I was convinced before the release of the grand jury results yesterday that the officers involved would not be charged in the death of Mr. Saylor. What I had not planned on was he would be blamed for his own death. It was determined by the medical examiner that Down syndrome and obesity made Saylor more susceptible to breathing problems.
In the actual report the words are – “This individual was already compromised by his Down’s syndrome (sic) obesity, habitus and heart disease making him more susceptible to sudden death in stressful conditions which would compromise his breathing.”
The report states the officers did not hit him in the head or neck. They did however use three sets of handcuffs to subdue Mr. Saylor. They released him from the handcuffs and turned him over “when those around him noticed he was having a medical emergency.” (It does not indicate if “those around him” included any of the individuals who restrained him.)
I wrote about Mr. Saylor’s death in an earlier post We Need to Own Robert Ethan Saylor that was later quoted in a New York Times editorial. In that post I made mention of the fact a national Down syndrome organization stated prior to this recent grand jury finding – “These individuals may have additional anatomical characteristics which may place them at greater risk for unintentional harm.”
Robert Ethan Saylor
At that time I did not name the organization. Today I will tell you the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) joined with Family Resource, Information & Education Network for Down Syndrome F.R.I.E.N.D.S. to issue that statement on February 21st of this year. NDSC is one of the most if the not the most respected Down syndrome organization in the U.S. This is certainly the view I held. Not so much today though. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. who I was not aware of “is a voice for all individuals with Down syndrome”.
I have tremendous concerns the cause for Mr. Saylor’s death was preemptively offered and sanctioned before the conclusion of a grand jury investigation by a trusted and legitimate voice of the Down syndrome community in this country. Their initial stance was silence to Mr. Saylor’s death by being “cautiously quiet awaiting the outcome of the ongoing investigations.” Given public pressure they found “it necessary to finally break (their) silence.” Without knowing anything about the facts why did they feel it necessary to even entertain the possibility his death was related to his Down syndrome?
I am trying to think what other national advocacy organization representing any other discriminated group would portray what feels like ‘victim blaming’ as advocacy? At this point all I can ask is as a mother of a son with Down syndrome please stop speaking on behalf my of child.
The outcome of the grand jury is devastating enough but to know it was foreshadow by an organization I place my faith in to advocate for my child’s best interest is not only unacceptable it is leaving me in despair.
Robert Ethan Saylor’s death broke my heart. You took my hope.
a typical son 
Kari, you are a true activist. You always ask the hard questions that push me into that uncomfortable place of having to examine difficult answers!
Every single person in the Down syndrome community needs to read this! I guarantee we all know who Travon was but people in our own community don’t even know Robert Ethan Saylor. True advocacy now!
Patti the comments in the paper today made me SICK. I had to stop reading them. What is wrong with people!
Kari, yes this was a wonderful post and I felt the same way. My above comment was to Ethan’s mother, as I’m sure she is reading.
Is she reading my post? If she is can you tell her i didn’t know she was connected with FRIENDS and I would never do anything that would cause her or their family pain or disrespect. I feel very confused right now.
I have to say that I wasn’t prepared for there to be no repercussions. Maybe I’m an optimist? Yeah. I can’t believe I just said that either ;-) But exactly like you, what has completely pushed me over the edge to some horrifying place that makes me want to yell at neighbors “Don’t believe all of that awareness crap about Down syndrome, look at my healthy, happy child instead. She may have Down syndrome, but she’s an individual and Ds is just a part of her, not something that makes her fragile, or more susceptible to dying if you don’t pick her up just right.”
I can’t believe that in 2013 “compromised by his Down’s syndrome” isn’t causing a shit storm the size of a continent.
Yeah. I think I’m an optimist after all.
What has pushed me over the edge is what the national organizations are doing by releasing some crap that just serves to reinforce a stereotype.
Sorry. I was so angry, I forgot to finish my sentence.
The “MO” of the Fraternal Order of Police is to blame the victim for their own death in police involved killings. No different here as I believe an FOP lawyer was present represented 1 or more of the Frederick County police in this matter.
I think the Saylor’s are right in being concerned the matter was investigated by the same department.
Kari, Patti Saylor started our FRIENDS group when Ethan was born. She continued with the group for years, then let others take over. My husband is the President, and we have had lots of contact with Patti in the past few weeks, and she is eager to be part of the FRIENDS group once again. NOTHING that our group releases to the press, doesn’t get approval from her first.
I took out “approval” by Patti because it implied a blanket statement but nothing else is changed.
I understand. I have removed any indication that Patti would agree with my post.
Raise your voice to have Ethan’s death investigated! Petition the White House and share this link…
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/direct-doj-fbi-investigate-whether-civil-rights-violations-police-brutality-led-death-ethan-saylor/zYRrPjvc