews, with full names of resettled individuals, with pictures all over media outlets?!?!
Would it help to view these individuals as part of a “witness protection” program? Because that is in essence a part of their resettlement process…PRIVACY AND RESPECT FOR CULTURE=PARAMOUNT
Absolutely.. Thanks to the Biden administration for all the harm done to these people.. Way to go BRANDON!!
Agreed
FINALLY!!! Someone who knows and understands what the hell is going on.
I can tell you with 100% certainly you don’t know what you’re talking about. The father speaks “some” English. How do I know? I spoke to him! Learn the real facts before you speak. It’s internet sleuth armchair keyboard commandos like you that “CREATE” your own version of situations and mix in your own personal views and agenda in an “ATTEMPT” in coming up with a conclusion. Only conclusion here, is all you dramafied people are speaking misinformation and don’t know jack squat about the REAL situation.
Omfg. You’re blaming Biden for this white supremacist bigotry that has always been here, but much more with the former guy. The Trump administration and especially Trumps supporters are delusional, hate filled with ignorance, a national and world embarrassment and stain on this country.
The white supremacist bigot Trump supporters are to blame for everything that’s wrong with this country. You are a stain on this country, your ignorance is an embarrassment on the world level. You are the problem for the racial divide in this country.
Where is the proof he was bullied, just because he was a student! ?
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