BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — 8-year-old Tamirra Moore wants to be a vet. 5-year-old Leniaaa Lee wants to be a ballerina. While they're excited for their future, they're worried about the present.
“Every time me and her see lights that look like the police we hide because we're scared,”
Their trip home from Nana's Monday night brought them right through the violence on Bailey Avenue in Buffalo.
“And then when we got near my house it was very scary, because there was a whole bunch of fire and people were arguing and fighting. And the police... They had scared me,” said Moore.
What these girls witnessed caused a fear no preschooler should experience.
“I asked my mommy please don't ever leave if something blow up don't leave mommy,” said Lee.
Neither say they slept well that night.
“The helicopters kept flying around and they made my head hurt. And it's really scary,” Moore said.
“I was very scared and I was crying,” said Lee.
Auntie Kellie Bolden said she couldn't let that continue because she understands. She was around the same age when she witnessed protests in the civil rights era.
“It hurt my heart. And I just said okay I can't let them sleep through that one more night. So I called their parents and said the next morning I'm coming to get them. I want them to not be scared and not be afraid of the police,” Bolden said.
The girls are staying with their aunt so they can play, safely, without fear... And learn some important lessons.
“When the police say put your hands up like this, but when you do this you're praising to God. So everybody needs to do this,” said Moore.
